Weekend Visitors

Taylor, Rhys and Aaron

For the first time since I moved back into Kamloops after spending the summer at Sorrento Centre Taylor, Rhys and Aaron came for a weekend sleepover. They are growing up, really quickly. It won't be long before they are all taller then me. It won't be long before they are all wiser then me. But, they will always be my youngest siblings even when they get to that age when I am no longer "cool" to hang out with!

We had a great weekend together. They came bowling with the youth group on Friday night, we spent Saturday painting, shopping and swimming and Sunday was filled with Church and lunch with Stewart.

Our painted creations!

Painting was the big task for the weekend. The basement suite I'm living in this year (which I love) has really bare walls. So, I picked up some paint and canvas and gave the kids the all important task of painting lovely pictures for my walls. And that is exactly what they did! On Friday night I told them that they needed to think of what they wanted to paint... "you can paint anything you want," I told them. Saturday morning Aaron said to me, "I can paint anything I want?" "Yep, anything you want," I said. After a few moments of thinking he turned to me and said, "I can paint the stairs?" Wait a minute!! He thought we were painting the walls! Am I ever glad that I didn't just put the paint on the table and go do something else... that would have been interesting!

Stewart came over for lunch and a visit on Sunday after church. It was wonderful to spend time with Stewart and the kids were really excited to see him. Stewart and I looked through some pictures of our childhood years - I must admit... we were pretty cute toddlers!

I did a lot of cooking with my crock pot over the weekend. My first roast beef in the crock pot turned out just amazing - so tender and delicious. And then Sunday morning I put sloppy joe stuff in before heading to church and we had an amazing lunch when we got home! I love my crock pot... it's amazing!

The weekend was great and I can't wait for the kids to come over again... although I have decided I'm never having triplets. Going from having responsibility for zero children to three children is exhausting!

Mornings

I have always loved the mornings... I just am unable to actually get up and enjoy the peaceful quite time unless there is something I have to do. So when my phone went off on Saturday at 6:16 in the morning, a staff member asking when and who unlocked the front gate I got up to let him out, not wanting to move and yes, rather grumpy about it... but I kept that to myself. (And no, it was not my responsibility!!) I got to the gate to find the staff member and a guest trying to leave and our food delivery truck trying to get in (thank goodness he didn't leave with our food!!). Since I was already up I decided to walk down to the beach to unlock it a the same time, otherwise I'd be wandering out again in forty five minutes time.

By the time both gates were unlocked at the beach I was not very pleased that I was out of my warm bed and in the

coolness of the morning. Knowing that I had to shake this feeling off I went and sat on a log overlooking the lake and took in the sun, silence and prayed. I looked over the waters to see an odd shape and movement by one of our docks... and then another, then it disappeared and back again. I looked closer and came to the conclusion that it was an otter feeding in the water and eating on the surface. And not one otter but four!

I stood next to the waters edge and just looked, just watched this sight that I had never seen in the waters at Sorrento Centre. And as I watched I calmed down, my grumpiness began to leave, I started to become thankful for the day and the early morning. And I gave thanks for this most sacred God moment, a reminder that all is good, all is good!

I'd love to awake early in the morning and enjoy that time before the world becomes active again... but until my late nights at the Centre disappear and I get back into a regular routine... I'll take what comes!

Batty Tales

I've had my fair share of crazy (but exciting) things happening to me over my four summers at Sorrento Centre... but I now have had an experience that has given me much greater sympathy for those who wake up in the night to a great surprise! Took four years, but I've now survived my first bat adventure!

I woke up on Tuesday morning at 2:17am hearing something flying in my room, I tried to ignore it but I was just getting more and more freaked out. So I turned on my light and there I saw a bat circling my room. Ah!!! Turned off light and hid under blankets until I accepted that I had to get it out of my room. So, I got up, opened my door, turned on the hall light and waited. Once it departed by room and took refuge in the hallway I hid in the bathroom. Eventually I realized I had to go back to bed, peaked outside the bathroom and didn't see the bat anywhere. Relived that it had made it's way to the living room I went back to my room.

I was partially asleep again at 3:45am when I woke up hearing something crawling on fabric and making a strange noise. I tried to convince myself that it was just the start of the coming rain. I decided that if I moved my curtain and listened carefully to the rain hitting the roof all would be fine. I chickened out of moving from my bed (if there is a mouse on my floor I will freak!!). So I turned on my lamp and scanned the room and saw the bat climbing my curtain, turns out it did not go into the living room but took refuge back inside my bedroom. This time I left the room, turned on the hall light and as soon as it flew out of my room I ran back in and closed the door. Just to be on the safe side I but a blanket at the bottom of my door. At this point, I have no idea what this bat is willing to do to get back into my space!

All was fine now that I knew the bat was out of my room and I slept... fully prepared to find the bat in the morning on a wall in the hallway. Morning came and no bat could be found. We searched everywhere with no luck, I was beginning to wonder if it had all been a dream. But no, one of the girls said that the hall light was one when she got up... and I definitely was not sleeping under the same blankets when I woke up as I was when I went to bed the first time. Thankfully, moments before going to bed Tuesday night someone saw the bat on the curtain by the main door... I called the farmhouse and two of the guys came to my rescue and removed it.

The bat was adorable - they are cute when they just sleep and stay in one place. They are cute when they are not in my bedroom!! It seems to by my summer to deal with crazy creatures... dead or alive. And this does not impress me at all.

Summer beginnings...

I'm halfway through my summer work at Sorrento Centre and things are now in full swing. Last week was our Anglican Programming Week One, what I call the “experimentation week” began. This is the week where I re-learn what forms of scheduling works, how to gather enough time in each day to accomplish all that needs to be done, how the staff team is going to mesh together as community, so on and so forth. And I love it, I love all of it. Some days and moments are more crazy then others, but the end product of the week often is feeling prepared for the coming four weeks of Anglican Programming.

A few things took place last week that have been first time occurances for me, even though this is my fourth summer here. 1) We had a very sweet elderly lady on site who required a lot of assistance and I somehow took on a major piece of that role. It was great to be able to help her, which in return meant she was able to say for the whole week and enjoy her Sorrento Centre experience. And yes, for a few days I thought that I'd make a good seniors care aid... but by the end of the week that thought too had gone! 2) I cancelled our water fight on Thursday afternoon due to the thunder and lightening storm that was taking place. Safety comes first, but it doesn't mean our young folks were not disappointed. 3) Again, due to the weather our Variety Night had to be held indoors opposed to outside in Kekuli - our large outdoor round gathering place.

All this learned, experienced and discovered while figuring out how the summer is going to work the most smoothly... And now, day two of our second week of programming... we have had yet another storm and three of our buildings are without power. Two of which hold guest accommodation and the kitchen. To top that, my laundry (for the second time this summer) is stuck in the washing machine while the power is still out...

The best part so far. Seeing and listening to the pure excitement of the staff team as they learn, face challenges, plan new pieces of the work life, and continue to love God and what they are doing. They are amazing, tons of fun, and super energized and engaged in the community.

Here's to waking up to the power being back on in the morning... it would help with the breakfast making and laundry doing...

Strawberries and Cream

Ah, I've fallen in love... with fresh strawberries and cream. And when I say fresh strawberries I mean they are fresh! Sorrento Centre has a farm (www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca), and in its second season the farm is now producing strawberries and the staff tonight got to enjoy the first pick. Fresh, sweet, beautiful, amazing strawberries covered in a light coat of smooth cream. The perfect dessert for Sunday and the perfect end to an amazing weekend.

A few other amazing things took place this weekend. The first, my three youngest brothers and sisters spent the weekend with me in Sorrento. Taylor, Rhys and Aaron joined me on Friday night and left for Savona just before dinner this evening. We had a weekend of adventures,

walks, basketball, movie watching, enjoying treats, lots of time outside, fun in the sun and a whole lot of laughter and conversation. I miss them. It was way to much fun to have them here and just be. There was no competition, no grumpiness, no impatience, just full on deep joy and fun. I love being with my brothers and sisters and one of the hardest thing is not being with them for so much of the summer. Although, even harder is saying goodbye after an amazing weekend visit when I know that I probably won't see them for at least a month. Thank goodness for today's technology!

Sorrento Centre was privileged to have John Bell, an internationally known songwriter, here for the weekend. He came as a gift to us to do a fundraiser for our farm/Sorrento Centre after spending a week with us last year. John Bell is amazing. And his music, equally amazing. I could go on forever about how wonderful it was to have him here and spend a few hours singing with him and a group of folks (including a lovely group from the Cathedral!).

So, my advise for you at the end of this weekend... go find some fresh strawberries and a bit of cream and enjoy the taste of summer!

Summer may be coming...

I have many awesome friends who are so good at blogging regularly, I apologize that I do not fall in that category. So often I think to share with my experiences with my friends via this means but at the end of the day I so often need to choose whether to blog for others to read or write in my journal as a way of reflecting, discerning, and remembering. I suppose you can imagine what I so often choose. And then of course I wonder what the point of blogging even is... like really, is taking this time actually worth it? One will never know. I love the idea that it allows my family and friends to know even a mall bit of what I'm up to... but does it actually serve that point?

Here I am once again at Sorrento Centre well immersed into my fourth summer. I'm excited about this year's Children and Youth program, this years staff team, and all the many adventures and experiences that will take place.

A few of the things I've been up to since completing this past year of school (year four complete!!) and some of my pondering thoughts:

- Sorrento Centre is a place of such deep peace and reflection for me. Yes, it always comes down to me making the decision to take the time to engage in spiritual practices and reflection, but as I learn to do this more faithfully I remember more often how important it really is.

- An undergrad degree is designed to be completed in four years for a reason... planning year five is no longer exciting!

- Amazing things happen when committed folks gather together to make decisions and learn together.

- It's worth it to say "no" to people when asked to take on a commitment/committee appointment as it allows you to say "yes" when the right opportunity that matches your gifts and interests and the world's needs comes along.

- Songs get stuck in my head... for a very long time!

- Gathering with 130 colleagues who share a passion in (youth) ministry is again and ag

ain an amazing experience. Learning, sharing, rest, renewal, conversation. (Common Ground 2011)

- I fell in love with a camp while in Ontario... and the idea of raising a family while directing a camp (at least that is this month's new idea for life!!)

- Lake Huron - stunning!!

- Really good worship makes my day... or week!

- Spending time with my siblings, well I never get tired of it. But yes, a bit sleepy by the end of a full day.

- The Leadership Team I work with at Sorrento Centre is crazy, well we all are! But they keep me laughing and on my toes... and that is good!

So - will you hear from me again before the summer is over and I am preparing to dive into my final year of my BA? Who knows... I can try, but we'll see. I guess first I need to see if summer actually comes, time for the sunshine to come out!

How to get more young people into the church...

Tamie Fields Harkins served for four years as a chaplain to NAU Episcopal Canterbury Fellowship. Last week she ahd this to say on her blog about the question: how to get more young people into the church. Take a look and share what you think about the list!!

Here is a step-by-step plan for how to get more young people into the church:

1. Be genuine. Do not under any circumstances try to be trendy or hip, if you are not already intrinsically trendy or hip. If you are a 90-year-old woman who enjoys crocheting and listens to Beethoven, by God be proud of it.

2. Stop pretending you have a rock band.

3. Stop arguing about whether gay people are okay, fully human, or whatever else. Seriously. Stop it.

4. Stop arguing about whether women are okay, fully human, or are capable of being in a position of leadership.

5. Stop looking for the "objective truth" in Scripture.

6. Start looking for the beautiful truth in Scripture.

7. Actually read the Scriptures. If you are Episcopalian, go buy a Bible and read it. Start in Genesis, it's pretty cool. You can skip some of the other boring parts in the Bible. Remember though that almost every book of the Bible has some really funky stuff in it. Remember to keep #5 and #6 in mind though. If you are evangelical, you may need to stop reading the Bible for about 10 years. Don't worry: during those ten years you can work on putting these other steps into practice.

8. Start worrying about extreme poverty, violence against women, racism, consumerism, and the rate at which children are dying worldwide of preventable, treatable diseases. Put all the energy you formerly spent worrying about the legit-ness of gay people into figuring out ways to do some good in these areas.

9. Do not shy away from lighting candles, silence, incense, laughter, reallygood food, and extraordinary music. By "extraordinary music" I mean genuine music. Soulful music. Well-written, well-composed music. Original music. Four-part harmony music. Funky retro organ music. Hymns. Taize chants. Bluegrass. Steel guitar. Humming. Gospel. We are the church; we have a uber-rich history of amazing music. Remember this.

10. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

11. Learn how to sit with people who are dying.

12. Feast as much as possible. Cardboard communion wafers are a feast in symbol only. Humans can not live on symbols alone. Remember this.

13. Notice visitors, smile genuinely at them, include them in conversations, but do not overwhelm them.

14. Be vulnerable.

15. Stop worrying about getting young people into the church. Stop worrying about marketing strategies. Take a deep breath. If there is a God, that God isn't going to die even if there are no more Christians at all.

16. Figure out who is suffering in your community. Go be with them.

17. Remind yourself that you don't have to take God to anyone. God is already with everyone. So, rather than taking the approach that you need to take the truth out to people who need it, adopt the approach that you need to go find the truth that others have and you are missing. Go be evangelized.

18. Put some time and care and energy into creating a beautiful space for worship and being-together. But shy away from building campaigns, parking lot expansions, and what-have-you.

19. Make some part of the church building accessible for people to pray in 24/7. Put some blankets there too, in case someone has nowhere else to go for the night.

20. Listen to God (to Wisdom, to Love) more than you speak your opinions.

This is a fool-proof plan. If you do it, I guarantee that you will attract young people to your church. And lots of other kinds of people too. The end.