The Spring 2012 newsletter of the Sorrento Centre Retreat and Conference Centre, Sorrento, B.C. Canada

1. S
the Centre
cenario the Sorrento
Scenario
Reflections From the Director
Spring 2011
A Newsletter for the Associates of Sorrento Centre
Spring, 2012
A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Associates:
Valentine’s Day has just past and I find myself giving thanks once again for the support of the
Associates of Sorrento Centre who give according to their abilities. Today I worked with Heather
Hamlin Gravells who has offered to volunteer her time in the front office to help us deal with
voluminous correspondence and paper work. Last week Al Hinter was in every day helping prepare
the dining room for a new floor. Al is a new Associate. Two years ago he retired from a career as a
tiling contractor.
This week Rick Barr and Tony Esposito each gave up a week’s holiday to help lay the new floor in the
Richardson Lodge dining room. Just so we wouldn’t complain that they only came for the glory, they have stayed long enough to rip
out rusted shower stalls from the upper wash house and begin the renovation of the upstairs bathroom in Spes! All year long Associates
volunteer in this manner. Last fall as an example, it was Brian Laver and Andrew Pike helping to build the new walk-in cooler & freezer
in the kitchen. This was on top of all the donations of goods and services in our “Barbie Needs a New Bed” campaign. That campaign
raised $6,000 and we are currently selecting the beds for replacement. I could go on …
Some people give their time, other people lend their expertise and still others donate money. On the inside pages you will see a list of
all those who donated money to Sorrento Centre in 2011. A big thank you to you all! Without your support Sorrento Centre couldn’t
exist.
Your Board of Directors is currently engaged in a fundamental mission review. You have already received a short two question survey
from us and we received 30 thoughtful responses. We expect to have a new Mission Statement ready for presentation at the AGM at
9:30 on Saturday morning, May 12. I encourage you to include this AGM in your travel plans as we will be addressing some fundamental
issues affecting the future of the Centre in this process.
I hope you’re as excited as I am about the new program designed for 2012. It’s packed with goodies – something for everyone. I look
forward to seeing you later this year.
Yours,
Christopher Lind
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca

2. Notes from the
Spring Courses at Sorrento Centre
Living as an April 19-22 April 22-27
Everyday Monastic:
Finding the Holy in All of Life Individual Spiritual Direction
Life, in all of its various aspects, is a spiritual journey. It can be of great benefit to all of us who are on
this journey together to have a compassionate and friendly guide along the way.
Rick McCorrister is a perfect guide for pilgrims on this journey. A United Church minister, Rick is
also a graduate of The Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction. He has
been studying and practicing a variety of forms of spiritual direction for many years, including the
Enneagram and the Sacred Movements teachings of Georges Gurdjieff.
This spring Rick will be leading a weekend course at Sorrento Centre, “Living Life as an Everyday
Monastic: Finding the Holy in All of Life” (from April 19th to 22nd) and will also be making himself
available for private individual consultations the following week (April 22 to April 27th).
In “Living Life as an Everyday Monastic” Rick will focus on teaching us various methods to help us
appreciate the sacred in the everyday world around us. Rick will use such practices as Breath Prayer,
Lectio Divina, mindfulness practices and walking the labyrinth to show us how to remain connected
to the Holy.
Rick will also offer guidance on how to process the results of these techniques in a personal way through journaling and other forms of self-
expression. There will also be time for particpants to share their own insights with each other as encouragement to live life as an “everyday
monastic”.
Anyone interested in booking time with Rick for individual sessions in spiritual direction should contact the Sorrento Centre office to arrange
available times. Meals and accommodations can also be booked as needed.
Wings and Wildflowers Seniors Week One June 10-14
of the Shuswap
Dirk and Karen (Rinehart) Pidcock have been amateur naturalists for
many decades, fully embracing the rich root meaning of the word
“amateur” (meaning “lover”).
This spring you can join them to discover what the wonders of the
beautiful Shuswap has to discover what they reveal, with particular
attention to birds and plants. Evening programs will focus on enhancing
identification skills and exploring Christian spiritual foundations for
those who truly love the world of nature.
“Only those who see themselves as “experts” may be frustrated with
what we have to offer,” say Dirk and Karen, “Now in our 70’s, we want to
enjoy as well as learn and grow into who God would have us be”.
Sorrento Centre • Spring, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre Box 99, 2012

3. Sorrento Farm
Spring Courses at Sorrento Centre
“I’m Spiritual,
May 6-12
But Not Religious
...Really?”
Associates’ Work/Study Week
“How often do we hear the comment: I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious,” asks Don Grayston. “Yet if
we ask the speaker what is meant by ‘spiritual,’ the response is usually pretty vague.”
More than 30% of the population of BC gave the answer “no religion” to the census question about religious affiliation in the last census. We
can be fairly sure that a significant portion of the non-attending cohort of those who did give a religious identity would also make the same
comment: “I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious”--with “religious” understood as active involvement in a church or other religious tradition.
So why do people say this? Many reasons. One is distaste for the negative public image both current and historical of institutional religion:
residential schools, sexual abuse cases, even the Crusades and the Inquisition. Another is the desire of many, the young especially, in this
post-modern (or post-post-modern!) time to keep all their commitment options open--in love, work and faith/belief--as long as possible.
Another is the influence of science, believed by many to have demolished religious (especially Christian) credibility. “Think Richard Dawkins!”
exclaims Don Grayston.
Associates’ Week will give us an opportunity not only to reflect together on what people mean or feel when they make this statement, but
also what the words “spiritual” and “religious” mean for us. Anglican priest Don Grayston will help us consider not only what this comment
says about the spiritual journey of our society, but also how our own spiritual journey is going.
Seniors Week Two A Planet Called
June 17-22 Sanctus
Logan McMenamie, the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, uses the image
of “Earthrise”, a photo taken in 1968 from the moon by astronaut Frank Borman, as an
example of the awe that can be inspired by looking at our own world with fresh eyes.
The “Earthrise” photo shows our earth rising above the lunar landscape and is, he says,
“one of the most ecologically significant images ever captured”.
In this course Logan will draw on this image to explore the incredible gift God has given
us by this planet, Earth. He will ask how we can care for the whole of creation and
discover for ourselves a spirituality that restores the harmony we yearn for with God,
Creation and one another.
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • Sorrento Centre • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca Autumn 2011
Sorrento Centre Spring 2012

4. Sorrento Centre News
A Busy Year!
An Overview of Improvements
Carried Out at Sorrento Centre
Although 2011 continued to be difficult year financially, not just for Since the Red Barn had been used mainly for storage up until now,
the Centre but for the economy as a whole, we were able to make we also needed to build a new storage shed, next door to the
a number of improvements to the Sorrento Centre site with the workshop, which was completed at the end of last summer.
generous help of many Associates and supporters. Here is a very
quick re-cap of some of the projects we were able to accomplish Another major project was the replacement of the greywater
with your help in 2011 drainage system behind Richardson Lodge. Over the years tree
roots had been strangling the pipes from the kitchen to the drainage
In the spring our new “Sabbatical Cottage” (also known as Cabana field. With an increase in the numbers of guests being served and
One) was renovated for use in our “Sabbatical Centre” program. The the limited capacity that the infrastructure was originally built to
spruced-up cabana is also serving as a showcase for the types of handle, simple wear and tear had caused the system to collapse. In
renovations we expect to make to all of the cabanas in the future. the fall the old pipes were dug up and replaced with a new system
which is better able to meet the Centre’s current needs.
Over the summer the lower floor of the Red Barn was converted into
“The Red Barn Art Studio”. The first group to use this space was The Richardson Lodge had a number of new additions made to it in
Shuswap School of Carving and Arts in September. Starting in 2012 2011, and the renovations are still continuing. One upgrade in
The Art Studio will be the new home base for all of our arts and crafts Richardson Lodge is the renovated coffee station in the upstairs
courses. It is a spacious, well-lit facility that will be a comfortable lounge, which was completed in the spring. The major upgrade was
and versatile space for artists to express themselves. The Art Studio the installation of a new walk-in fridge/freezer in the back of the
was made a reality by the hard work of dedicated volunteers and kitchen. This almost doubles the cooler space which we previously
donors and from a generous grant from The Anglican Foundation. had and has allowed us to finally do away with the chest freezers
which were definitely showing their age and racking up increasingly
large repair bills.
With the increased amount of fresh produce
being delivered too the kitchen more storage
space was a definite necessity. The project
was funded entirely by generous donations
from friends and Associates and the work was
carried out by volunteers and staff.
Over this past winter some other renovations
in the kitchen also took place, with the dish pit
area being cleaned and re-tiled and the area
formerly housing the walk-in cooler being
made into a store-room.
The biggest job of all is currently underway,
the extension of the new flooring in the
downstairs hallway into the dining room.
The dining room has been in desperate need
of new flooring for some time, and the new
heavy duty wood-look vinyl flooring will be
one of the welcome new changes you will
notice when you visit Sorrento Centre in 2012.
Again, it was all made possible by the hard
Woodcarvers enjoying the Red Barn Art Studio
work of volunteers.
Sorrento Centre• Spring 2012 BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre Box 99, Sorrento,

5. Sorrento Centre News
The downstairs bathroom in Spes
Bona was gutted and totally done
over and is now a joy to behold!
The upstairs bathroom is now in
the process of receiving the same
treatment. Again, thanks mostly
to our energetic volunteers.
In 2010 we had an online auction
to raise money for a new tractor
for the farm. The auction was
a huge success, and we took
possession of our new tractor
in the spring of 2011. It proved
to be invaluable on the farm
and grounds of the Centre. In
addition, Groundskeeper Dave
Wides used it over the winter
as a snowplow to keep our
roads open, which resulted in
significant savings over previous
Volunteer Associates Tony Esposito, Rick Barr and Al Hinter
winters when he had to contract
laying down the new flooring in the Dining Room
out our snow removal.
In 2011 we had another online auction, this time
to raise money for new beds. We are happy to say
that this auction and other donations have brought
in $6,000. We are in the process of implementing a Right: Volunteer Associate
plan to buy new beds and mattresses for the lodge Chris Hamlin Gravells
rooms and cabanas that have the greatest need for helping with drywalling in
an upgrade. the Red Barn Art Studio
Thank you to everyone who helped make all of these
improvements to Sorrento Centre a reality.
Groundskeeper Dave Wides making good use of the new tractor for snow removal
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre Spring 2012

6. Notes from the Sorrento Farm
by Sorrento Farm Manager David Wides (aka “Farmer Dave”)
Farming the land is a potent link to the holy mystery of Creation. Our
agricultural work on the Sorrento Centre Farm connects us with God.
Reflecting back on the past two seasons of farming at Sorrento Centre,
we see that there are many ways that the farm has helped our community
connect with Creation. As a community of people seeking personal and
spiritual growth we have shared in the collective experience of watching
our farm grow and become an integral part of our connection with God.
One of the primary ways we experience Creation on the farm is through
abundant harvests and rich landscapes. There is infinite inspiration to be
found in the fundamental beauty of the space and the flavorful produce
of the harvest. This coming season we have much to look forward to. We
will be growing sugar snap peas, colorful potatoes, sweet golden cherry
tomatoes, big pumpkins, juicy raspberries, succulent heads of lettuce
and much more. This season our fields and our plates should overflow
with abundance.
Another way we experience the richness of Creation is through the diversity of contrasts
that exists in the natural world. An obvious example of contrast in the natural world is the
changing seasons. Seasonal change always seems to bring the power and beauty of nature
to the forefront of our consciousness.
On the farm, we experience the contrast that manifests in Creation by observing the different
sizes of our garden pests. In 2010 our biggest garden pest was one black bear that had an
appetite for lettuce. In 2011 our biggest garden pests were the tiny voles that liked to chew
on the stems of pepper plants. The irony that the bear and the vole each took a turn as our
top pest illustrates the diversity in our world and on our farm. The diversity of life on the farm
centers our attention to the earth and our role as stewards of the land.
We have developed a new opportunity on the farm called “The Sorrento Centre Farm Produce
Box Program”. This is an opportunity for people to become volunteers on the farm in exchange
for a box of fresh produce each week throughout the growing season. This new program
offers many benefits for
Sorrento Centre and for
program participants. If
you or someone you know
in the Sorrento area is
interested in joining the
Sorrento Centre Farm Produce Box Program please contact our office.
Each year Sorrento Centre Farm offers abundant opportunities to connect
with the natural world. The farm is a place where we ground our work in
the holy mystery of Creation as we strive to develop harmony with the
elements of nature and we pray that our garden will grow beauty, faith
and inspiration as well as an abundance of fresh produce. This year will
be another joyous season on the farm and we look forward to sharing it
with all of the community who want to join in the wonder of farming at
Sorrento Centre
Sorrento Centre Summer Spring, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre •Spring 2012 2011
Sorrento Centre Box 99, Sorrento,

7. Sorrento CentreReport
SYS Leadership News
In Memorium - Linnea is a popular singer-songwriter who was a Music Leader at
Sorrento Centre last summer and will be co-leading a course for
Fran Cluett us this summer.
The other video, “Sorrento Centre: A Gathering Place for Everyone”,
is by Martin Elfert, who was Program Support Coordinator at
Sorrento Centre for the past two summers and is now an ordained
priest at The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane,
Washington. Martin will also be returning to Sorrento for one
week in the summer of 2012 as Worship Leader. Martin’s video is
a series of interviews with course participants about the special
feelings they have for the Centre.
Please check these videos out. If you ever have any friends or
family members who ask you what Sorrento Centre is like, direct
them to these short videos as a terrific introduction to “The
Sorrento Experience”.
Applications For
A longtime friend and Associate of Sorrento Centre, Fran Cluett of
Vancouver, died on January 25th, 2012 at the age of 88. Fran had
Summer Staff Positions
a long career as an educator, physiotherapist and campaigner for
social justice. She spent many years as the Manager of Rehab Now Being Accepted
Services for the Vancouver Health Department. Fran also had Come and join our team at Sorrento Centre and be rewarded
a love of travel and adventure and taught at the University of with a lifetime of experience! We are now accepting applications
Vientienne in Laos during the Vietnam War. After her retirement for our Leadership Team and Summer Youth Staff Team positions.
she and her husband Tom traveled the world, sleeping on Dutch We will be accepting Leadership Team applications until February
barges, the northern tundra, and Serengeti grasslands. 29th, 2012 and Summer Youth Staff applications until March 31,
2012.
She described Sorrento Centre as a special spiritual place and her
family has asked that in lieu of flowers, if desired, donations can be All inquiries on the application process, or to submit resumes to
made in her name to Sorrento Centre, 1159 Passchendaele Road, apply for one of the positions, can be forwarded to Melissa Green
Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 or to Holy Family Hospital, Physiotherapy at this email address (sorrentoyouthstaff@gmail.com).
Dept 7801 Argyle St, Vancouver BC, V5P 3L6. Our condolences go
out to Fran’s friends and family.
Two New Videos Up
On Our Website
One of the highlights of 2011 was getting our lively new website
(www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca/) up and running. Many thanks are
due to our webmaster, Brian Dench, for all of his hard work and
creative ideas. If you have a look at the site you will notice that two
short new videos have been added lately.
One is called “Summer Days” and is a slide show of photographs of
Sorrento Summer Youth Staff playing and worshipping together.
The video was created by Summer Staff Coordinator Melissa Green,
with a song by Linnea Good, entitled “Who Am I”, on the soundtrack.
Summer Youth Staff 2011
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca 2011
Sorrento Centre Summer Spring,
Sorrento Centre Spring 2012

8. ee
A Special Thank You!
A special thank you goes out to everyone who gave the gifts of time, wisdom, physical work or monetary assistance to Sorrento Centre in 2011.
Without the generous support of our friends and Associates the Centre would not be able to continue its ministry and be the essential part of so
many people’s lives not only across western Canada but internationally as well! Here is a list of all of those who provided financial assistance to
Sorrento Centre last year. Please join us all in giving thanks to and for our generous friends.
- The Board of Directors of Sorrento Centre and the staff of Sorrento Centre
BRITISH COLUMBIA Patricia Gouge Pam Niblock ALBERTA Suzan Wakeman
Ken Gray Marion O’Byrne Andrew Wilson
66A Nurse’s Reunion Mary Greenwood Herbert Paula O’Driscoll Betty Alexander
Bonny Amor Christa Groves Peter O’Flynn Joan Anderson SASKATCHEWAN
Barbara Andrews Alex Guy Claire Pallen Neil Assmus
Shauna Aranas Joanne Hamilton Judith Parkes Cheryl Baharally Joan Bunce
Hazel Arnold Heather Hamlin Gravells Ray Perreault Gillian Bowles Ray Purdie
Sally Baker Elaine Harder Louise Peters Kelly Burnie
Janet Barclay Deena Harrison Laura Phillips Patricia Cameron MANITOBA
Phyllis Barlow Audrey Harry Dirk Karen Pidcock Carol Blair and Associates
Erin Barr Allen Hart Michael Piddington Cenovus Energy Inc. Maylanne Maybee
Barbara Barton Brenda Henry Rhonda Pigott Jan Chalk
Florence Barton Diane Hill Andrew Pike Nina Chiba
BDO Dunwoody Nancy Holman Nonah Pite Leon Demers ONTARIO
Ian Birtwell Marion Holmes Paula Porter-Leggett Keith Denman
Audrey Birtwhistle Bob Jo-Mary Hunter Jennifer Pring Thomas Dirkse Beth Bretzlaff
Karen Blair Catherine Hurlburt John Privett Catherine Evamy Heather Chappell
Daphne Bray Lisa Imeson Marian Pryor Hutton Beth Anne Exham Brian Dench
Kathryn Brisco Michael Ingham Enid Punter John Gee Jane Fyles
Rusty Brown Sharon Janson Bob Purdy Gwen Gover Nora Fyles
Brian Maureen Buckley Miriam Jayne Mary Rawson Charles Grant Marilyn Legge
David Buckman Carol Johnson Ralph Reeves David Mandy Gravells Judy Maddren
Marita Carlsen Joan Johnston Lance Richardson Mervin Hamblin G.A. Wenh-In Ng
Jane Carrothers Val Johnstone Ian Robertson Grant Hanna Judy Rois
Miriam Chancellor Anthea Jordan Leslie Robinson Robin Harvie
Penny Charlesworth David Jordan Ashleigh Roundhill Jan Heath USA
Edith Chisholm Philip Jungen Peter Roundhill Cheryl Horrey
Coast Distributors Carole Jungnitsch Barry Salter Derek Hoskin Paddy Grinstein
Philip Colvin Margery Kellett Jeanette Scott Linda Howitt-Taylor Jean Gerth
Carol Cook Vic Kerr Ginger Shaw Jo-Ann Hrynyk Jack Wides
Shirley Cook Pam Lepsoe Shuswap Lions Manor Mary Hudson Donnie L. Henry
Roger Cooper Kathy Light Jenni Sirges Karin Huehold Rosanna Hanlon
William Crockett Leslie Lindsay Richard Slater Janice Hurlburt Anita Salaman
John Crone Betty Lister Mark Sleeman Allison Alan Kane Martin Elfert
Jim Cruickshank Diane MacAulay Walker Alex Koddo Albert Maier
Sue Cruickshank Sue MacKay-Smith Bonnie Sorenson Brian Laver Lyn Zimmerman
Judi Cuff Margaret Mackenzie Barb Stevenson Michael Lysack
Jaclyn Curll Simone Macklem Bethan Stewart Kathie MacDuff INTERNATIONAL
Cheryl Curran Maxine MacLean Joan Sutcliffe Arlie Mahood
Lucy Cuthill Bob MacRae David Taylor Kathy McClellan Nicolas Grandjean
Faith D’arcy Alfred Maier Sharon Taylor Jim McKibbon Ray Simpson
Dorothy Denny Margaret Marquardt David Teece Gordon Laura McNaughton
Brian Dobbin Brian Marshall David Joy Thompson John Mendham
Gins Doolittle Christine P. Marstaller Nada Traison CHURCHES
Allan Barbara Millar
Jamie Drozda Margorie Mayhew Beth Truant Ruth Morrow
Marks McAvity Garth Walker eAll Saints Men’s Group
Kelly Duncan Joan Neal
Peter Ann McCalman Margaret Walker eSt. George ACW
Penelope Edwards Joanne Neal
Pamela McElheran Sheila Waller eSt. Mary’s Anglican/
Helen Elfert Sally Neal
Peter Mercer Sara Weicker United Church
Joan Ellingham Steve Neal
Edward Meredith Robert Weston eSt. Peter’s Anglican Church
Peter Elliott Susan Nimmo
Diane Merriman Daphne Wheeler of Monte Creek
Derek Ellis Mark Perrin
Eric Metzmeier Mary White eCranbrook Christ
Shannon Ellis Alan Price
Dr. Ivar Mickelson Bob Wild Church ACW
Lee Ennis Bob Pynn
Colin Miles Joan Wilson eDiocese of New
Marilyn Fane Leslie Anne Roach
Colin Millar Ann Wood Westminster
Alana Frymire Doug Sanderson
Ray Morris Jean Wood eDiocese of Kootenay
Andrea Gailus Quentin Sarafinchan
Daphne Moser Jacquie Woods eAnglican Parishes of
Catherine Garritsen Fred Schellenberger
Marcella Mugford Ruth Zenger the Central Interior
Ken Ruth Genge Frederick Scott
Arthur Nash George Zorn eDiocese of British Columbia
Patricia Giannelia Laura Scott
Rayleen Nash Sally Zryd eProvincial Synod of British
Peter Gibson Marlene Stevenson
Kathryn Nelson Columbia
Devin Gillan
Lesley Godwin Joan Newman
Ursula Stewart
Jim Tyerman
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre Spring 2012