The Scenario Autumn 2011 issue newsletter of Sorrento Centre retreat and conference centre in Sorrento BC Canada

1. S
the Centre
cenario the Sorrento
Scenario
Reflections From the Director
Spring 2011
A Newsletter for the Associates of Sorrento Centre
Autumn, 2011
A Message from the Executive Director
Thanksgiving was such a special time this year. The late summer meant the weather was beautiful
and the harvest abundant! We had 65 people join us including 10 children. One of the high points
was the first use of our new cider press. People of all ages were gathered around vying for a chance
to take their “turn”. How magical to pick the apples in the morning, put them through the press in the
afternoon and drink the soft cider at supper time. An unexpected delight was to hear stories of the
old washing machine the Centre used to use for this purpose in days gone by!
Over the course of the weekend people donated approximately $6100 and an average of 11 hours of
labour per person. We painted cabanas, repaired plumbing and sewed up cloths of various types. We
cleaned and vacuumed and dusted. One of the hardest tasks was cutting back the beautiful gardens.
It gave rise to all kinds of grief. How fortunate we were to have an international expert in grief and
bereavement, Dr. Phil Carverhill, leading a program that could help us with this process!
Our worship was lead by Alfred Maier with musical assistance from Carol Jungnitsch. This included
a blessing of the new Red Barn Art Studio. We were pleased that Anglican Foundation Executive
Director, the Rev. Canon Judy Rois could be with us for this occasion so we could thank the Foundation Chris Lind
for their support of this project.
In this my second Thanksgiving at Sorrento Centre, it has become clear to me that many families now commit to having their family
celebration in this place. What a wonderful way to spend the long weekend! There is worship and a program every morning, good
work in community every afternoon and a feast every night. All this with a variety of accommodation available on a pay what you
can basis. No one gets turned away and even the children make new friends within 10 minutes of opening the car door! I can’t wait
to welcome people back next May.
Chris
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. Sorrento Centre News
Blessing the Red Barn Art Studio
On Saturday, October 8th, we held a dedication ceremony to bless the new Red Barn Art Studio.
The Rev Alfred Maier led the service and we were pleased to have the Rev. Canon Judy Rois, the
Executive Director of The Anglican Foundation in attendance so that we could offer our thanks for
the Foundation’s support of the Red Barn Art Studio project.
The art studio will provide an open, well lit space for the various arts and crafts courses which we
offer throughout the year as well as providing space for outside bookings, such as The Shuswap
School of Woodcarving and Arts which holds classes annually at Sorrento Centre.
(Left: Chris Lind and Judy Rois with a commemorative plaque. Bottom: Alfred Maier (centre with stole)
with attendees of the Art Barn consecration.)
Kitchen Gets a New
Walk-in Cooler/Freezer
Thanks to the generous donations of many Associates we have been able to
construct a new walk-in cooler/freezer unit for the kitchen. Our old freezers
had put in many years of service (decades in fact) but were reaching the
ends of their productive lives. Repair bills were becoming onerous. With
the growing number of large groups throughout the year and the bounty
which we now receive from the Sorrento Centre Farm our existing cooler
space was proving to be too limited.
Now with more space we can better manage the volume of storage which
we require. Board members Brian Laver from Edmonton and Andrew Pike
from Vancouver with the help of Associate Fred Scott spent several days as
volunteers to construct the box for the new unit. Many thanks to them and
all of the Associates who made the new cooler/freezer possible.
Andrew Pike and Brian Laver putting in the
insolation in the new cooler/freezer.
Sorrento Centre • Autumn 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, 2011

3. Sorrento Centre News
Associates Thangsgiving
Work/Study Weekend
Sorrento Centre was a hub of activity over the Thanksgiving weekend this year as 65
Associates joined with the Sorrento Centre staff to enjoy the Thanksgiving Work/Study
Weekend. Together Associates and staff did an enormous amount of work preparing
flower beds and gardens for the winter, painting cabanas, putting away the pews at St.
Francis Chapel, and many more projects. Many hands make light work and the amount
of work the Associates were able to do in such a short amount of time was nothing less
than amazing.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the inaugural run with our new apple press. Several Associates spent the weekend picking and
gathering apples from the orchard which were then pressed into a delicious and healthy (all organic) soft cider which was enjoyed by
everyone throughout the weekend. Another highlight was the traditional pig roast on Saturday, which furnished a wonderful roast dinner
accompanied by fresh vegetables from our Sorrento Farm. An occasion for thanks indeed!
(From top right:
Associate Carl Stevenson
touches up the Welcome
sign; Associate Linda
Howitt-Taylor painting
Cabana trim; an
abundance of apples;
Chef Norman Sigurdson
poses with the spit-
roasted pig and Farmer
Dave Wides shows off
the new apple press in
action.)
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 •
Sorrento Centre Autumn 2011
e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • Centre Autumn 2011 a
Sorrento on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.c

4. Sorrento Centre News
Evil never sleeps, ‘tis true, but neither does the Good,
Every Eden has its serpent, to tempt us from the “should”,
But there always is an Aslan, Gandalf or dear Dumbledore,
The struggle never ends, we’ve all been there before.
If you haven’t been to Sorrento, then you haven’t really lived.....
at least as deeply as one can, when you take yourself “outside”..
… ‘outside yourself’, that is, and your comfort zones,
…outside, outdoors - with sun, and sand, night sky, birdsong
and trees.
So, come, to this gentle place…,
where people are relaxed and real,
and God has a human face.
Find in that ‘thin-ness’ rest for your soul,
Time to learn and laugh again, a way to make things whole.
Song for Sorrento You never are the same again, after this haven you have found.
Leave nothing but your footprints, and let memories abound.
Blessings on Sorrento, a place that never bores,
This poem about the beauty and the spiritual importance of Blessings on all who come and go - now and evermore.
Sorrento Centre was written by Patricia Giannelia, pastor of Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kelowna, during her stay with us this - Patricia J. Giannelia, Sorrento 2011
past summer. Patricia was taking Douglas Todd’s course “Cascadia:
Exploring the Spirit of the Pacific Northwest” and was moved to
write two poems, one of which was “Song for Sorrento”. “There
must be something in the rarified air of Sorrento, or the water of the
Shuswap, as poems are a rarity for me - my defaults are prose and
essay,” she says. We hope that you can all identify parts of your own
“Sorrento Experience” in Patricia’s lines.
Song for Sorrento
In the centre of Cascadia, there’s a ‘thin place’ to behold....
A place called Sorrento Centre...very new and very old....
Where games are played and songs are sung,
And ghost stories unfold....
All year round, in this place full of surprises,
Gather people of all ages, shapes, and sizes....
All are welcome here that’s very true; it’s not just on our sign.
From Farmer Dave to Chief Cook Norm,
and Director Chris, of course,
to each and every one of you, who finds here heart and home.
Come to Sorrento, to see what’s here to do.
Spes Bona, Nova Vita, Caritas, to name for you a few,
But then we’re in the “Shuswap” - just past the Similkameen,
‘Run of the mill’ monikers simply wouldn’t do...
Fireplace scratching reads “Toujours Pret”,
and an oracle intones, “...evil never sleeps...”
“Whatever can that mean?”, you wonder but dare not ask.
Sorrento Centre• AutumnSorrento, 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,
2011

5. Sorrento Centre News
Sorrento Centre Auction: Barbie Needs a New Bed!
After the overwhelming success of last year’s online fundraising auction which allowed Sorrento Centre to purchase a new tractor, we have
just launched a new online auction to help us purchase some new beds for the lodge rooms.
Those of you who were guests of the Centre this past summer may have had the chance to see Executive Director Chris Lind previewing the
auction. Using a Barbie doll in a cradle as a prop Chris illustrated the need the Centre has to replace some of its more timeworn beds in the
lodge rooms. “Barbie needs a new bed!” became the rallying cry.
We currently have 83 beds including queens, doubles, singles, sofa beds and cabana bunks. We estimate it will cost $30,000 to replace all of
the beds which is an average of $361 per bed. We will replace the most run down beds first.
Sorrento Centre is run on a bare bones budget. We
have enough income to pay our operating costs
but not to pay for our capital costs. All the capital
items, buildings, tractors, coolers and even beds
are paid for through generous gifts from people
like you. Many people have graciously donated
items for this auction. As a result you now have
the chance to start your Christmas shopping early
and help the Centre at the same time.
Please visit the Auction Page on our website
(http://www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca/auction/
details) for more details on how to either bid on
an auction item or to donate an item or service
to the auction. We already have a wide range of
things to bid on running the gamut from arts and
crafts (books, paintings, pottery, etc.) to services
(catered dinners and restaurant gift certificates,
legal services, a nutritional health assessment)
as well as a unique opportunity to have a
character named after you in the next Joanne
Kilbourn mystery novel from author Gail Bowen.
(Incidentally, Gail promises that the character will
be neither a villain nor a victim!)
So, you can help ensure a good night’s sleep for Sorrento Centre guests while at the same time taking home some exciting gifts for yourself
or a loved one.
Advent Retreat: “As We Wait” - November 24-27
Please join us on the weekend of November 24- 27 for an Advent Retreat facilitated by Nancy Scott. Advent is a time of waiting. However,
waiting runs counter to our modern culture of bustle and instant gratification. We have forgotten how to wait. – at least for a very long time.
What are the benefits of waiting and can we reclaim these gifts? This semi-silent directed weekend retreat will explore the context of Advent.
It may be the best Christmas gift you have ever given yourself.
Nancy Scott is a graduate of The Education for Ministry Program as well as The Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Direction. She is an Oblate
of The Sisters of St. John the Divine. The cost of the course is $150. To register or for more details please contact the Sorrento Centre office.
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 Autumn 2011

6. Notes from the Sorrento Farm
Notes From The Farm
by David Wides (“Farmer Dave”)
As we move into autumn we can take time for reflection and thanksgiving
and embrace the change of seasons. The second year of growing at the
Sorrento Centre Farm has provided a lot to be thankful for. We have grown
an abundance of produce and have shared the bounty with thousands of
people in the Sorrento Centre community.
There were many highlights to acknowledge throughout this growing
season. One of the most obvious is the expansion of our field space: this
year we expanded the farm field by 8000 square feet. This expansion made
it possible to grow more produce than during our first season. Needless
to say we had no problem eating the increased quantity of produce in the
kitchen! Pink and purple heirloom potatoes were a big hit this summer
One big success for the farm this season was the fundraising drive for our
Kubota Tractor. We offer continued thanks and gratitude to the families
and individuals who contributed to our tractor fundraising efforts. Our
abundant harvest from the farm this season would not have been possible
without the tractor.
Our relationship with Bill Stagg, the beekeeper of Sweetacre Apiaries, is
another highlight of life on the farm. Bill’s eight hives produced close to
1000 lbs. of honey this season. The bees were so productive that Bill has
already increased the hives to 16 for next season. You can be one of the first
to sample this year’s honey harvest by bidding on a honey jar in our online
auction. Sorrento Centre Farm Honey will also be available at The Sorrento
Centre Book Shoppe next year.
Another highlight of the season was the addition of a solar panel to the
farm. This panel powers our electric fence. The fence keeps the bears out of
our lettuce patch! We now generate enough solar power to keep the fence
Nicholas Grandjean, our International Associate from
Switzerland, helps with the pumpkin harvest charged all season. This addition of solar technology to our farming system is
an important initial step for us to take in support of renewable energy.
An ongoing source of fulfillment from the farm is our commitment to sharing the
abundance with those most in need. We donate produce throughout the growing
season to food banks and to low-income seniors in our community. Our ministry
of sharing the abundance provides a deep link with Sorrento Centre’s tradition of
generous giving.
Almost all of the crops on the farm thrived throughout the summer and produced a
huge abundance of produce. Despite a cool July, the growing season turned out to be
quite idyllic. Some of our most productive crops this season were the orange cherry
tomatoes, multi-colored potatoes, leaf lettuce, green beans, cucumbers and of course
zucchini .
The Sorrento Centre Farm continues to provide an abundance of shared inspiration.
The farm offers our community a direct connection with God’s Creation through the
Dakota Tranter and Cameron Gutjahr helm the
cycles of the seasons. We give thanks each spring for the warmth and abundance to Sorrento Farm booth at the weekly farmers market
come and we give thanks each fall for our harvests and our time to rest. It’s now time
to the field to rest, but there is already a lot to look forward to on the farm next year!
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 •Autumn Sorrento, 2011
Sorrento Centre Box 99, 2011