Last weekend I had the privilege of spending time with about 40 young people and leaders from BC and Alberta at the Sorrento Centre.

We spent the weekend building community: playing games, praying, singing, and listening to a wonderful theme speaker – Christian Harvey. Christian is an Anglican deacon from Peterborough, Ontario, as well as a founder of One City Peterborough, a non-profit that, in their words, “supports those who have experienced homelessness and/or criminalization towards their full inclusion into the community.” He spoke eloquently about how, as followers of Jesus, we might live in such a way that all are welcome, not because we should, but because without the “other” we are not fully human as God intended us to be, because we are better together (the theme of the weekend). 

This retreat was a wonderful reminder and affirmation for me that working with young people is something that is near and dear to my heart.

I am so grateful that at St. John’s, we see the value of this. Even though I did not “bring” any young people, the leadership team supports this as a service to the wider church. I am so grateful for those who make it possible for me to be away for a Sunday, and particularly for Canon Donald Lawton for his generosity in leadership in our Sunday morning worship. 

We are truly better together.

Thanks be to God!


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