The parallel forces of secularism and multiculturalism have
radically altered the relationship between the Christian Church and
Canadian society. The Church has been pushed from its place at the
centre of the social order to the periphery and is regarded by many
people as just one more organization. In British Columbia and
Alberta, 16 and 17 percent of the population, respectively, attend
church regularly, now defined by Statistics Canada as “once a
month.” But, somewhere over 75% of the population in the two
provinces claim to believe in a Divine Power and over 90% claim to
believe in life after death. A significant number of these believers
but non-churchgoers claim to have spiritual practices that are
important to them.
Sorrento Centre envisions itself as a bridge between the more
formal expressions of the Church’s life and the secularized
multicultural society, a place of meeting, a place of each
experiencing the other, a place of engagement, a place of
understanding.
Ministry of Learning and Growth
During a concentrated 5-week period in the summer and a number
of other programmes throughout the year, the Centre offers
opportunities for increasing knowledge about and understanding of
Scripture, theology, and liturgy; for deepening and widening
personal spirituality; for discerning the mission of the Church in
a rapidly changing world; for discussing ethical issues in the
Church and Society; for experiencing spirit-filled community and
innovative worship. The programmes offer a wide variety of
lectures, discussion, hands-on-experiences, music, drama, art,
writing, etc. to help guests of all ages to deepen and strengthen
their sense of God being present in their lives and the world.
Ministry of Hospitality
The Centre offers warm and welcoming hospitality to other
Church bodies which run their own programmes. Diocesan and
Provincial Synod, youth gatherings, clergy conferences, retreats,
parish gatherings, and National Church meetings all help to anchor
the Centre firmly in the life of the Church. In the Centre’s
programmes and these events, more members of the Anglican Church
are taking advantage of what the Centre offers than ever before.
Ecumenically, other faith groups such as the Pentecostal Church
and the Quakers are welcomed to the Centre for their annual
gatherings.
Ministry to the World
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews enjoins us to practise
hospitality in these words: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without
knowing it,” and a bit further on he writes, “Such sacrifices are
pleasing to God.” The Centre welcomes many guests with little or
no connection to the Church who use the facilities for a wide
variety of cultural and educational workshops ranging from
Bluegrass musicians to quilters. All of them greatly appreciate
the warm hospitality and sense of community. Many speak of the
Centre as a Holy Place and often are stirred to think and talk
about spiritual matters. The mission of the Church is to worship
God and serve God’s world. Hospitality has been part of Christian
service from the beginning and no one can know how many lives have
been touched by it.
Family Support Ministries
Sorrento Centre puts great emphasis on being family oriented.
The summer program provides activities for children of all ages
during the mornings and evenings when the adult courses are taking
place. Each summer there is at least one intergenerational program
in which whole families (except infants) can take part. Afternoons
are free so that families can plan activities for themselves.
Each week in the summer schedule there are activities for young
people and in recent years the Centre has developed a highly
regarded leadership training program for youth. One of the most
delightful aspects of the Centre is seeing the children running
around freely, playing together in a way that one now seldom sees
in the average neighbourhood. At a time when work, financial and
social pressures seem to be conspiring against allowing families
time to be together, the Centre provides a relatively inexpensive,
safe setting for family holidays, with tent sites, trailer sites,
R.V. hook-ups and cabanas available in what one parent described
as ‘a Godly setting.’
Two or three generations of a family gathering for a week
together is not an uncommon sight, and more and more families come
to the Centre for family reunions.
The Ministry of ‘Community’
Human beings are communal animals. We learn how to be human by
living in community, large or small, with other humans. Yet many
aspects of society today work against the development of true
community. The engine that powers all the ministries of Sorrento
Centre is the sense of community that it engenders. Even the most
casual visitors comment on it. For Christians, true community is
not built on heartiness, or living in one another’s emotional
pockets, but on striving to extend into the community the radical
equality that lies at the core of the Eucharist.
Ministry and Worship
Worship, especially Eucharistic worship, is at the center of
all our ministry. The Eucharist is celebrated regularly and often
daily for staff and guests who wish to be part of it. Innovation
and experiment in liturgy and music is part not only of our
worship but of our programming. For many the Centre is what the
Irish call a “thin place”, a place in which they can draw nearer
to God and grow stronger in faith.
