Summer Programmes and Camping Information for BC

It is throwback Thursday this week, meaning it is time for me to refresh your memory about some useful information I have already shared in a previous post. Last year I posted some information and links on special summer programmes for children, youth and families. I have updated the information for this summer and shared it once again. I have also included some pictures to make it more interesting (you're welcome). Finally, I would like to especially emphasize the information below on Sorrento Centre. Partly this is because I think it is a wonderful place for families to spend the summer and partly because I will be up there for two weeks this summer (one volunteering and one leading worship). You should really check it out. Now, on with the information!

During the summer months, Churches host many special programmes for children and youth. These include Vacation Bible Schools, day camps and residential camps. Below you will find information and links to some of the wonderful programmes being run by Churches in the area this summer. Even if they are not the right fit for your family this summer, I urge you to learn a bit about these ministries. Many of these programmes are funded by donations from Churches and individuals, and they would appreciate your financial support.

VBS with St Mary's and Constellation Ministry : In the last week of August, St Mary's Kerrisdale will be joining with other local Churches and Constellation Ministry to offer a week long Vacation Bible School held at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church. For more information contact the Rev. David Taylor.


 

Camp Spirit: The United Church in the Lower Mainland is hosting eight weeks of day camp at different Churches in the area - each one on a different theme from music to science to the environment - all from a Christian perspective. Two of the camps will be held at Churches close to St Philip's: Shaughnessy Heights United Church and Dunbar Heights United Church. Another week will be at Lakeview Multicultural United Church with whom we partner through Constellation Ministry. For more information, to donate to Camp Spirit or to register, visit their website.


 
Camp in the Community: The Anglican Diocese of BC is providing 7 different camping programmes around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. With both day camps and wilderness camping programmes with varying themes and activities, there is something for everyone. If you happen to be on the island at all this summer, check and see if this fits for you and your family. For more information, visit their website.

 
Sorrento Centre: Each summer, the Sorrento Centre on Shuswap lake offers six weeks of family retreats during July and August. They provide daily worship, adult education programmes, access to their beach on the lake, community activities and a dynamic children and youth programme morning and evening. In addition, they also offer a leadership programme called LEAP for two weeks in July.

This summer Caitlin will be leading worship the week of July 13-19th, Marilyn will be offering a course with Anne Clark on Godly Play as Spiritual Practice August 4-9th and Sarah Stephens will be a member of this year's Summer Youth Staff. Other familiar faces at Sorrento this summer include Cameron Gutjahr, David Taylor, Andrew Halladay, Jeremy Clark-King and Ellen Clark-King. Click on any of the names above to learn more about what they will be up to at Sorrento. Visit their website for more information on registration, programmes, and how to support the work of Sorrento Centre.
 
Anglican Camps in BC: Many of the Diocese in our ecclesiastical province of BC and the Yukon offer residential camping experiences: Camp Owaissi just outside Kamloops, Camp Caledonia near Smithers and Camp Braeburn in the Yukon.

The Return of the Blog

Working in Youth and Family ministry is a constant source of new experiences and learning opportunities - one of the many things I love about it. Recently, in my work with the Diocesan Performing Arts Ministry, otherwise known as Sheep and Goats, I produced and directed my first musical with my much more experienced and theatrically trained partner in crime Claire Rice. One of the many things that I learned from this process was that producing a musical gobbles up your time like teenagers eat pizza. For this reason, I have fallen woefully behind on my weekly blogging duties over the past month. I will make the appropriate confessions to the internet gods and hopefully be quickly absolved of my transgressions. In the meantime, I thought it would be appropriate to share a bit about The Selfish Giant story and what we were trying to say in the show. As usual, it all comes back to the relationship between children and adults in the Church.

The Selfish Giant, is a relatively unknown short story for children by the well known Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde. The story is set in the giant’s beautiful garden. Upon his return from a prolonged absence, the giant finds a group of children happily playing in his garden. He promptly ejects them and puts up a high wall to keep such trespassers out. Because of his selfishness, his garden becomes the sole domain of the North Wind, Snow, Frost and Hail.

The Selfish Giant with Lady North Wind walled into his cold, lonely garden

But at this point, our musical adds to the original short story; the Giant, cold and alone sings about how he prefers his cold, lonely garden. Away from other people, he is safe from the pain caused by broken relationships and lost love. The children, having overheard his song, begin to understand that what appears to be anger and selfishness is really a product of his own fear and pain. So they decide that the giant and the garden both need them – need their love and their laughter – and they sneak back in. With the return of the children, the Giant too is transformed and his frozen heart melts. He welcomes the children back into his garden and knocks down the walls that kept them out. 

'We are one, flowers of one garden, we're one, leaves of one tree, let the walls come down, stand here together we are one family.'

This is our story. It is about the divisions and walls between generations in the Church: children and young people who feel excluded and alienated; adults and seniors who feel abandoned and irrelevant. This story is about transformation. The kind that God accomplishes in our hearts when we care for each other; when we listen and understand the feelings behind one another’s actions and words even when they are hurtful. It is about how God is present when people of all ages come together in the Church as the body of the Risen Christ. In this Church, love will come again like wheat that springs up green from the cold, dark earth in a giant’s garden.

The cast of The Selfish Giant in the memorial garden at St Philip's.