Rural Routes through the Holy

 

Rural Routes through the Holy: Recognize – Replenish – Rejoice

We’d like to nurture community among rural faith communities, providing a gathering opportunity with time for both structured and informal conversation, worship, education, play and table fellowship.  We’d like to share our stories and to hear yours; what is working well and what you lament or long for, what brings you joy and who is your neighbor.  We’d like to imagine together ways in which members of small, rural congregations might remain grounded in and able to share the Gospel despite sometimes challenging circumstances.

Rev. Catherine and the people of Bayfield-Little Shemogue Pastoral Charge

When:   Wednesday, June 26that 3:30 to Friday June 28that 1:00

Where  First United Church Murray Corner, 1505 Route 955, right on the water, 16 minutes from the Confederation Bridge (NB side)

Speaker & World Café facilitator   Dr. Marvin Anderson

Registration Fee: $30 per person, $50 for two from the same charge

Accommodation:  Attendees are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements.  To help with this a list of local accommodations has been prepared and will be posted at https://hemofthelight.com/ruralroutes or made available by phoning 506-536-0216 and leaving a message.  All meals except breakfast are provided. Coffee, tea and muffins are available from 9:30 am

Kitchen Party Thursday night.  Do you play an instrument? Bring it along.  Do you love to sing or dance? This is your chance.

What do you love about your faith community?  What brings you joy? Is there something that’s particularly meaningful to you in the way you worship together or the way you tend community?  Bring along a brief description and post it on our Community wall.

Prayer Stations A number of prayer stations will be set up in quiet corners for moments of pause and reflection. Gratitude or lament, intercession or deep stillness, here you’ll find ways of being prayer.

Local Artisans and Enterprises There’ll be booths available where you can browse and speak with some of the artisans in our community.  And there’ll be a Book Displayavailable throughout the gathering, arranged from United Church Resource Distribution.

Our image is used with the permission of Adam Young, artist and we are grateful to the EDGE network for an Innovations Grant to support this work.

About Catherine Smith

A retired minister with the United Church of Canada I’ve grown up in church, been ordained and served communities that are small or in transition. I’ve seen firsthand just how powerful these experiences can be in helping to foster meaningful connections with others and the Other, the mystery that holds us all. My greatest hope is that my writing and this website will help you live well in the big questions that face all of us in this beautiful, aching world.

4 Comments

  1. Catherine Smith on May 18, 2019 at 8:38 am

    Thank you Kerry; I’m really looking forward to it. I’m glad you’re sharing with your congregation. I want to get it out to as many as possible. Perhaps we’ll see you there.

  2. Catherine Ann Dickson on May 18, 2019 at 8:19 am

    What a wonderful idea!

    • Catherine Smith on May 18, 2019 at 8:40 am

      I hope it nourishes community and that we have vital conversation and lots of laughter.

  3. Kerry Howarth on May 18, 2019 at 8:14 am

    What a wonderful idea, Catherine! I will have to think about this. I will put it in our bulletin to see if there is any interest. Thank you for organizing this!

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