Rural Routes Through the Holy Schedule – 2024

Beautiful to Behold: Broken Open Church

Thursday, June 13^th
9:30  Muffins, Coffee, Tea
10:00 Welcome, Orientation to our time and place, check in and Worship
11:15 – 12:15  Taster(s)

12:30 – 1:15 Lunch

1:15  -2: 45  Theme Presentation One and Rural Café
2:45- – 3:15 Free time to walk the labyrinth, explore the prayer practices or book/resource/ market table)
3:15  – Tasters  (3)

5:30  Supper

6:30 Hymn Sing

Friday, June 14th
9:30      Muffins, Coffee, Tea
10:00    Gathering/ Morning Body Prayer
10:15 – 10:45  Taster  
10:45 – 12:15   Theme Presentation Two & Rural Café
2:15    Group photo and Table Church explanation  

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch (with Table Church Option)

Time after lunch to visit the Maker Market, the prayer space, stretch legs or just keep chatting.

2:00 – 3:30  Two workshops running concurrently (Please see below for descriptions and please make your choices, on the registration form)
3:30 – 3:45   Coffee Break
3:45 – 5:15  Two workshops running concurrently

5:30 Supper

6:30 Hymn Sing

Saturday, June 15^th
9:30      Muffins, Coffee, Tea
10:00    Morning Body Prayer
10:15    Final Theme Presentation

12:00 Lunch

12:45  Closing worship

Please leave your feedback sheets in the basket by the door.

Maker’s Market

This year we’re adding something we hope you’ll enjoy; the opportunity to create a market of the things we make or create: our knitting, our writing, our carving, our jams or our honey, our books or our baking. If you can’t bring to mind something you make, you can always make someone happy by buying what they’ve bought. We’ll also see if there are any local folks with something to add to the market. We’ll open the market between 9:30 and 10:00 am and during mealtimes and we’ll have someone on hand to collect payment for each of you. For questions please contact Leslie Burrows at leslieburrows@gmail.com

Workshop Descriptions

Spiritual Memoir with Janice Maclean

Our lives are shaped by what we recollect, through our search for meaning, in the lessons we have learned along the way, and by what has been passed down to us. Spiritual Memoir honours what is sacred and meaningful in our lives.

Spiritual memoir is passed along in stories written down, in diaries, in journals, in letters and quilts, through family recipes, genealogies and heirlooms. It is our legacy. So, writes Janice, as part of the Introduction to the Spiritual Memoir Project.  In this workshop Janice will offer ways to engage the work and gift of Spiritual Memoir.

You can read more about Spiritual Memoir and follow Janice at www.prayerbench.ca

Hearing the Acadian Story Anew with Marvin Lee Anderson (with Karen Archibald Waugh, David-Roger Gagnon, Ivan Gregan and Betty Jean Curry)

The local area of Grand Pré is of great importance for the Acadian people; it is a touchstone for the tragic narrative of the ethnic cleansing known as “le Grand derangement” (The Great Upheaval).   Our brief time together will allow us to unpack the story of both the tragedy and resilience of the Acadian people. This can be taken as a stand-alone workshop or paired with What Does the Acadian story mean for me?

Collaborative Ministry with David Hewitt

In his work within the United Church, presently as Regional Minister of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region, David has much to share about collaborative ministry, in which participating churches share ministry leadership. His experience has given him both practical process advice and wisdom on what might bring us together.  This is an opportunity to explore this possibility for ministry whether you’ve already entered dialogue with other congregations or have never even imagined what it might be like or how you would get there.

What does the Acadian story have to do with me?  with Marvin Anderson (with Karen Archibald-Waugh, David-Roger Gagnon, Ivan Gregan and Betty Jean Curry)

In these days of migrations, forced and chosen, we will hear how our churches, some situated on former Acadian lands, can become agents of Light, Hope and Healing, allowing this traumatic history to enlighten how we can live as good neighbours today.  This can be taken as a stand-alone workshop or paired with Hearing the Acadian Story Anew.

Friday evening or following the Rural Routes Through the Holy gathering, there will be an opportunity to visit on of the better known Acadian deportation sites.

There is so much to savour in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. So, why not book an extra night of accommodation and plan to stay for a bit. There are great restaurants for your Saturday night meal and lots to see the next day before heading home. You may even want to attend worship with Orchard Valley United Church, our host congregation, on Sunday morning.