Christ Church Cathedral week at Sorrento Centre (July 20 to 25) brought about two dozen CCC parishioners together for daily worship, learning, and song.
Sorrento Centre is the Anglican retreat centre about 70 km east of Kamloops on the main arm of Shuswap Lake. Three large buildings have rooms for visitors, and there is alsospace for RVs, campsites for tents, and separate or duplex several cabins or cabanas, plus a swimming beach on the lake.
Morning Prayer for the whole Centre – both CCC members and as many others from both BC and Alberta – came at 9 am during the first four weekdays with special liturgies created by Dean Chris Pappas, Music Director Neil Cockburn, and the Rev. Clare Morgan.
Neil played a keyboard to help us sing hymns both traditional and modern, and Clare played her harp and led the singing along with a small choir that included about half a dozen CCC members. Chris also celebrated the closing Eucharist for the whole community on Friday afternoon. The theme of the week for worship was “Orthodox Roots and Celtic Wings,” which gives you an idea of the variety of the music.
Most CCC parishioners spent mornings in a class taught by the Rev. Harold Munn, “God Talk for Secular Ears.” Harold urged that when we get the chance to talk to our many non-church-going friends and acquaintances about our faith journeys as Christians that we avoid using “God Talk,” but use church language they can understand and which does
not put them off.
Others worked on personal journals, using drawing, painting, stenciling and other artistic techniques to create beautiful work that they show to all on Friday. They were “resting, listening, and making.”
In the afternoon special events were held for CCC members (and guests if they wished to join in) that included a hymn sing, a hike to a waterfall in the area followed by a trip to a store in nearby Tappen that featured large and delicious ice cream cones. Another afternoon featured a trip to a pub for refreshment and talk led by Dean Chris about possible future activities at the Cathedral.
On Thursday came a “skit night” with presentations both funny and serious by individual campers, families, youth staff, and others. The final Friday event was a special turkey dinner (in July!) for everyone at Sorrento.
Thanks to the efforts of the Centre’s core staff, led by Executive Director Michael Shapcott, and an enthusiastic youth staff who ran a children’s program while adults were studying, all seemed to be having a great time – the week was too short – and planned to have another Christ Church Cathedral week at Sorrento Centre in 2026.