Page 7 - Presbyterian Connection

Connection
LEADERSHIP
Intentional Community at Ruth House
presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2022
PRESBYTERIAN
7
By the Rev. Jeff Crawford, Canadian Ministries and Crieff Hills Retreat Centre
The pandemic has been creating huge challenges for every Chris- tian community. Thankfully, it is presenting the church with fresh opportunities for ministry, too. For Crieff Hills Retreat Centre, a mis- sion of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, it led to the creation of a new Intentional Community. Lo- cated in Ruth House, a five-bed- room home on a secluded part of the 250-acre property, residents can stay for up to 12 months in a private room, filling their days with a combination of rest, work and service.
Shared life is a powerful way of breaking out of the individual iso- lation that is so prevalent in our age. Although participants pre- pare their own meals and create their own daily schedule, a week- ly group meal and informal wor- ship gathering provides a steady community rhythm. Led by the Rev. Dr. Kristine O’Brien, the Crieff Executive Director and a Starter in Cyclical PCC, the gatherings are joyful and informal, with plenty of time for faith-filled questions and conversations. There are plenty of informal gatherings as well, whether that is over a cup of tea at the breakfast table, or a glass of wine before supper. “We are creating space for God’s trans- forming power to be at work in people’s lives,” explained Kris- tine. “And we know that requires a slower pace where genuine re- lationships are fostered.”
In the summer and fall, resi- dents of the community invite the neighbourhood to gather at monthly bonfires. Individuals, couples, and even local youth groups have come to connect
with others amid laughter and smores. An online weekly book group that started from within the community also welcomes par- ticipants from beyond its walls and has proven to be a safe place to ask hard questions about faith and the church.
At first, the community had only one resident, but now it has grown to a steady stream of people who come for three, six or twelve months. Some are on sabbati- cal or intermission. Some are in a time of vocational discernment. Others have come simply to ex- plore a healthy rhythm of work and rest. All of them find ways to of- fer their gifts to the wider mission of Crieff Hills by pulling weeds in the gardens, working in the facil- ity’s dining room or serving along- side housekeeping staff. A shor t application and interview help to ensure that residents are ready for their stay and have a solid plan for getting the most out of their experi- ence. As the community continues to evolve and emerge, Kristine re- ceives suppor t from Cyclical PCC network, which hosts monthly on- line gatherings, provides missional leadership assessments, monthly one-on-one coaching and an an- nual learning event.
The goal of the Intentional Com- munity is to offer healing, growth and deepening faith through an intentional period of time away. That aligns with the overall mis- sion of Crieff Hills Retreat Centre, which strives to offer opportuni- ties for people from all walks of life to connect with the divine and find renewal. Both ministries are rooted in an understanding that Sabbath is an essential and life- giving Christian practice.
Through the generosity of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Presbytery of Waterloo-Wel-
lington, and support from Cyclical PCC ecosystem, this new wor- shipping community is marked by hospitality, learning, worship and compassion. The rural setting of farm, fields and forest offer the perfect location for participants to reflect, pray and draw close to God’s creation. For those who may be interested in participating, more information is available at crieffhills.com
Some books from the monthly book club that are influencing the life of the community:
• Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro
• The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile
• The Whole Language by Gregory Boyle
• Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
• In the Shelter by Pádraig Ó Tuama
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer
• Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren
Wellness Fund Offers Retreats at Crieff Hills During the pandemic, Crieff Hills Retreat Centre in Puslinch, Ont., was able to support almost 20 re-
treats for frontline and health-care workers who needed rest and re- juvenation during a time of chaos.
Acknowledging the need for rest and rejuvenation during on- going challenging times, a new Wellness Fund has been estab- lished that offers support for low- cost retreat programs and bursa- ries for those who need restful opportunities most. The Wellness Fund will allow participants to immerse themselves in nature to relax, restore and renew, all while having a room to stay in and meals provided to them. Anyone is eligible for the Wellness Fund,
however those with financial need, frontline health-care work- ers, BIPOC and the 2SLGBTQAI+ community will be prioritized.
To help support the Wellness Fund, gifts of $20 or more (marked “Wellness Fund”) can be made on- line at crieffhills.com/suppor t/do- nate or by calling 519-824-7898. Tax receipts are available.
Crieff Hills was created through the generosity of Col. J.B. Ma- clean and continues to thrive be- cause of many faithful donors and volunteers. For more information about Crieff Hills Retreat Centre please visit crieffhills.com.
In 2021, The Presbyterian Church in Canada provided a grant of $150,000 to Crieff Hills Retreat Centre.
The husband-and-wife music duo of Druzie Music performed at Crieff Hills Retreat Centre on August 7, as part of a fundraising concert to raise money for the Wellness Fund.