Welcome to Spirit River Community - A Retreat Centre Without Walls
The South Saskatchewan River flows through the Canadian prairies, bringing life and beauty. In a similar way, the Spirit flows through our lives, bringing curiosity, hope, comfort, and creativity.
In the spirit of Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, where for more than 65 years people gathered on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River for group and personal retreats, workshops, and conferences, we gather together online and in person to listen, explore, pray, learn, heal, and grow. This retreat centre closed its doors in August 2024, but the community which formed over the years continues to be vibrant and engaged, and new participants are warmly welcome.
Welcome to the SRC website. Thank you for your interest as a 'retreat centre without walls' begins to take shape. I'm convinced that with the guidance of thoughtful and prayerful facilitators, meaningful connections can be formed and nurtured online. I invite you to subscribe to the Spirit River Community e-newsletter to be informed about our upcoming presenters – please send an email to SpiritRiverSK@outlook.com
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Currently, presentations are only being offered on Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to you following your registration for a program. If the presentation is recorded, a copy of this recording will be sent to you to watch/review following the event. See you soon!
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Peace to you,
Sarah Donnelly, M.Div.
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Upcoming Events
Three Seeds of Ecological Spirituality
Shawn Sanford Beck, M. Div.
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Tuesday March 25
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MDT​
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9:00 PDT / 10:00 MDT / 11:00 CDT / 12:00 EDT / 1:00 ADT​​
Come for a time of shared reflection and gentle spiritual practice, as GreenSpirit Chaplain Shawn Sanford Beck offers us the “three seeds” of Christian Animism, Green Priestcraft, and the Rune of Sophia. For many, these will be entirely new concepts and forms of spirituality, each of which has the potential to deepen our relationship with the living Earth and all the more-than-human neighbours with whom we share this precious life. As these seeds spring to life within the soil of your soul, you may find yourself on the journey of becoming a chaplain to creation!
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This workshop welcomes between 6 and 10 participants - register soon.
This workshop will not be recorded, and so welcomes only those who are able to participate on Zoom at the time it is being offered. Registration fee $25 CAD (discounted fee to encourage registrations)
Waiting in the In-Between: A Spiritual Journey Through Change
Kalyn Falk, M.A.
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Tuesday, April 8
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. CDT ​​
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(note: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for folks living in SK)
1:00 PDT / 2:00 MDT / 3:00 CDT / 4:00 EDT / 5:00 ADT
How do we move from what was to what will be? This workshop invites participants to explore the experience of disorientation, transition, and change through the lens of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This is a time to honor what has been, sit with the unknown, and open ourselves to new possibilities.
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A recording of this presentation will be sent to all who register. $50 CAD
Green Burials: Your Legacy - and a Gift to the Planet
Richard Rosin
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Tuesday, May 6
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. CDT ​​
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(note: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for folks living in SK)
12:00 PDT / 1:00 MDT / 2:00 CDT / 3:00 EDT / 4:00 ADT
Many of us have spent our lives reducing our impact on our planet, from recycling and composting to lobbying and keeping our lawns chemical free. Natural Green Burials (how we have taken care of our dead long before there was a funeral industry) is the 'traditional' form of burial, practiced by many cultures and growing in popularity worldwide. Our environmental legacy lives on long after our hearts stop beating. We have much to do to prepare. This workshop will take a refreshing look at this topic.
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A recording of this presentation will be sent to all who register. No fee for Growing in Wisdom participants. $50 CAD for general public.
Rooted in Love: Navigating a Coup Without Losing Heart
Kalyn Falk, M.A.
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Tuesday, May 13
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. CDT ​​
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(note: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for folks living in SK)
1:00 PDT / 2:00 MDT / 3:00 CDT / 4:00 EDT / 5:00 ADT
This workshop will explore practices for staying spiritually grounded in times of global uncertainty. Through reflection, discussion, and embodied practices, we will explore how love, connection, and intentional care can sustain us through empathy fatigue, burnout, and the search for purpose in uncertain times.
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Access to a recording of this presentation will be sent to all who register. $50 CAD
Photo credit: Photo by RODRIGO GONZALEZ on Unsplash
Free-Form, Intuitive Mandala Making for Well-being
Jean Epp-Gauthier
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Tuesday, May 20
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. CDT ​​
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(note: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for folks living in SK)
12:00 PDT / 1:00 MDT / 2:00 CDT / 3:00 EDT / 4:00 ADT
What are mandalas? The mandala is a circular motif. The word mandala means center, circumference or “magic circle” and expresses wholeness. For thousands of years, the mandala has been used as an art form worldwide, especially to express the sacred. It is a powerful symbol and a tool for meditation, insight, healing, and even transformation. Mandala creation enhances well-being and can be an avenue to self-exploration.
This course is limited to 10 participants. In this workshop participants will be introduced to mandalas, set an intention or theme for their mandala, have the time to create, and then enjoy some time for (optional) interpretation and sharing - to explore mandala symbolism, choice of colour and forms, and glean possible meaning and insights your mandalas may have for you.
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Access to a recording of this presentation (but not personal sharing) will be sent to all who register. $50 CAD
Ongoing Classes
The Soul of a Pilgrim:
Eight Practices for the
Journey Within
Sarah Donnelly and Nancy Phillips
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Eight Thursdays, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. CDT
March 6 & 20, April 3 & 24, May 1 & 15, June 5 & 19
One chapter each session​​
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2:00 PDT / 3:00 MDT / 4:00 CDT / 5:00 EDT / 6:00 ADT
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Registration now closed. However, if you would like to receive a copy of the recordings, and participate in future classes, please send an email to SpiritRiverSK@outlook.com. Registration fee remains $50/8 sessions.
An eight-part book study. The renowned author and abbess of the online retreat center Abbey of the Arts, Christine Valters Paintner takes readers on a new kind of an inner journey to discover the heart of God. Eight stages of the pilgrim's way - from hearing the call to coming home - are accompanied by scripture stories of great biblical journeys and the author's unique and creative practices of prayer, writing, and photography. ​
March 6 - The Practice of Hearing the Call and Responding
March 20 - The Practice of Packing Lightly
April 3 - The Practice of Crossing the Threshold
April 24 - The Practice of Making the Way by Walking
May 1 - The Practice of Being Uncomfortable
May 15 - The Practice of Beginning Again
June 5 - The Practice of Embracing the Unknown
June 19 - The Practice of Coming Home
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A recording of each session will be sent to all who register. No fee for Growing in Wisdom participants. $50 CAD for general public.
Down the River...
The following presentations will be offered in the coming months - mark your calendars!
Workshop Series: Exploring Spiritual Growth Through Reflection and Practice - with Kalyn Falk
Access to the recordings of past sessions can be purchased in the 'Stores' page on this website.
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Second Tuesday of the month, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. CST
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Come for one or several sessions. Join us for a transformative monthly workshop series designed to deepen your spiritual journey. Led by Kalyn Falk, a seasoned spiritual director, each 2-hour session will provide a space to explore new mental frameworks, engage in self-reflection, and participate in group discussions.
Over the course of the year, we will explore topics that include Spirituality, Counselling, Bodywork and Conflict Resolution, helping us connect the mind, body and spirit. These courses will introduce new practices, tools, frameworks and invitations for reflection. Topics will include:
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Your Journey of Faith: Exploring the Stages of Spiritual Growth - November 12, 2024
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Living with an Expansive Faith - December 10, 2024
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Taking Another Look at God: Renewing Our Images of the Holy - January 14, 2025
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When Faith Hurts: Exploring Religious Trauma and Spiritual Healing - February 11, 2025
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Holding the Tension: Moving Beyond Either/Or Thinking - March 11, 2025
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Waiting in the In-Between: A Spiritual Journey Through Change - April 8, 2025
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Rooted in Love: Navigating a Coup Without Losing Heart - May 13, 2025
Whether you're looking to explore new spiritual understandings or deepen your current path, this series offers a supportive, reflective environment for growth and connection.
Near Death Experiences - Hope, Hypoxia and Hypothesis - Rev. David Maginley
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