PartnerConnect 2022-06-17 

Good morning SoulStream partners – A week ago, the first in-person Partner Gathering since 2019 took place at Sorrento. And though I was unable to attend due to Covid exposure, I’ve heard from many how wonderful it was to be together. I can well imagine! I’d like to offer you just a few updates from our community life that were part of the time.

One highlight was the Welcome Ceremony that was held for four new partners – Ali Cummings, Kim Alexis, Leslie Ann Hebb and Melody Owen. What a gift to have their presence with us. And what a gift it is to share the values and commitments of this way of being in the world. You can look forward to an opportunity to get to know them a little better in a PartnerConnect introduction later this year. 

Our new community online platform called The Table launched. There’s excitement around the possibilities for this to help us stay connected with one another. Having a vehicle for partners to engage in ways that particularly interest them was an expressed need from the community at the beginning of 2021 and The Table is the outcome of exploring that need. Many thanks to John Lunn and Darryl Frayne for their considerable work in getting this up and running and supporting the process as we become familiar with it. 

Registration for Living from the Heart cohorts continues to be somewhat slow in our post-Covid and uncertain world. Yesterday you received an email announcing a discounted tuition rate for partners for the 2022-23 year. Perhaps that stirs some interest in you? The Art of Spiritual Direction also had low registration numbers for the 2022-24 cohort. As a result, the coordinators Pearl Nieuwenhuis and Doug Schroeder recommended postponing the start of the program for one year, with the next cohort running 2023-25. We’re hoping and trusting there will be a full group at that time. Please join in praying for these programs, which have long been a significant way SoulStream invites others into the contemplative way and all its transformational potential.

After coming alongside during the transition of the Executive Director leadership for the past 1 1/2 years, Doug Schroeder has stepped off the Leadership Team. He has worked with the Leadership Team for 7 1/2 years, and we have greatly benefitted from his love and wisdom and generous heart. His presence has been deeply appreciated, and his gracious support has been invaluable. Thank you Doug.

New Board members John Alexis and Laurie McGillvray officially began their terms. We’re grateful for their voices and their willingness to serve our community in this way. We’re also very grateful for departing Board members Brian Klassen and Jayne Ruckdashel. Each of them has been an important part of the Board’s work over the last number of years, and we sincerely thank them.

One last thing: mark your calendars for next year’s Gathering – June 9-11, 2023 at Sorrento. Life in our dispersed community is a gift, and Zoom has been a wonderful connecting medium. Opportunity to be together in person is also an incredible gift, helping deepen our sense of shared life and belonging. We celebrate that gift for all those who were able to come together at Sorrento this year. 

Peace and love to you all.
Deb