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Sacred Space |
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Calling Lakes Centre wishes to provide
Sacred Space
where all are welcome to search, to question, to learn, to be
challenged, to rest, to find the Holy within and around them.
What
is sacred space?
Why
is it important for us to create sacred space? |
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Calling Lakes Sacred Space Committee reflected
upon these questions as they met this past year to consider ways
of creating sacred spaces on both our grounds and in our
buildings. A poem entitled
"Sacred Space" by David Stanley Bell helped us identify that
the elements and importance of Sacred Space included: |
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A
place that welcomes people, draws us into ourselves and
reconnects us to the divine at the core of our being where
we can grow and thrive in the love and light of all creation |
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A place to
rejuvenate ourselves |
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A place to draw
the light of creation in with every breath |
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A place where we
discern sacred action |
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With these understandings in our hearts we let
our ideas for creating sacred space flow freely and then
prioritized them. The ideas were then presented to the staff and
the Board to help bring them alive. The following is a snapshot
of the sacred space priorities that were generated and which we
continue to work on this year: |
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The Echo Room
has been redesigned with built in counters and art supplies
to invite creative expression and a circular seating area to
encourage small group visiting and silent reflection. |
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| The fireplace in the main
lounge now has an arrangement of candles which can be lit
inviting people to relax and reflect. |
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| The carpet on the ramp in
the lounge has been replaced. |
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| Crocuses, tulips, narcissus
and other bulbs were planted on the hill in the front lawn
last fall. Already the dwarf irises are in bloom! |
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| Carved walking sticks will
become available for people who want to hike and we are
placing benches on the hill along the walking path and in
areas by the labyrinth and outside the lounge where people
can rest and reflect. |
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| New signage will help direct
people to the halls, the main entrance and the roadways. |
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| The lower hallway will be
painted and we will create a Green area that encourages
sustainable living and a Historical Journey wall depicting
the history of the Centre. |
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| Improvements to the lodge lounges so that
people can relax and visit over a cup of tea in the
evenings. |
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May all of us indeed experience the Sacred at
Calling Lakes.
We thank Adele Heise, Betty Metzler and Darrel
Reine for volunteering on the Sacred Space Committee and
contributing time, energy and wonderful sacred space ideas.
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To learn about other Sacred Space Initiatives,
check out:
Fruit Trees
Refreshing the Lodges |
