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Sacred Spaces: Opening the Holy Invitation Even Wider

Part of the Cultivate Project of NWWA Synod of the ELCA  

Join Facilitators and Practitioners of unique gatherings and organic forms of church, for a day of stories, experiences, and workshops to explore together how we can open God’s holy invitation even wider. There are so many ways to gather as faithful communities, whether it's outdoors, creating art, at the pub, or just eating around one big table. Why shouldn’t our gatherings reflect our uniqueness?

Let’s imagine how we can foster organic sacred spaces right in our own backyards. How can we create more inclusive gatherings for people to encounter God? How can we experiment with the gifts we have to meet the needs of those seeking the spirit in our own neighborhoods? What is sprouting up within you that is ready for germination? Come with ideas, come with questions, come to dream about what sacred spaces can be!  

We’ll have an optional gathering the night before for practitioners to come, share a meal and find community in the sometimes siloed work on church experimentation. Scholarships are available so please reach out if cost is a barrier.

Event Details
  • Main event is Saturday, September 16, 9am-5pm
  • Optional evening/overnight gathering beginning at 5pm on Friday, September 15 for practitioners/leaders of experiments   
  • Held at Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham (1185 Roy Road, Bellingham)
  • Costs $35/person or $100/church group (includes lunch and snacks)
  • Additional $35 per person for Friday overnight option (includes dinner, breakfast, lunch)
  • Questions? Email Erik Samuelson: eriksamuelson@gmail.com 
Registration:  

Register HERE (note: if registering a group of 3 or mroe, please use "GROUP" as the promo code - that way you can add all the attendees from the group individually and it will eliminate those individual costs and just charge the $100!)

Schedule:  

Optional Friday Gathering for Practitioners

  • 5:00pm Leadership Team Meeting
  • 6:00pm Dinner
  • 7:00pm Wild Potluck Liturgy 
  • 8:00pm Bonfire, Ritual & Discussion  

Saturday Gathering

  • 8:30-9:00am Arrival 
  • 9:00am Gathering @ Beach
  • 9:30am Opening
  • 10:30am Experiential Track 1
  • 12:00pm Lunch - “Dinner Church”
  • 1:00pm Experiential Track 2
  • 2:30pm Experiential Track 3
  • 4:00pm Reflection of the People
  • 4:45pm Closing
  • 5:00pm Departure    

Tentative List of Experiential Sessions

  • Wild Church
  • Creative Church (Art, Writing, Etc.)
  • Potluck Liturgy
  • House Church
  • Pub Church
  • Coaching/Processing time - How to get going on this
  • Dinner Church (how to host)
  • Baking Church
  • Cooking Church
  • Song Circles     
Ministries
Cultivate