Wide Spot began a dozen years ago with an agreement between Heart’s Rest Retreats—the work of the Rev. Dr. Therese DesCamp and Rev. George Meier—and the Turner-Zion Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada. You can revisit our origins by watching this video or reading about us.
Wide Spot projects have received funding from the United Church of Canada BC Conference ProVision Fund, the United Church of Canada Pacific Mountain Region ProVision Fund, the Slocan Valley Legacy Society, Regional District of the Central Kootenay, and Columbia Basin Trust. We’ve worked with the New Denver Hospice Society, the Village Hearth restaurant, the Apple Tree Cafe, the Mir Centre for Peace, the Outlet Youth Centre, Lucerne School, the Slocan Lake Arts Council, the Healthy Communities Society and the New Denver Housing Society, to name a few.
Current Collaborations
Contemplative Church
Contemplative Church is the unhoused worship of the Turner Zion United Church of Canada, located in and around New Denver, BC. Since we sold our church buildings, we have met online, in the Pavilion Care Centre, in Knox Hall, or in the backyard…depending on the needs of our members and community, the weather, and the state of the pandemic.
For the near future, this contemplative and participatory worship takes place online every other Sunday at 10 am. We use Zoom, and you can get more information, or the Zoom link here.
Check the calendar for dates or contact us for more information.
Contemplative in the Kootenays
Contemplative in the Kootenays is a monthly to bi-monthly gathering that practices Centering Prayer (also known as surrender meditation), lectio divina, and celebrates an open communion table. Our orientation is broadly and deeply Christian, informed by the Christian mystical tradition as well as by other traditions and teachings. Led by Therese DesCamp, we normally meet on the third or fourth Saturday of the month from 10-3 in New Denver, Nelson, or Kaslo. See the Events Calendar to get the date for the next meeting.
We also participate in occasional online events, such as hosting local groups for The Contemplative Society’s online teaching days.
We also invite you to check out these resources: The Contemplative Society, The Center for Action and Contemplation, Wisdom Waypoints.
Print resources: WelcomingPractice.td
Contemplative Book Study
Contemplative Book Study is an online book study that meets bi-weekly on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. We started with the Desert Fathers and Mothers and have covered such authors including Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Wagamese, Thomas Kelly, Beatrice Bruteau, Jacques Lusseyran, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Ettie Hillesum. Books are chosen by members. Membership is open, and we benefit from many different viewpoints!
Check the calendar for dates or contact us for more information.
Tuesday Meditation Group
Tuesday Meditation Group was born out of a day-long meditation vigil of Canadians and Americans during the U.S. election in 2020. We now meet every Tuesday morning online from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. After a brief check-in, we practice a grounding exercise and then meditate together. While many of us practice Centering Prayer (surrender meditation), you are welcome to use whatever practice suits you best. Contact us for more information.