If the Earth is the Lord’s, then so is the stage. We conclude our gathering with a service of Evening Prayer that re-imagines the canon of musical theatre as a vehicle for divine truth. Join us as we lift up songs of longing, justice, and hope as prayers for the journey home.

How does music turn a space into a sanctuary? We invite the wider Whitehorse community to join us for a special concert exploring the architecture of holiness through sound. Featuring a diverse repertoire performed by our visiting festival clinicians and local guest musicians.

The Conference of Birds, Part III
Reverend Clare Morgan (ACC)

Nearly 850 years ago in Ghaznavid-era Iran, a poet with the pen name Attar penned a masterpiece he called “The Conference of the Birds.”

In this epic tale, the birds of the world gather together to seek their sovereign, the mythical Simorgh, led by their guide, the hoopoe bird. As they embark upon their journey, they will learn about what it takes to find ultimate truth, and how every step of the journey is worth it.

In three sessions we will join the birds in their quest, discerning what might slow us down and what might put a stronger breeze beneath our wings, journeying through Seven Valleys of spiritual insight, and finally arriving at the gate to discover the true identity of the Beloved.

This offering will include time to journal and learn with others as well as music, dance, guided meditation, and soul companioning.

Our festival journey culminates with a breathtaking, full-communion service anchored by the transcendent sounds of our chamber choir and orchestra. Here, we will share a sacred meal of thanksgiving, sealing the work of the weekend and equipping our spirits to carry this renewed imagination back to our own communities.

The world premiere of a new healing rite, with text by Reverend Erin Thomas (ELCIC) and musical setting by composers Ben & Caitlin Johnston-Urey. A liturgy of transition, grief, and hope, specifically designed for a Body in flux.

From Death to Life: The Ritual Foundations of Healing
Reverend Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero (ELCIC)

The world is constantly oscillating between sorrow and hope, death and life – and Christians have been trying to figure out how to deal with this for centuries, with our various traditions offering one another gifts of meaning-making and practices.

This workshop/presentation examines the theological and anthropological (ritual) foundations of liturgical practices related to affirmation and healing, bringing in some of the material Kyle recently created for the ELCA’s Queer Confirmation program and Sundays and Seasons. Participants will explore ways to craft practices that shift from death-dealing to life-giving.

The Women of the Well: Celebrating the Apostolic Witness of New Testament Women, through a Lens of the Sacred Feminine
Deacon Sherry Coman (ELCIC)

For centuries, the women of the New Testament have been cast into restrictive roles, but how might we liberate their stories to see them as the true apostles they were? This workshop reaches back into Celtic expressions of the sacred feminine to reexamine both familiar and lesser-known figures of the early church. Through this ancient lens, we will discover how these women embody sacred prototypes that existed long before the gospels were written. We will conclude with a guided Ignatian prayer exercise, imagining a symposium of these women at Jacob’s well to hear what their shared wisdom offers our faith today.

The Conference of Birds, Part II
Reverend Clare Morgan (ACC)

Nearly 850 years ago in Ghaznavid-era Iran, a poet with the pen name Attar penned a masterpiece he called “The Conference of the Birds.”

In this epic tale, the birds of the world gather together to seek their sovereign, the mythical Simorgh, led by their guide, the hoopoe bird. As they embark upon their journey, they will learn about what it takes to find ultimate truth, and how every step of the journey is worth it.

In three sessions we will join the birds in their quest, discerning what might slow us down and what might put a stronger breeze beneath our wings, journeying through Seven Valleys of spiritual insight, and finally arriving at the gate to discover the true identity of the Beloved.

This offering will include time to journal and learn with others as well as music, dance, guided meditation, and soul companioning.

Step out into the vibrant heart of Whitehorse to enjoy a midday break and explore our local culinary landscape. This open lunch hour is a perfect opportunity to wander the city with new friends, supporting local cafes while digesting the morning's rich conversations.

Practical Preaching Tools from the World of Theatre
Rev. Frances Kitson (UCC)

Good theatre and good liturgy share some crucial traits: they both serve a narrative much larger than themselves, the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts, and they are both embodied forms of performance. This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to feel more confident, grounded, and less self-conscious when standing in front of a congregation. Whether you are interested in preaching or presenting without notes, or you simply want to rediscover a sense of joy and play in your public speaking, come build your physical toolkit!

Start your day with the grounding rhythms of the Daily Office, held at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Step into the living sanctuary of the boreal forest for a two-hour, guided liturgical encounter with the Creator's wild spaces. Shuttle departs the WUC parking lot promptly at 7:30am.

Note: as this is a true wilderness site with no washroom facilities, please wear sturdy footwear and bring any walking assists you may need.

Our first full day concludes with the hauntingly beautiful Holden Evening Prayer.

I Love to Tell the Story: A Workshop on Biblical Storytelling
Reverend Dr. Bev Brazier (UCC)

During this interactive presentation and workshop, participants will be introduced (or perhaps called back) to the spiritual practice and academic discipline of Biblical storytelling. The session will begin with an immersive experience of the craft, followed by a brief introduction to the academic foundations of Performance Criticism.

The second half of the workshop will transition from theory into active practice, giving attendees the tools to begin this discipline themselves.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Spiritual Practices for Change and Resistance
Reverend Rob Shearer (UCC)

The world is a mess. Drawing on the wisdom of both Christian monastics and spiritual movements for social change, we'll explore how rooted inner work is an essential foundation for us ordinary folk who wish to be active witnesses of love, grace, truth and justice in times of violence, oppression and disruption.

The Conference of Birds, Part I
Reverend Clare Morgan (ACC)

Nearly 850 years ago in Ghaznavid-era Iran, a poet with the pen name Attar penned a masterpiece he called “The Conference of the Birds.”

In this epic tale, the birds of the world gather together to seek their sovereign, the mythical Simorgh, led by their guide, the hoopoe bird. As they embark upon their journey, they will learn about what it takes to find ultimate truth, and how every step of the journey is worth it.

In three sessions we will join the birds in their quest, discerning what might slow us down and what might put a stronger breeze beneath our wings, journeying through Seven Valleys of spiritual insight, and finally arriving at the gate to discover the true identity of the Beloved.

This offering will include time to journal and learn with others as well as music, dance, guided meditation, and soul companioning.

Pause midway through our first full day of workshops to nourish your body and rest your spirit. This shared lunch is an invitation to enjoy good food and warm conversation before we step into the afternoon's embodied practices.

Screens as Stained Glass: Toward an Ambient and Architectural Use of Screens in Worship
Deacon Sherry Coman (ELCIC)

How can we more widely engage the screens in our church spaces to theologically enliven and deepen our experience of worship? Using the historical model of the introduction of stained glass into the churches of the early middle ages, we will explore the ways in which screens can be considered as architectural aspects of our gathering place, offering ambience, mood and vitally underscoring worship themes.

Start your day with the grounding rhythms of the Daily Office, held at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.

Step into the living sanctuary of the boreal forest for a two-hour, guided liturgical encounter with the Creator's wild spaces. Shuttle departs the WUC parking lot promptly at 7:30am.

Note: as this is a true wilderness site with no washroom facilities, please wear sturdy footwear and bring any walking assists you may need.

Following the tradition of St. Lydia’s Table, we gather for a meal that is the service. Through the breaking of bread, simple chant, and shared conversation, we explore how the table can be the primary place of transformation.

Arrive, breathe, and orient yourself. Pick up your festival pass and welcome packet at our desk in the Whitehorse United Church lobby, then take time to explore the Wilderness City before we begin.