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A Word From the Executive Director
After a challenging 14 months, life is beginning to return to normal, though I am not quite sure yet what the new normal will be. While the statewide pandemic restrictions have been lifted, the following guidelines at Canterbury will be observed for your protection:
Guests who are NOT vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing.
Upon check-in, colored wrist bands indicating social distance preference will be offered as well as masks. A plexiglass partition remains in place at the front desk.
Hand sanitizing stations are available at several locations and individual bottles of hand sanitizer will be provided at each meeting room seat.
Meals will be served “buffet style” once again, with protective sneeze guards.
Food and beverage personnel will continue to wear masks, gloves, and hats.
As part of our cleaning process, surfaces will be treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers will be used, allowing for touchless disinfecting.
Chalmers Morse
Easter Sermon 
First in-person CFESA Meeting since Covid
Conferences and Future Events
For the first time in over a year, members of the Central Florida Episcopal Schools Association (CFESA) met in person. On April 29th, the CFESA held its annual meeting at Canterbury Conference Center.
The Rev. Russell Wohlever, president of the CFESA and the associate director at All Saints, Winter Park, organized the event. “It felt wonderful,” Wohlever said. “We had not been together in person for well over a year. It was nice for colleagues to gather together in the same space, take a break from administrative duties for a moment, be refreshed, and connect in a personal way.”
Dr. Mari Wohlever 
US Christian Chamber of Commerce
Bishop Greg Brewer was also pleased with the event. “I was certainly in support of the CFESA meeting in person, but the gathering was Father Wohlever’s vision from start to finish. Father Wohlever mixed business with spiritual retreat seamlessly.”
The five-hour event included the CFESA business meeting, a talk on mental health during COVID-19 by Dr. Mari Wohlever, a delicious lunch, Stations of the Cross around Lake Gem, and a Eucharist at St. Augustine’s Chapel, celebrated by Bishop Brewer.
Upcoming Events
As the world begins to re-open, Canterbury is beginning to once again receive calls for meetings, special events, group gatherings, and weddings. One of the events hosted at Canterbury on October 26th – 28th, is The US Christian Chamber of Commerce – “Business Expo”, featuring twelve training symposiums. To learn more about the “Business Expo” or other events, as well as make reservations or for information, visit our website: www.canterburyretreat.org
A Tranquil Escape: Slowing Down at Canterbury!
The slow down starts when you turn off Alafaya Trail and enter Canterbury. Something extraordinary happens as you feel God’s peace and know that this is indeed holy ground.
Our mission and ministry are to be a center for spiritual growth, equipping people with life and ministry skills. We offer hospitality in a sacred space where people can come to grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord through sanctuary, retreats, and conferences.
Canterbury is a place to feel freedom, laying aside the weights and troubles of the world. Canterbury is a place to rest, to be refreshed, and to find strength for the battles ahead. Canterbury is also a place to feel connected, where teams can learn to trust and build friendships.
“Slowing down” is a quality that comes to mind often when thinking about retreats generally; the day-to-day grind rarely has time to allow for a leisurely breakfast. But at Canterbury, your visit is an opportunity for rest.
Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman’s work has shown that “slow thinking” can lead to more logical decisions while also freeing up creativity. There have been “slow” movements in areas as diverse as fashion, education, and travel.
But it is in the realm of stress relief, where slow movements really shine. The excess stress of being late, of getting enough done in the day amid a crowded schedule, or even getting an unappetizing task completed as quickly as possible adds speed to every action. When you slow down, you can make the world slow down for you.
At Canterbury, “slowing down” seems to build into daily activity. Morning prayer or yoga and meditation ensure that the day starts unhurried, and the popular evening paddling on Lake Gem helps you feel free from schedules. Slowing down our brains enough to have peace and quiet seems to be the thing we don’t consciously look for.
Activities that focus on relaxation allow for a leisurely pace at Canterbury. Take dinner, for example, the day’s final meal takes the form of our multi-course buffet, skillfully prepared with the freshest of ingredients. Enjoy your meal in the dining room or on the Outlook Terrace overlooking the lake.
At Canterbury, there are purposely no televisions or telephones to distract you from the stress of work or the troubles of the world. A retreat at Canterbury is all about slowing down. Jogging around or paddling on the lake can be exhilarating, but the process of slowing down is a discipline that requires processing.
There’s an intention to focus while on a retreat. You need to be able to focus on the moment. Canadian songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen once sang, “You want to get there soon, I want to get there last.” In a rat race where every instinct is to race, intentionally slowing down and savoring moments can often lead to greater relaxation — and at Canterbury, that intention is part of every retreat.
New and Old Friends
What a delight it has been over the past several months for Canterbury to host the following groups. It was a chance to see old friends and make new ones as well, and we look forward to your return:
Adept Leadership, Antioch, Body Unity, Central Florida Episcopal Schools Association, Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Diocese of Central Florida, Emmaus Ministries, Florida National Guard, Iglesia Episcopal de Nazaret, Kiwanis, Orlando International Church, Oviedo City Church, Oviedo – Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Siemen’s Global, The C – 12 Group and Thrive Orlando.
Rotary Club of Oviedo
One of our oldest group of friends, who have been meeting at Canterbury for over 30 years, is the Rotary Club of Oviedo. This year the club celebrated its 50th anniversary, which was held at Canterbury with a Hawaiian Luau, complete with a traditional roasted suckling pig and a “Fire Dancer”.
CONGRATULATIONS ROTARIANS for 50 years of service to the community!
Easter Sunday Brunch & Mother’s Day at Canterbury
What a special day, with The Church of the Incarnation celebrating two Easter services on the Folwell Terrace, overlooking Lake Gem. Between the 9:00 a.m. service and 11:00 a.m. service, there was an easter egg hunt for the children and the young at heart. Canterbury held its traditional Easter Champagne Brunch from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., serving more than 100 guests who were entertained by saxophonist Antonio Garcia.
Mother’s Day was another beautiful day overlooking Lake Gem, as Canterbury’s culinary team, under the direction of House Manager Teri Garcia and Chef Michael Ledbetter, tried to outdo themselves with another fabulous brunch.
Guests feasted on fare from made-to-order omelets to flank steak from the carving station. Guests were greeted with complimentary mimosas or a special Mother’s Day punch. Once again there was music in the air, with soft jazz sounds of our favorite saxophonist – Antonio Garcia. As our guests departed, they were given beautiful roses to commemorate Mother’s Day.
Father’s Day Brunch!
| Fear not fathers, you haven’t been forgotten!! Sunday, June 20th, 2021 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Complimentary Mimosa or Watermelon Punch Assorted Juices, Iced Tea, Coffee, Lemonade, Milk Assorted Muffins and Rolls Yogurt and Granola Omelet Station Omelets and Eggs made to order Applewood Smoked Bacon Pancakes Carving Station BAR BQ Ribs Sliced Sirloin Steak Coleslaw, Fresh Fruit, and Tossed Salad Baked Potatoes, with all the fix’ns Corn on the Cob Mac n’ Cheese Baked Beans Dessert Fruit Crisp – a la mode Chocolate Brownie – a la mode Chocolate Chip Cookie – a la mode Pricing: $20 per adult / $5 per child (ages 5-14) / under 4 are free Space is limited, so call now for reservations and information: (407) 365-5571 or visit our website: canterburyretreat.org |
From the Canterbury Kitchen:
Tomato Onion Jam
Canterbury’s tomato jam is perfect for summer, especially spread on a burger. The jam is so versatile, that you can use it on toast or a charcuterie board before dinner! One of the best parts about this recipe is that it uses tomatoes that might be on the way out, so they don’t have to go to waste. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
| Ingredients: 1 lb. chopped tomatoes, preferably soft and about to spoil 1 Tbsp. canola oil 1 C white onion, chopped 1 C shallots, chopped ½ C garlic, minced 1 Tbsp sea salt ½ Tbsp. black pepper, ground 1 Tbsp. agave syrup 2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar |
| Instructions: Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and onion, continue to stir in the pan, sweating the onion. Add shallots and continue stirring. Once the onion is transparent, add garlic and continue stirring. Add salt and tomatoes as you turn up the heat to a boil. Season with black pepper, sherry, and agave. Cook until jam is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Transfer to a heat-safe vessel and cool overnight in the fridge. |
From the Pulpit: The Reverend Tom Phillips, Canterbury Chaplain and Priest-in-Charge at The Church of the Incarnation
Your Priest is Tired, and May Want to Quit. Here’s Why:
Now that I’ve got your attention…let’s do this: The past year has been a tremendously difficult season of life for all of us. The whole world has had to pivot, adapt, react, and accept the “new normal” of our COVID-19 reality. Priests and churches are not immune to this. Many pastors are tired, deeply tired. A year plus of the pandemic has worn out key volunteers, stretched systems, and most likely exacerbated any conflict that already existed. Even as people slowly return to the pews, many pastors are still running on emotional fumes, likely discouraged, and perhaps daydreaming of leaving your church in the rearview mirror of a year we’d all like to forget. Thom Rainer, former President of LifeWay Resources, and a widely regarded expert on church dynamics, recently wrote an article entitled “6 Reasons Your Pastor is About to Quit.” Here are a few reasons Rainer mentions (with my comments added):
–The workload has increased significantly: Especially in small churches, that weekly video had to come from somewhere, and often it is coming from your pastor’s day off. This isn’t sustainable and sometimes your pastor feels like no one sees or cares.
-Pastors are becoming discouraged by the low attendance: Ministry is about relationships, and it’s hard to not take it personally when you’ve had no contact with 25% or more of your church in over a year.
–Pastors are weary of the conflict taking place over a post quarantine church: Masks or no masks, vaccines, social distancing protocols…all of this is important stuff to work out, but it’s new territory for everyone, and there are no easy answers. Pastors know that no matter what decision they make, they lose, having alienated and disappointed someone every time.
–Uncertainty about their own job security: Many churches were running tight budgets before COVID, priests see the balance sheet and know what’s coming. Talented pastors in struggling churches are looking for other jobs, and many churches will lose a discouraged pastor to another church offering even the illusion of “greener pastures.” What do you do? Pray for your pastor, and encourage them, even if you don’t love everything that’s going on, neither do they, trust me! Let them know how grateful you are for what they’ve done and who they are. If you’re a leader, ask direct questions about how they’re doing, what they need, and how you can support them. Doing so just might keep your church off the stat-list of what many see as an unprecedented coming shakeup in church leadership. *Also, know that Canterbury Conference Center wants to become a resource to churches for solid training and support in conversations just like this one. Please pray for Canterbury’s leaders, as they discuss new programs aimed at leadership and church development. *