“Acknowledging the Sacred Ones”
September 26 – 28, 2025
Good Shepherd Church, Fort Hall, Idaho
Province VIII Retreat Schedule
Friday September 26: Arrival
3:00 PM Registration Opens with Hospitality – Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
4:30 Welcome and Land Acknowledgement – Madeline Sampson and Ron Braman
Introduction to Leading With Heart Circles and Creation of the Living Altar
5:00 PM Dinner
6:00 Doctrine of Discovery – Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton
8:30 Smudging and Holden Evening Prayer – Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton
Saturday September 27: Full Day – Wear Your T-Shirts!
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM Business Meeting
9:30 AM Move to Parade
10:00 Parade
12 NOON Bishop Jos Tharakan’s welcome address and Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:20 PM MMIW presentation – Dr. Melissa Bird and Willeena George
2:30 – 4:45 Boarding Schools storytelling followed by Sacred Circle Listening (Leading With Heart)
5:00 PM Hospitality and Vendors (Shopping!)
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Alonzo Bighorse, Flute Entertainment
8:00 PM Leading With Heart Circle Discussions
9:00 PM Holden Evening Prayer
Sunday September 28: Last Day
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Final Circle Gathering – Takeaways, Dismantle the Living Altar
11:00 AM Church Service with Group Photo before the service
NOON Potluck and leave for Home
Important Information
Vendors will be on hand at various times throughout the weekend. Bring cash if you can. Some vendors will accept credit cards, but not all.
Participants are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles and coffee cups. We want to be good stewards of Creation. We will have plenty of water and coffee on hand for you to access during the day.
Bring comfortable walking shoes and clothing in layers. The weather should be in the 60s during the day on Saturday, so you may wish to wear a long-sleeved shirt under your T-shirt for the parade. Do bring a jacket for the travel between the hotel and the church where we are meeting. Hats and bug spray may be useful to you as well.
Remember to take lots of pictures. We will have a place for you to upload them through the website to share with everyone.
Living Altar
Please bring a photo or something that reminds you of one of your ancestors to place on the Living Altar on Friday afternoon. You may retrieve it when you leave or when the altar is dismantled on Sunday Morning.