12+
With Randell Neudorf
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There are more ways to engage scripture than just Bible study. Engaging with scripture can become a dynamic time of prayer when we allow our imaginations in. Using the spiritual practice of Gospel Contemplation, participants will have the chance to reflect on scripture as the “film director” (set the scene), “the actor” (choose a role) and finally by “breaking the 4th wall” (praying into the story as yourself). Don’t worry if you have stage fright, this movie will only play out in your own imagination! Bring a willingness to read a Jesus story through your imagination, and openness to a fresh ‘encounter’ in your personal experience.

Randell Neudorf is an artist, musician, and believe it or not, a punk monk on staff with GOHOP (the Greater Ontario House of Prayer). GOHOP is an urban monastic ministry based in Hamilton, Ontario and part of the world wide movement of 24-7 Prayer. Randell loves combining new and ancient spiritual practices in ways that make prayer dynamic, participatory, safe and sometimes even a little fun.

12+
With Sue Lyon

Green burials involve a natural return to the earth—biodegradable caskets or shrouds are used, bodies are buried three feet down, there is no embalming, and natural decomposition nourishes the earth and can support natural habitats. In most areas, green burial is also the least expensive option, contrasting with the profit-hungry corporate cemetery “services” that often exploit ordinary people at a particularly vulnerable moment in their lives. Green burial resonates strongly with biblical Christian teaching. That we came from dust and to dust we return (Gn 3:19) and that our central human task on this planet is to care for the earth and for each other. Come to learn more about the principles of a green burial, how it contributes to our care of the earth and how we can take back control of the natural process of death.

Sue is a studio potter in Kingston and an elder at Next church. She has been the convenor for Green Burial Kingston since its inception in 2018. GBK is an advocacy group for green or natural burial. She believes that 2025 will be a milestone year as the City of Kingston will open more than 100 green burial sites.

David Lyon is Sue’s partner, an author and a retired professor who supports Sue in the green burial work. David has written some op eds and articles about green burial.

All Ages
With abi lyon wicke
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Do you like to create? Are you interested in expressing yourself in a unique way? Come get your hands messy while keeping your mind and heart open as we explore the possibilities of emotion and expression through clay. No need to stress about expertise as this is a safe and open space for anything you have to bring to the workshop.

abi lyon wicke (she/her) is a maker of things, a keeper of gardens, chickens and bees. She spends her days learning alongside her children, rescuing, repurposing and mending things with her partner, Chris, tending life in many forms and trying to evolve.

Jasper Wicke (she/they) began drawing as soon as she could hold a crayon and has rarely been without a drawing tool in hand in the thirteen years or so since that time. Jasper has been described as an old soul but they also brim over with youthful enthusiasm and a passion for tending what is broken in our world.

Jasper and abi both love to encourage others in their creative pursuits. This will be their second co-facilitation of a Cahoots creative workshop together.

12+
With Julian Munro / King Julez
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The need for spiritual care arises in all aspects of life and it is of critical importance to nourish one’s inner spirit. When it comes to justice work, protest movements and encampments those involved can become exhausted in mind, body and spirit. In 2024, Julian, along with classmates and faculty provided spiritual care to those present at UofT (University of Toronto) Pro Palestinian Encampment. As a result of this experience, Julian will invite us to consider how protest is like a deeply sacred prayer that transforms and works in us. Join in a meaningful and important discussion of what it means to find protest as prayer today.

Julian (they/it) is a student at Emmanuel College. It is training to be ordained into ministry in the United Church and a registered psychotherapist. They are an activist, animal lover, and drag clown! Come to “Protest as Prayer” to hear stories from the UofT Pro-Palestinian Encampment and how activism and prayer unite.

12+
With Deanna Fraser

Recovering from Religious Trauma is a conversation that is desperately needed within faith communities and beyond. This session will share personal stories of religious trauma, responses and survival, explore the latest research, and have space for discussion and conversation for mutual learning. Whatever experiences you bring to the session, know that our intention is to hold space for your stories and move towards a healing community.
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Since this session engages trauma, Deanna encourages all participants to engage in the way that is best for them, including taking breaks or leaving if need be. Resources and content information will be provided, and a chaplain will be available to listen.

Hi! I’m Deanna (she/her). I am a religious trauma survivor and a sociology nerd. I am a 4th year Social Psychology student at McMaster, a queer single mom of 2, and a piano and voice teacher. In my spare time, I listen to nerdy podcasts and audiobooks, cuddle my pup, go on adventures with my kids, and go to therapy.

I was a missionary for a fringe section of a non-denominational Charismatic organization for six years and grew up as a ministry kid before that. I was twenty-seven when I burned out so severely I wanted to end my life. Over the next nine years, I began deconstructing my faith and discovered the phrase “religious trauma.” I became invested in learning as much as possible about it, connecting with others with shared experiences and finding ways to heal together. I have since facilitated two online religious trauma recovery groups and currently facilitate an in-person support group for survivors of religious trauma in partnership with Stardust Therapeutic Collective. I am currently involved in a capstone research project on the intersection of faith and disability and working on a proposal for a research project on the effects of leaving religion. It would be my great honour to hold space for your stories and share with you mine. We heal in community.

All ages
With Rachel & Astrid Erb

Once again we will be offering folks the opportunity to make their own Cahoots apparel. Bring a shirt, skirt, bed sheet, knickers, etc., and adorn it with the lovely Cahoots logo. If you have a Cahoots shirt that you made last time and no longer want, bring it along to give it to someone else.

Rachel and Astrid are a mom and daughter living in Kingston, Ontario where they’ve spent many years learning together as homeschoolers and dabbling in various artsy-craftsy and musical endeavours.

12+
With Hanna van Dijk-Alāč

Taize prayer is a form of contemplative spiritual practice, rooted in the Christian tradition, and originally developed in the context of an international and intergenerational praying community in France. Taize songs share words of scripture, often with multiple language options, and are usually repeated to build a sense of peace and meditation. Come and explore contemplative prayer through calming songs. We’ll try a few.

Hanna has been a Cahoots participant for years and is sharing her first session this year! She has loved Taize prayer ever since she encountered it for the first time while working at Queens U, living in Kingston. The local Catholic Church would have Taize nights: a choir singing in the dark with candles and she thought it was like heaven. She then visited the Taize community in France in 2001 and is excited to share this year!

The Cahoots festival will return, May 23-26 at Pearce Williams camp. We would love to see you there and we hope you’ll bring a story, skill, or song to share.

Before that, we’ll have a special Thanksgiving fundraiser meal gathering in Toronto with our friends from the In This Together network who work towards queer and trans inclusion in the Anabaptist church community. Please save the date: October 5, doors open at 6 PM.

We gathered around and amongst the fires of Pentecost, speaking the languages of craft, company, care, cuisine, laughter, listening, and love.

Thank you for the gift of Cahoots 2023!

The Core Organizers will take a break until the autumn, but until then we crave your feedback to help us know ‘what to repeat, what to repent’. Make a cup of ginger tea and give us your feedback.

Next year we will reconvene for more faith, justice, and do-it-yourself. Are you ready to lead a workshop session? Is there someone you want to hear from? Or is there a skill you can teach yourself in these months ahead which you can teach us next year?

Session proposals will open in the autumn, and in January 2024 we’ll gather to sift the proposals and design the festival. Please be thinking about what you’d like to share! Sign up for the email list and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the invitation to propose something.

If you’re interested in joining us as an organizer, let us know through the feedback form. We only ask that you’ve already participated in a Cahoots festival, and that you have some organizing skills you are excited to share and develop.

Until then – peace, power, and righteousness! <3

Welcome to the wonderful world of announcements! We are announcing the sessions offered this year, and who will be presenting them. As we add sessions, this page will update, so check in from time to time!

Soon, you will be able to see the overall schedule at this link. Note that there may be changes in the schedule.

Check the notes on sessions to see what considerations of age and ability the presenter is considering in their planning. Sessions presented in alphabetical order by title—click on the title to learn more.

• Art for Everyone: Intro to Stencilling Street Art (12+, but could include youngers if they come with a helpful 12+ person)
• Befriending Your Stressed-Out Nervous System (12+)
• Bicycle Mechanics 101 (Fix Your Own Bike) (12+)
• Connecting with Creation (all ages)
• Cookie Mining: How the Canadian Mining Industry Is Destroying the Planet and What We Can Do About It (all ages)
• CPJ’s Advocacy Toolkit for Non-Partisan Political Advocacy (12+)
• Creative Movement
• Drag Story-Sharing Time and Face-Painting (All ages)
• Drag as a Spiritual Practice: Theology and Performance Art (12+)
• Laudato Si’: What is it, why is it, and how might one use it? (all ages)
• Like a Tree Planted By Streams of Water: Contemplative Prayer in the Forest (12+)
• Love Tenderly Olympics (all ages)
• Migrant Workers Exploitation: Learn and Act (12+)
• Queering Spirituality (12+)
• Safe Haven (12+)
• Screen Printing (all ages)
• To Cancel or Not to Cancel? (16+)
• Ultimate Frisbee (all ages)
• Visit our Attiwandaron Neighbours (Who Moved Out 400 Years Ago) (all ages)
• What Does It Mean to Be an Ally to Indigenous Peoples? (12+)
• Wool Felt & Weaving