Reflection on Our Final Soul Food Sunday with Rev. Barb & Neal

Last Sunday, 62 of us gathered for a tender and joy-filled farewell as we celebrated Rev. Barb Samuel and Neal Klassen in their final Soul Food Sunday at CSL Kelowna. Rev. Barb guided us through a heartfelt journey of their 23 years of ministry, music and service at our Centre—years marked by love, growth, song, and amazing resilience through times of transition and challenge.

Together, we sent them off with a community blessing, showering them with flowers, cake, and cards filled with gratitude. As a special gift, they will enjoy a restorative stay at Sparkling Hills Resort.

Quoting Rev. Barb’s wisdom, “Farewell is not the closing of a door, but the opening of a sacred threshold… an invitation to honour what has been, release with grace, and welcome the beauty of what is yet to come.”

Barb and Neal expressed deep love and appreciation for the congregation, and we, in turn, affirmed our gratitude for their presence and contributions. As Barb reminded us, when Spirit calls, it is ours to listen, trust, and follow—even when change feels tender.

Though their next chapter calls Barb to serve full-time with CSL Kenya, their Spirit remains with us.

As we blessed Barb and Neal onward to their next chapter, our leadership teams affirmed deep trust in the continued unfoldment of Spirit’s impress upon our Centre. We know that the gift of music—so lovingly nurtured by Barb and Neal—will go on nourishing the souls of all who arrive here.

Though we release them into their next adventure, their love, song, and consciousness will always remain woven into the fabric of CSL Kelowna. We release them with gratitude, and celebrate them with joy.