re:create

Forms and registration

Event release forms available here, on the Diobeth website.

Link to registration here

 

Camera Obscura

⁴ In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

⁵ The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

-Psalm 95

  

These photos appeared on my phone last week.  When I plugged into my computer and it did its sync thing, I found these strange images amongst the pictures of my family hiking in the woods, early snowdrops and the puzzle I had just completed.  I was ready to delete them and then I discovered that Instagram has a #pic_oops page.  Scrolling through these hazy and sometimes indescribable photos intrigued me.   I wonder if they were accidental pocket pictures or the result of a child pressing a random set of buttons or a message from God saying, “Slow down and look for beauty in the unexpected.”  It’s not just the perfect sunset or the grand architecture of a temple that are worthy creations.   God’s creation is mud, fog and in-between places.  God is in the ambiguity with us.

Christophany registration opens Friday!

Bishop's Beach Party-RESCHEDULED!

Bishop's Beach Party, CANCELLED

Due to inclement weather, Bishop's Beach Party, scheduled for today, January 21st, has been cancelled.  Stay home and stay safe!!

Youth Presence at General Convention

from the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs:

Applications/nominations forms available
for Episcopal Youth Presence at General Convention 2012

Are you an Episcopal youth, or know one who would like to learn about the governance of the church while providing a needed service? Then consider the Episcopal Youth Presence at General Convention 2012.

Eighteen positions, representing two from each Province of the Episcopal Church, are opened to youth to participate in the 77th General Convention, scheduled for July 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana July 5 to July 12.

Bronwyn Clark Skov, Episcopal Church Officer for Youth Ministries, addressed both the importance and the honor of these positions. “The General Convention Official Youth Presence was established by an initial resolution in 1982,” she explained. “The Official Youth Presence members have seat and voice on the floor of the House of Deputies during the legislative sessions and that is an exciting prospect for the youth of our church.”

Process
Interested youth may apply or be nominated by an adult. The Provincial Youth Ministry Coordinators will be contacting adults with follow-up questions about the potential applicants.

Eligibility
To be eligible for one of the 18 positions, the youth must:
- be an Episcopalian active in his/her faith community
- be at least 16 years old but not more than 19 years old at the time of General Convention in July 2012
- be enrolled in high school during the 2011/2012 academic year
- have permission to travel to and from the meetings and General Convention on his/her own
- be able to attend training from April 12 to April 15 in Indianapolis
- be able to be present at General Convention 2012 in Indianapolis from Thursday, July 5 to Thursday, July 12.

Travel, lodging and meal expenses are covered.

More information available here

Bishop's Day for Youth Grades 6-12

Living in Expectation

     I love advent.  I mean I REALLY love advent.  I love the lights my husband puts in all the windows.  I love celebrating the feasts of St. Nicholas on the 6th and St. Lucia on the 13th.  I love the Advent Spiral that Trinity, Bethlehem puts on.  I love caroling.  I love anticipation of Christ-with-us.
     One way that I stay awake during Advent is to use some on-line daily meditations.  The first is called Following the Star and it's by the same folks that put together d365.org, called Passport.  They are an ecumenical group that brings daily scripture, reflection and prayer to teens, youth and young adults.  Another is Advent Conspiracy, which reminds us to:  "worship fully, spend less, give more and love all".  And the last is from the Rev. Anne Kitch, Canon for Christian Formation in the Diocese of Bethlehem.  Her posts called Expectant in Bethlehem are hearfelt and honest. 
     How do YOU prepare for the coming of the Messiah?

post-Happening

It's been 5 weeks since I last posted.  I think I may have finally caught up on sleep since Happening #20 several weeks ago.  What an amazing and transformative weekend!!  Thank you to all the youth and adult staff, especially Megan Luther-youth rector, for working so hard to put together this event.  I can't wait to do it again next year with Anna Siftar as the next youth rector!

Desolation and Hope

     One of the top 10 reasons I love working along side of youth: new music!!  After a youth in our diocese told me she likes Lupe Fiasco, I listened to his work and discovered that he features a female vocalist whose voice and songwriting I have heard before. Skylar Grey, born Holly Brook, grew up around music.  She and her mother comprised a folk duo and sang around their home state of Wisconsin.  After moving to LA in 2003, she began work with other artists and banks and in 2010 changed her name to Skylar Grey because, “it represents the unknowns in life.    People seem to be afraid of the unknowns, but I’m the complete opposite. I dive into the unknown because I feel like that’s where all your possibilities come from.” 
     On a rare song that she wrote, composed and sang on her own, Grey’s “Invisible” is at once hauntingly eerie, and familiar to me from my own teen years.  The opening lines are:

I take these pills
To make me thin
I dye my hair
And cut my skin
I try everything
To make them see me
But all they see
Is someone that's not me

And then the refrain:

Even when I'm walking on a wire
Even when I set myself on fire
Why do I always feel invisible
Invisible

Every day I try to look my best
Even though inside I'm such a mess
Why do I always feel invisible
Invisible

     The video for this song is as bleak as the lyrics.  Grey paints a lonely world with no color, no hope.  In a reflection with the Happening staff this past weekend we wondered what the world of the song/video feels like.  Words like lonely, desolate, isolated, dark, frightened, don’t belong, do anything for attention were used to describe that place.  We then wondered if there was any story in scripture that reminded us of the words we used.  Several were suggested but we settled on using Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.”  Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow.  Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out.  Stay here and keep vigil with me.”  Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this.  But please, not what I want.  You, what do you want?”
-Matthew 26:36-39 (the message)

     The world of the song “Invisible” is stark and lonely, with no hope.  But in the Garden, even though Jesus must have felt very alone and at the end of his life, he still saw God as part of the equation, in fact, the only reason to live and suffer.  His life was a sacrifice, not to trends or to bitterness but to eternal hope, with not his own strength to get him through what must have been unbearable, but that which God gave to him. 
    We never got around to this question so I will ask you.  Where is God in your dark days?  When are you tempted to do what you know is not in God’s plan for you?  How do you stay connected to God in order to stay faithful?  What song/video would be a cure for this desolation?

     
   

Youth Presence in the Diocese

    On Sunday, October 2nd, 7 youth and 3 adults met at Trinity, Mt. Pocono, to talk about how they can be of service to the youth-at-large across the Diocese.  These young folks were like extended family at the holidays: sharing stories of their shared past, conversing about what they have each done since the last time they met, eating and playing.  Our time together began with a beautiful and refreshing opening prayer prepared by one of the youth.  The business of beginning to plan an entire year's worth of youth events was taken care of effectively, with enthusiasm and with everyone contributing fully!  And, bowling following the meeting was my most memorable experience to date, thanks to my good teacher, Megan, who schooled me.  Much food was eaten and many fries were eaten!
    Less than one week later, three of those same youth came to Diocesan Convention at The Cathedral Church of the Nativity as youth delegates.  We spent Friday from 11 am until 9pm together watching, listening and learning about the governance of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem.  It was an eye-opening experience for all of us as we sat in on hearings for the resolutions.  Two of us went to the hearing on poverty and homelessness, two to the budget hearing and two to discuss the resolution for building relationships with Muslims.  In our "down time" we ate chocolate and had a chance to share what we had heard, what surprised us and what we will choose to learn more about in the coming year.  I was more than impressed with their level of engagement and interest in what was happening.  They are finding their voices and I will be watching them in the next few years as they continue on to college and begin to make an impact in the world around them.
     I’d like to send a great big “thank you” to Kim Rowles who spent the last two years with these teens, building strong leadership and continuing to minister to them.  Thank you Kim!  And thank you Diocesan Youth Council members and Convention Delegates.  You have reason to be proud and I anticipate great things from you all!
    In the next few months I will be calling two parishes in the north, two in the central and two in the south to sit on Diocesan Council for a period of one to three years.  It is important that every parish in the Diocese have an opportunity to voice hopes, concerns and desires for the future of Diocesan Youth events.  And, in spite of the reduction in the budget for next year, have faith that we will have what we need to go forth into the world to spread the good word, relieve the suffering of those in need and spend time renewing our spirits.
    Thanks be to God-Alleluia!