re:create

VOCARE #3

VOCARE #3

May 31-June 2, 2013
Kirby Episcopal House
Mountaintop PA

"I attended my first Vocare weekend during a time in my life where I was trying to figure out my spirituality and what to do with my life.  Where did God fit in for me? Am I alone in feeling this lost? After that weekend, not only did I grow spiritually, but I also had a better understanding of how to continue this spiritual journey because I felt more optimistic that God had a plan for me."

These words are from Vocare's Lay Rector, Mary Boggs, of Christ Church in Reading.  Mary and the rest of the staff of Vocare warmly welcome all young adults, 18-30ish, to join them for a weekend retreat. 

Vocare is a form of a latin word meaning "to call". The Vocare weekend is a renewal weekend addressed to young adults in the time when we face many serious decisions that set the direction for much of our adult life.
    Is Christianity relevant today? Can it penetrate the many areas of everyday life? Can it transform the world and keep up with the changing times? In addressing these and other questions, Vocare proposes no new spirituality, but does provide a tools through which one's spirituality may be developed, nourished, lived and shared in fellowship with Christians. The Vocare Community believes that Jesus Christ has made and will continue to make a difference in individual lives in the world. 

Registration opens here April 8th and closes May 20th

1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who
called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Happening #21 follow up and photos!

I'm so grateful for all of the staff volunteers who helped make this weekend an experience to be remembered and for Bishop Paul Marshall who truly cares about the spiritual lives of the youth in the Diocese of Bethlehem. 

Here are some of the photos from the weekend!  We can't share all of them-that would ruin the surprise!

A casual photo of us on the front lawn!

 

The Christian life is a journey to come closer to God.  The labyrinth is a metaphor for that walk.  We use it to help us let go of wordly distractions and listen for the voice of God.

 

Celebrating Christian community of youth and mentors in the Diocese of Bethlehem
with Jazz hands :)

Happening #21

 

What is Happening?

Happening is a retreat for youth by youth in grades 9 to 12 with the support of adult leadership, both lay and clergy.  According to one past attendee, Happening is a “crazy-fun weekend full of adventure and surprises!” The mission of Happening is to enliven the Church by being open to the power of the Holy Spirit so that the youth members of the Church can take the word to the world.  To accomplish this goal, the weekend provides an opportunity for youth to come closer to Jesus in a deep, personal way and to begin to learn what it means to be an apostle.

Why Should You Go?

Come to Happening to be surprised, to go deeper, to meet friends-old and new, to be refreshed and fed spiritually by the music, the talks and the beauty of the mountain top!

This Year's Youth Events

Reflections on the Mission Trip

“I learned that this trip was not just about building a ramp or fixing a floor, it was about the impact we could have on the family and the family can have on us.”  

  -Megan

“I was also way out of my comfort zone. Living and working under those conditions was made easier when I compared it to what our host family had to deal with every day. We lived and worked for just five days. Anyone can deal with five days knowing that conditions for us would be back to our normal by Sunday.”           

–Brian

“I've fallen in love with the little things in life and seeing something that reminds me of the mission trip floods my mind with so many memories and feelings.”                  

–Jennifer

“We live with so much benefits compared to them and we complain so much more."

-Matt

“This trip to Logan County, West Virginia had the 9 of us (6 youth and 3 adults) building a free-standing wheelchair ramp for a gentleman with one leg and his two adults sons. In addition to building the ramp we finished the flooring in Simon's bedroom. After putting all the furniture back into his room, Simon was then able to have his bedroom back after about 6 weeks of renovations. Simon was previously staying in the living room, a cramped space for his king sized bed. However, one of the most memorable moments for me was Simon seeing his bedroom for the first time. His comment was not "It looks beautiful. Thanks". He said in his southern drawl, "Where's  my headboard?". Knowing Simon, that comment was not an ungrateful gesture. The unique spirit that Simon possesses causes him to like to bust on people as a means of expressing his love and appreciation. After all, it is awkward for someone who is living in poverty to have a new group of people coming into their home to do free labor. These are people from all walks of life. Just when Simon would get used to a group, they'd leave when their week was finished. A new group would then come strolling in on Monday. How would you express your appreciation? I truly believe that his appreciation was expressed in the picture of Jesus on a belt that he wore every day that we were there. In his head, I do believe he realized that our work was part of a bigger picture, a bigger experience, and a greater love than the hammering and drilling our human bodies are capable of.”

-Anna

Day 7, Friday, July 13

    Our final day at the site started out ominously.  Rain that had started on Thursday night continued all through morning devotionals and breakfast, sometimes dwindling down to almost nothing and sometimes pouring loudly enough to be audible in the gym!  We decided to pack up our gear for the day and then head out into Logan for a scavenger hunt at Walmart.  It was girls vs. boys and I was the judge.  Guess who won?!!

     We got to the work site mid morning and S. and his sons greeted us and we got down to business as we were trying to get as much done before the downpour.    As soon as we had leveled the post holes and braced the posts, it began to rain again.  We ate lunch and as we were debating the wisdom of using the hand saw to finish cutting deck boards J. showed up and helped us formulate a plan of attack.  By the end of the day we had completed the 2^nd deck, leveled (quite a feat when the rain turns the holes into mud) and ready for the deck boards as well as installing the joist hangers and hanging the deck runners.  

    
(after the rain, mud warriors)

     I truly can’t believe how much we labored this week, how many new skills we all learned, how much knowledge we gained about ourselves and one another, how God continued to stretch us beyond what we thought possible.  I am in awe of how the Holy Spirit worked through us, our fellow teams, the family.   B. led us in prayer and  then we said goodbye around the box elder with hugs and tears.

     Friday night EG included a group share from all the teams.  Two hours of sharing stories really drove home how important this kind of work is:  for the youth, the adults who work with them, the families and the communities.  We are blessed and grateful for this week.

 

Day 6, Thursday, July 12

     Today our staff liaison, J., came out to the work site to help us navigate our site problems.  It was wonderful to have an expert advise us on the order of operations and great to see that some things stumped even him.  But J. reminded us to do the best we can with the materials we have and that it’s ok to let go of perfection and enjoy the work.  By the end of the day we had completed moving the furniture back into the master bedroom, cut and installed the deck boards on the first 5x5 and were well on our way to having the next two post holes dug and 5x5 frame built.  We were in a groove-letting go and letting God helped!

     This evening we returned to the center, showered, dressed and picked up our family for the picnic at Logan State Park.  The center staff of four puts together a delicious dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers and all the fixings for more than 70!  Each of the groups invited their families and quite a few were present.  Youth played ninja, volleyball and cards.  Adults from every team had a chance to socialize with all of the families.  Even the deer came!  What a special night!!

Day 5, Wednesday, July 11

     Fatigue set in and we found ourselves short-tempered and slow, still a little disappointed about having to dig 8 postholes instead of 4, unending leveling and planning puzzles.  However, the youth buckled down and pushed through, finishing the 5x5 deck frame.  The inside crew, led by Bobbie Hraba, completed laying the laminate flooring and trim-woohoo!  After lunch the heavens opened and we found ourselves scrambling to collect the tools and pack them into the van.  Gathering on the porch and in the house with our family offered wonderful time to bond in a way we hadn’t had an opportunity to before.  Getting to know the family is as much of our mission as the work on the flooring and ramp.   We left in good spirits, refreshed by the rain and our new friendships.
    This evening we made some new friends at the site from a Methodist Church in Cornwall, NY and played cards until lights out.  
    Oh, did I mention the puppies?!

 

 

Journey

Tomorrow, 6 diocesan youth and 3 adults will be leaving for the mission trip to rural West Virginia.  I am so proud of all the work these young people have done to date:  prayer and devotionals, sales of stocks, phone calls and a multitude of other preparations.  I'm so grateful for how they have all shown how important this kind of work is by choosing to make this mission a priority.  Rather than going on vacation or sleeping in or working for extra cash, they have committed to doing hard, physical labor in a place they have never been, for people they have never met!  (Can you say Evangelism?)
 
We humbly ask for your thoughts and prayers as we share our gifts, talents, time and treasures with others as well as experience another way to be in Christian community.

And, we'll be keeping y'all posted here as we travel!
 
Blessings of peace,

Ellyn Siftar,
Missioner for Youth and Young Adults

VOCARE Young Adult Retreat

 

Here's a message from Torrey Salmon, this year's lay rector for Vocare:

Vocare is the Latin word meaning "to call." We are often told that God has a call, or vocation for each of us, but we are often unsure about that call. This weekend retreat helps us to identity and more clearly understand our callings. In a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, we discuss and discern our callings. The weekend centers around 12 talks, each designed to help the participants and staff understand a specific calling, such as marriage or singlehood, more fully. Since many of us in the 18-30 year old age bracket are experiencing transitions and confusion, the weekend is designed to help us place God at the center of our lives, and to more fully know and embrace God's callings for us. As the lay rector for this Vocare, I have decided to focus on transition because I am in a period of transition myself. I will graduate college the weekend before the retreat, and later in the summer I will be getting married and moving to Providence, RI, for graduate school. Each of these events could be met with apprehension, but through my experiences with Vocare, I have matured in my understanding and knowledge. Such understanding is allowing me to move forward with confidence. As a staff leader for Vocare, my goal is for each participant and staff member to leave the weekend feeling empowered to embrace his or her callings from God.