Not quite sure where to begin…in fact, I am not sure that the full breadth and depth of this summer has yet set in. I believe that I will be realizing the beauty and spiritual richness of this summer for many months to come.
Let’s start at the very beginning…a very good place to start!
Kanuga: Youth Week- JYP, SYP, AWWY
It is always a joy to be able to share Kanuga with new people and such was the case this summer. Kanuga is place that feeds me in many, many ways. This summer Emily Harden, Elly Roller, Alex Foster, Laura Harden and Deborah Norton as well as Tray Light and Erin Harden ( who were both on staff) spent a week in June in the North Carolina mountains and experienced what I have been talking about. Each of our conferences had a different theme in which staff from various part of the country come together and plan. Everyone’s experience is different, yet the desire if the same- to return to Kanuga and get another taste of God’s goodness. Here are some pictures from this summers experience:
DioSWVA garb at youth week
The ladies of Dio SWVa ready for the last supper of youth week.
From there it was off to EYE for a week in hot San Antonio with about 1500 other Episcopal youth and their youth workers. Attending one of these events always reminds me of how connect the Episcopal church is. Please read Sarah Bentley’s post about her experience later on this page.
DioSWVa at the Alamo in San Antonio
Of greatest significance for me was the melding of the youth of DioSWVa with the Monacan youth and adults. We are so excited about this new relationship we have with these special people. Please save the dates of Oct. 17th-19th for Mass on the Mountain at Bear Mountain, a very holy place.
Lauren, Adam and Bradley pose as real Southwestern Virginians during the Cultural Festival at EYE.
After EYE it was time for the arrival of our Bradford friends. I have chronicled their visit in this month’s Connections:
Our Bradford youth arrived safely on July 18th in Washington DC, where, thanks for the help of Joe and Laura Harden, they received an amazing tour of our nation’s capitol. The Brits were hardly able to catch their breath from their international flight before we were off to see the sights of the city. Marsh Baker, Emily Harden, Hunter Hart, Rachel Ostrom and Sarah Bentley joined us in sharing DC with our friends. We visited the Spy Museum, the Native American Museum, Air and Space Museum, the National Cathedral, a walking tour of the monuments at night and worship at St. Alban’s parish (thanks to Sam and Erin Hensley for such a warm welcome). The zoo was our last stop as we left the city. I must say, I have never known DC to be so hot, yet, there were no complaints from our companions.
From DC it was off to Staunton where Kate and Constance Harrington took charge of their activities. We began with a wonderful potluck supper at Trinity in Staunton. Host families were greeted and away they went. While in Staunton they toured Monticello and spent a day in Charlottesville.
Lynchburg was the next stop on their tour of Southwestern Virginia. A day was spent with our Monacan friends at St. Paul’s Bear Mountain. They also were offered the opportunity to shop while in Lynchburg. Many, many thanks to Vera Trant for her efforts there in making arrangements for a memorable visit.
There is someone I must thank for handling such a large part of this trip and for being a constant guide along the way and that is Laura Harden. She helped with chaperoning in DC, stayed with them in Staunton, offered to take care of their laundry, drove the van (Percy was it’s name) all around southwestern Virginia and to top it all off, accompanied us on our trip to New Orleans. Laura is a true servant and serves with such energy, patience and joy. She is an inspiration to me, and all who come in contact with her.
One third of the Bradford exchange was a week spent in New Orleans as part of the 42 person team we sent to work with the Office of Disaster Response to assist in their rebuilding efforts. As a group we worshipped together at Trinity New Orleans, visited the French Quarter, experienced Preservation Hall, zydeco danced at the Rock-n- Bowl. Alongside our British brothers and sisters we worked everyday in 90+degree temperatures laying tile and laminate flooring, building ramps, painting, hanging sheetrock and mudding. Not one complaint was heard from the youth and the work that was accomplished was amazing.
Here is the slideshow from our trip this summer:
doneI can think of no better way to forge relationships in our exchange than working alongside one another on a mission trip. Our last week in Roanoke was more the richer for our time spent together serving others.
The Bradford Bash was held on Tuesday, August 5th with 50 people from around the diocese attending. Sam Hensley joined us from DC and led us in incredible music.
Sam’s concert was followed by our Monacan brothers and sisters dancing and sharing some of their traditions with us. They began our Eucharist by processing us into the sanctuary with a dance of unity. The Rev. Barkley Thompson from St. John’s Roanoke was the celebrant. Lewis Flatt, a youth of the Diocese of Bradford delivered an inspiring sermon about unity in the church. It brought everyone to their feet in applause. It was a wonderful and memorable event in so many ways.
Bradley Branham and Quinten Talbott dance for us during Bradford Bash
Bradford Bash visits the Roanoke star.
As we said goodbye to our Bradford friends in DC on August 7th, there were many tears of joy, sadness and thankfulness to God for allowing our paths to cross again in such a meaningful way. In a time in the Anglican communion when being unified seems to be a challenge, it is the youth of our church that lead the way in showing that our differences do not divide us, but unite us closer together as the body of Christ. We thank our Bradford friends for enriching our diocese with their beautiful spirits these past three weeks.
