By Shawn Flory Replogle and Clara Stover Brown
[This was originally written to include one youth and General Secretary of the Church of the Brethren, David Steele. It could still be used in a congregational setting by skipping past the “~~~~~~~” line and utilizing a pastor, youth leader, or other respected congregational member]
[after trying to pass David on the down-stage side and cutting him off center stage]
Youth: Excuse me…
Wait! Aren’t you that guy that is like the head of the church?
David: Well, yes… [gets cut off by Youth]
Youth: What does that mean I should call you? Pope? Brethren Pope? B-Pope!!
David: The title is General Secretary, but you can call me David.
Youth: Cool, cool, cool, cool. But like, don’t you have your own secretary, or do you have to do that stuff too?
David: It’s not important.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is your week of NYC going?
Youth: Oh it’s been great! I’ve been so busy. There are so many things to do! And so many great speakers and workshop leaders. I hardly know where to start. It’s a little overwhelming. Maybe you could help me focus and narrow it down a little. There’s been:
[a stream of consciousness litany of activities and memorable moments from the week so far]
- First we drove all day to Colorado and the stops along the way took so much longer than expected that we almost arrived here late
- We went to the WelcomeFest and visited all the tables and I got a Bethany Theological Seminary t-shirt in size 4XL, which has turned into a great sleeping shirt
- Of course the supper line was SUPER long but I made a lot of new friends that day. Do you think that was a planned get-to-know-you activity?
- I also ran into friends I’ve made at past youth events, like Christian Citizenship Seminar and Annual Conference.
- And then there was the first Worship and all the things Cindy said, like “God doesn’t say BE the light. God says you ARE the light.” And that the light can’t be experienced on its own. It has to have something to reflect off of, which means we have to do this together.
- After a travel day like that I was too tired for late evening activities, and the shoe-thing in the door was weird until it was explained the next day.
- I struggled to get out of bed the next morning, but the breakfast was so much faster than on Saturday!
- In morning Worship, Keyon was really challenging. I remember him saying that once we’re exposed to the Light, we have to love our neighbors and speak up for the least of these. And did you know that a nuclear physicist can so easily describe what light is? Light is the opposite of darkness. And if we are that light, then naturally others we meet should feel better because of the light we are.
You know what I mean?
Leader: Well…
Youth: And can you believe that was only Saturday through Sunday?!
[a stream of consciousness litany of activities and memorable moments from the week so far]
- Late Evening activities ended late so I was really tired Monday morning, and I tried hard not to crash out with the off-beat clapping, but then Dianne spoke. Wow! So many things, like “Jesus never asks if kids were legal” and “No act of love is ever wasted in God’s hands”, and “You matter and your love matters because God chooses to love the world through you.”
- Small groups talked about sermons and questions around Love Feast. A lot of us were surprised how many others thought feetwashing was weird, because we grew up being used to it.
- In workshops I did crafting and a lot of people showed up. We had fun creating beautiful objects out of a limited amount of resources.
- I really wanted to hike, but I got a visit from some of my family who live in Colorado. They grew up in Pennsylvania, and got to see some advisors they went to NYC with years ago. What a coincidence!
- That evening George really got my attention when he said, “God placed something inside of Gideon that he didn’t know was there. What spark has God put in us that we have yet realized?”
- In that Worship I reflected on my own baptism, which happened two years ago in a river here in Colorado.
- In late evening activities we got a front row seat to bingo, where we got shushed by Daniel because we were laughing so much. We didn’t win. After that I got to connect up with my camp friend group and we hung out. The YMCA of the Rockies is such a great place to hang out!
- On Tuesday, it was even harder getting awake, but Kayla took care of that! “It’s easy to look good and put together at a distance” and “Can’t just look good on paper and do the minimum.” And the one that really got my attention: “Biblically perfect doesn’t mean having it all together. It is being mature, complete and allowing yourself to grow.”
- Then I got to build community through games in workshops and participate in the fleece blanket service project.
- After that we explored Love Feast in Worship, heard Dennis talk about how this is one of the ways that the Church of the Brethren has seen what Jesus said and did, and continues to try to say and do those things. DO THIS!
- And then we got to try out Love Feast ourselves. I’m not trying to brag that it didn’t feel awkward to me because I grew up with it, but I realize it wasn’t that easy for everyone. I just appreciated that people tried. Makes me feel just a little step closer to God by doing what Jesus did.
- And then I went roller-skating. Haha!
Youth: But do you know what I think I’ve realized most?
Leader: Uhhh…
[Youth finds a slower pace]
Youth: I’ve realized how much God loves me and everyone I meet. I’ve felt deeply the pain and joy that resides in the world. Most importantly, I know that sometimes my voice can be small…
EVEN STILL, God can use that small voice for making the world a better place. And that seems like the most important thing of all, you know?
Leader: I…
Youth: Well, thanks for helping me think all of that through, but I gotta go. There’s only 1,450 minutes left of NYC. I still have a lot do!
[Youth hurries off stage, leaving Leader behind]
Leader: [shrugging]: I think the church is in good hands.
[And then Leader also exits off stage]