Blowing Rock Conference Center - Annual Youth Winter Retreat

Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn, coordinator
Rev. Da Vita D. McCallister, program facilitator
Program: Peacemakers, the Green Theme
Registration Packet

Come join youth from the Southern and Southeast Conferences of the United Church of Christ in a weekend designed to continue understanding the role of peacemakers. Peacemakers: The Green Theme will focus on daily consumption practices that consume, spend and care for the earth and God given resources. Together as a community of Christ, retreat participants will explore the ways in which each can be instruments of God's peace in communities back home.

The Winter Retreat is a perfect opportunity for youth groups to bond, to meet UCC youth from other churches and other states, and to have a day of fun in the snow. This retreat is designed for participants to stretch spiritual muscles and learn from other youth. The weekend will provide opportunity for creating new frienships, enjoying the snow, getting some exercise, eating fabulous food, gaining spiritual growth, and experiencing life changing conversation. The Reverend Da Vita D. McCallister will facilitate program time around being Peacemakers: The Green Theme. There is something for everyone.

Find i ncluded in the registration packet forms for youth and adults. Make copies of apropriate forms for every participant. Church groups should mail a completred form for each youth and adult member with full payment. Questions..., please contact Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn at kristingvaughn@gmail.com or call her at 336-402-2897.

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Franklinton Center Calendar of Events

Camp Kwanza, a holiday celebration for youth
December 27-29, 2009
Read more ... Program flyer in pdf

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Lancaster Theological Seminary Youth Programs

2009 - 2010 Leadership Now
Cultivating a faith that celebrates questions

Leadership Now opens possibilities for connecting faith with action in the world. Lancaster Theological Seminary (LTS) offers youth a larger context for examining what it means to be part of the Body of Christ, tying together practices like prayer and peacemaking. LTS enables students and teachers to construct communities where dialogue encourages the expression of faith in action. LTS hopes that the skills and enthusiasm of young people will bring new life to their faith traditions.

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Southern Region UCC Youth Event

June 10-13, 2010

Event is still in planning stage. Hold the date.

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Johns River Valley Camp

NOTHING EVER CHANGES ... a camper perspective

by Anna McKeown
a Johns River camper and member of Umstead Park UCC
reprinted from Umstead Park UCC August 2009 Newsletter

Nothing ever changes at Johns River Valley Camp (JRVC). The beauty silently screams everywhere you turn. The sun still rises, and the stars still twinkle. The rocking chairs rock. The bell still rings. This place still provides exactly what people need to feel amazing. Though, this year at camp, I’ve never felt so at home. Twenty-seven people gathered on the porch on the first day. Seventeen campers, eight SCAT members, and two directors. Who knew that these 27 strangers would change my life. I spent my week with new friends that acted like we had known one another forever. Everyone had a different face, a different wish, a different story. We were all our own, but all crucial parts to the group.

Days were filled with dramatic canoe trips, lazy tubbing, long hikes, competitive bike rides, ultimate field games, and trying new things. Happiness was a group effort, complaining wasn’t tolerated. The group’s good mood flooded on to everyone there. There was always someone there to catch me when I fell. We were all together having the time of our lives.

When it was time to leave tears filled everyone’s eyes. We were saying goodbye to singing really loud together after every meal. Saying goodbye to midnight dance parties. Goodbye to moments when we laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe. Saying goodbye to faithfully playing an out of tune piano. Saying goodbye to a best friend you didn’t know if you would ever see again.

Nothing ever changes at Johns River Valley Camp. No matter what, you can leave everything behind when you go to camp. Everything that mattered before suddenly has no meaning. Camp always leaves me with something special—inspiration I suppose. Inspiration to be positive. To see the good in people and to be a friend, to be there for someone. Inspiration to challenge myself, and to listen carefully. Inspiration to forgive, to feel something real, something worth feeling. Inspiration to live life with hope