Youth Peace Travel Team

Annual Conference 2012 – Youth Peace Travel Team style!

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Annual Conference is something that I always look forward to. Meeting up with friends from around the country, being in fellowship with thousands of my brothers and sisters, and seeing the Spirit move in new and mysterious ways. This year was different for me, however. I was approached several times by people who knew me for my ministry this summer, rather than from them knowing my parents. It was nice to be in a role of leadership within the youth activities that were so important to me as I grew up. I remember the Peace Team coming in, and it was always one of my favorite parts of the week. Being able to go into the youth time and see faces excited to learn what we had to say lightened my heart and reminded me of the reasons I’m here this summer.
Until next time, Kyle

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Arch visits with friends
Luncheons & dinners galore! Yumm!
New friends made throughout the denomination
Business sessions
Annual Conference 2012—Continuing the Work of Jesus: Peacefully, Simply, Together
Learning experience
Congregational vitality was a daily theme
Openness & sharing
Junior high campfire led by Kyle & me
TGIFriday’s with my home congregation
Reconnecting with many old friends
Round tables increased good communication
Excitement
Insight session with Corey Grey
Checking in with mentors Dan & Becky
Met Kyle’s parents for the first time

The previous words and phrases are the ones that come to my mind as I look back on my experience at Annual Conference Last week. –Molly

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Being at Annual Conference was so much fun! It was nice to be in a different setting. I enjoyed it so much! I loved connecting with old friends and making new ones! All the dinners to hear about what is happening in our denomination were awesome! I got the chance to lead a time with the Senior High youth with Katie where we had a guest speaker named Corey Grey. He spoke about his choice to become a conscientious objector while he was in the military. His story was so powerful to me because of the way he was saved. I really like what he had to say.

Blessings till next time, Hunter

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Nervous. That’s the emotion I was feeling as I learned that we would be travelling to Annual Conference this summer. Knowing what had happened at last year’s conference, I was nervous for how interactions would take place. I was nervous for what would take place on the business floor. I was nervous about whether or not everyone’s opinions would be heard. I was nervous for the future of our church.

But as I spent time in business and Insight sessions, as I moved about the exhibit hall, and as I just spent free time in the conference center, my spirit was renewed. People from all walks of life and different faith journeys were sitting down together in open discussions. I saw as both young and older adults felt safe enough to take the floor and share their feelings on a wider range of subjects with their receptive sisters & brothers.

I’m not saying we’ve got it all together yet, and I’m sure that the reconciliation will take time, but I think our denomination is getting there. As I left St. Louis, I had a new feeling toward my Annual Conference experience, and the future of the Church of the Brethren: hope.

Peace, Katie

Youth Peace Travel Team

The Youth Peace Travel Team at Camp Inspiration Hills

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Greetings from Ohio! This week, Peace Team was able to spend time with the Senior High Worship Arts camp at Inspiration Hills. Since we had to lead two Bible Studies each day, we had to think pretty fast on our feet and come up with some new ideas about what we could do.

One way we did this was by creating a whole new session, specific to their camp: Peacebuilding Through the Arts. We talked with the group about how performance can be used to transform conflicts and violence, and we practiced it by creating situations of conflict that the group got to act our and resolve by using “tools” of peacemaking, like understanding, listening, and love.

The session went super well, but the best part didn’t come until the next night at the all-camp campfire session that we led on bullying. Each family group was instructed to intervene in and try to end a scene of bullying that Peace Team acted out. Most groups tried separating Hunter and Molly or having them talk out the conflict. We had predetermined which groups were doomed to fail and which were going to succeed. The Worship Arts kids were supposed to fail, but none of us were prepared for what they were going to do. When they got up, their group had one member act as a German foreign exchange student who felt like getting ice cream would solve the problem. The hilarity of it took all of us aback, and the conflict that had been occurring completely diffused! It was so awesome to see the Worship Arts kids use some of the tools that we had talked about before, and to know that our last minute session truly made an impact!

Peace–Katie

Youth Peace Travel Team

The Youth Peace Travel Team visits Kansas

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What a week it was at Camp Mount Hermon. There are so many things to let ya’ll know about this amazing camp from the fantastic campfires to the wonderful games, and not to mention the awesome teens and counselors. God sure has made His presence known throughout that camp!

Although I want to tell you all the stories from this week of camp, one of my favorites is about pool time. Every day, we drove to the public pool in Tonganoxie, where it was packed. We made a big circle where we talked and hung out, and we came up with a sort of cheer. We would be really loud and yell “WE’RE IN A POOL IN KANSAS!” while we were shaking our arms rapidly in the air! If you haven’t tried this, you should; it’s very freeing!

Camp Mount Hermon was a wonderful start to what I feel is going to be a God-filled and fun-filled summer! Blessings till next time!

–Hunter

Youth Peace Travel Team

Youth Peace Travel Team goes to National Young Adult Conference 2012!

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Molly’s reflections: The past week has been filled with the excitement of meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones at National Young Adult Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. I knew even before arriving that I would attend worship sessions, workshops, and small group meetings. What I hadn’t expected was being so inspired by other young adults getting involved and making a difference within the denomination. From BVS to Open Table Cooperative and being delegates at Annual Conference, young adults are moving mountains. As we leave conference I am given a new hope for the future of the denomination and how I might be part of it.

Katie’s reflections: Even though we’ve only been to one camp so far, this week was an interesting and enjoyable change of pace as we traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to be participants at National Young Adult Conference. The daily Bible studies and evening worships were all great, but one worship that has been in my mind since it happened involved feetwashing.

We were told the logistics of the service—you could come up to have your feet washed as you felt comfortable and would the stay at the station to wash the next person’s feet. The group was then left in a moment of silence and contemplation… and I panicked… just a little. The act of footwashing isn’t unfamiliar to me, but I’ve always done it in communities that I was comfortable with, like my church or school, but this was different. I was going to be having my feet washed by a someone I most likely didn’t know, and then I was going to have to wash the feet of still another stranger; that’s a TOTALLY different level of humility, and it made me uncomfortable.

Then, I realized, as I was having my feet washed by my new friend Dylan, that that’s the thing with feetwashing: it should never be “comfortable.” It should be a unique experience each and every time, and we should always strive to take something new from it.

Hunter’s reflections: On the orange and white campus of the University of Tennessee, young adults flocked for a week of rest and fun! I was able to meet so many people and gain so many new friends. I learned so many different things from different worship styles to cool organizations.

NYAC was a great week, but it wouldn’t have if we didn’t have Carol Fike doing all the stuff she did! So a HUGE thanks goes out to her!

Youth Peace Travel Team

Youth Peace Travel Team 2012 orientation

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2012 YPTT

2012 Youth Peace Travel Team

Explorer
Fun
Enthusiastic
Happy

Upon our arrival to Camp Mack for Youth Peace Travel Team orientation, we each chose one of these words as a short self-descriptor and as a way to get to know one another. These words became formative in helping us to better know ourselves, what concepts of peace we stand for, and how we can combine them into how we act and carry out our lives.

As we spent our time in close community over the three days, we have truly become a team who is able to support one another in our growth in these aspects, and we are truly excited to spread peace as our summer journey begins! Peace!

Devotional

I have seen the Lord!

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A Community of Love    John 20:1-18

Prayer for the Day:
Revealing God, open my eyes that I, like Mary, may see the risen Jesus. Receive my joy at your victory over death. Guide me in giving witness to the risen Savior. Lead me in the light of this miraculous day. Thank you for your persistent companionship through the days of Lent to this Easter day. Alleluia. Alleluia. Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Question for reflection:
What is your testimony on this day of bearing witness?  Where have you seen Jesus? What are the words you will use to describe your joy? How will your actions be impacted by what you have seen and know?

~ Jonathan Shively, executive director, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

A day of silence

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A Community of Love  John 19: 38-42

Prayer for the Day:
God, today I wait
In between death and resurrection,
In the midst of mystery
With hope.

Waiting.

 

Question for reflection:
Hold an extended period of silence. Silence your own words. Sit in darkness. Allow God to speak to you or to remain silent with you.

~ Jonathan Shively, executive director, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

And with Him … others

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A Community of Love  John 18:1 – 19:37

Prayer for the Day:
God, you hold absolute power over the world, even the power to give over your son, our King, to the reality of death. I know that at times I contribute to small deaths like those that led to Jesus’ crucifixion: failed courage, self deception, betrayal of a friend, passive bystanding, and giving over to another what really belongs to you. Forgive my acquiescence to death. Help me to live beyond the shadow of the cross. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, I pray. Amen

Question for reflection:
Pilate seemed to have a desire to release Jesus, and yet he ultimately handed him over to those who would crucify him. What might God be nudging you toward that you are struggling to hear and to obey?

~ Jonathan Shively, executive director, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Love one another

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A Community of Love  John 13: 1-17,  31-35

Prayer for the Day:
Jesus, while I might not fully understand all that you do for me, make me receptive to your loving service. I want to have a part with you. I want to share in your love for my family, friends and neighbors. Nourish your love within me so that it overflows in my love for others, and so that your love for the world might be seen through my actions.  Amen.

Question for reflection:
Which of your actions today most exemplify the servant love of Jesus? Which actions are inconsistent with Jesus’ example and call to love one another? What is one specific step you might take to be more loving toward another in your life?

~ Jonathan Shively, executive director, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Betrayed

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A Community of Love    John 13: 21-30

Prayer for the Day:
God, my desire to remain faithful to you is challenged by many circumstances in my life. Have mercy on me for those actions which go against your will. Pardon me for the times when I speak in betrayal rather than love. Help me, Jesus, to eat the bread that you extend to me this week, with a clear conscience and a certain heart.   AMEN.

Question for reflection:
What does betrayal look like in your life?  When are you the betrayer?  When have you been betrayed?

~ Jonathan Shively, executive director, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.