Thursday, June 4, 2009
Coming of Age Service 2009
Blessings and Declaration of Coming of Age 2009
Blessing from the Minister (0:00)
Blessing from Mentors (2:45)
Blessing from Parents (4:40)
Declaration of Coming of Age (6:17)
Congratulations Coming of Age Class!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Welcome Home!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What to Bring on the Wilderness Retreat
Coming of Age Wilderness Retreat
Basic Things to Know
ê Main activities
o Worship (mostly outdoors, including youth-led worship Saturday)
o Evening board games (mostly inside; no DVD player)
o Solitary nature meditation (no electronics during this time)
o Bonding games
o Craft time: decorate stoles & T-shirts
o Zip Line
o Practicing faith statements with mentors
o Hike
ê Where we’ll sleep
o Youth will sleep on the floor downstairs, unless you bring a tent
o Adults will sleep on beds and couches
o That means it’s especially important for youth to bring a sleeping bag or bedroll and a pillow. If you have a sleeping pad (such as for camping) bring it.
o Seventeen people. One bathroom. Don’t plan on an extensive beauty routine.
ê Definitely bring
o Sleeping bag, bedroll, pillows, sleeping pad
o Towels: one for bathing, one for sitting on during nature meditation
o Closed-toed shoes. We are not kidding. A spare pair wouldn’t hurt.
o Two changes of clothes. Not everyone will get a chance to shower, so at least our clothes should be fresh.
o Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, face soap, deodorant, contact lens stuff
o Medications, especially allergy medications (there will be plenty of pollen and dust to go around)
o Outdoor provisions: sunscreen, bug repellant, hat
o Coming of Age Journal
o Draft faith statement
o Waiver, if you haven’t turned one in already
ê You may bring
o Musical instruments
o Tent
o Cell phone charger (no guarantees about cell phone signal)
o A snack to SHARE in the car
o Personal, reusable water bottle LABELED with your name
o Swim suit, if you enjoy extremely cold water
ê What NOT to bring
o Don’t bring electronic games
o Don’t bring DVD’s or movies
o Do we even need to say this? Don’t bring weapons or illegal drugs.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wilderness Retreat Schedule
9:00 pm Arrive at Creekside (Edinburg, VA)
10:00 pm Evening worship
10:45 pm Socializing, Board games
12:00 am Lights out
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Morning Circle
9:00 am Solitary Retreat (Each youth stakes out a circle of about 10 feet to stay in, silently, for a full hour)
10:30 am Programming & Active Games
12:00 pm Lunch
Clean-up
1:00 pm Craft Time: Work on stoles, decorate T-shirts
2:30 pm Leave for zip line at Bryce Resort
3:30 pm Zip-Line
5:30 pm Picnic dinner at Bryce
7:30 pm Arrive back at Creekside, begin worship planning
8:30 pm Faith Statement practicing, with mentors
9:00 pm Youth-led worship
9:30 pm Socializing, Board games
12:00 am Lights out
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Hike & Programming
11:00 am Major Clean-Up
12:00 pm Closing Circle
12:30 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Leave Edinburg
3:30 pm Families pick up youth at church