Everyday Apprentice
Over the weekend, rangatahi from all over our diocese (and some from further abroad) got together at Forrest Lakes to explore what it means to be an everyday apprentice. And get up to general shenanigans (of course).
Rev. Andy Spence takes communion.
As everyday apprentices, we explored practices to help us become better disciples of Jesus.
Luke Paynter showed us how to use liturgical prayer as a way of engaging in regular prayer; especially great for those of us who find prayer awkward and don’t know where to start. Morning and evening prayers give us a daily prayer rhythm with words to say that lifts our prayer focus away from ourselves and invites the holy spirit to move. Maya Angelou said, “Someday we'll be able to measure the power of words.” There is power in reading the words and letting them speak to us. The constant repetition from week to week changes how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Jeremy Fallow shared how to be unapologetic worshipers by turning our eyes to Jesus, surrendering our battles and standing firm. Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest.” When we worship, we realise it’s not all about us; worship is a gift not a task.
Saturday afternoon was spent in workshops on how to read the bible. Some of us found scriptures that stood out to us and coloured in pages of the bible, meditating on the scripture as we exercised our creativity. Some of us retold parables in our modern context (the prodigal son now works at KFC for his dad the Colonel!). Others looked at what the bible says about ‘busy’, creating characters with attributes and personality traits that were then given issues to work through. And the last group looked at scripture and posed the following questions as they read through it: What does this passage say about God? What does this passage say about humanity/us? What does this passage say about our community/world and what might our response to this?
One youth group was a little sceptical about the three questions so tried them on the shortest verse in the bible; “Jesus wept.” They quickly found themselves in the midst of a deep conversation and discovered that it did indeed work.
Whether it was throwing your leader into the swimming pool, having a very ‘fresh’ swim yourself, colouring in your bible, lunchroom line-dancing, psychiatrist, loosing yourself in the worship, cream-pie-ing someone in the face, moshing to the music, leaning into God’s word or staying up waaay to late, camp had something for everyone.
Thanks to all those who prayed for our youth over the weekend. And, a huge thanks to Jayden and Brenna from the AYM team for putting together an awesome camp!
By Hazel Nugent (a camp mum)
