Faith in Action

Greetings! “Through the Spirit we are gifted!”

Sunday June 17…Twenty-one confirmation students arrived at Pine Lake Camp shortly after 3 pm.  Counselors greeted all of our children with gracious hospitality.  One thing the staff at Pine Lake does well is greet and make each one feel at home.  All of our confirmation students are now settled into their space, bunk and cabin.  Those with medications have made contact with the camp nurse and they are reminded before and after meals.  For the parents concerned about the canteen funds all of your monies were placed on your child’s account – no worries.  The evening meal was pizza and fresh salad.  While the staff prepared each of the leaders with expectations of the week our young people enjoyed some large outdoor games.  

 Later after the meal, each cabin including all of the adult members of Evergreen Cabin (this cabin includes my room) prepared a welcome and introduction before the whole camp in creative ways.  Skits, poems, songs, cheers, rap, you name it and it was tried last night.  The counselors wove it together around a Hunger Games theme.  After two cabins shared their creative introduction the counselors interrupted with a commercial about the rules of the camp.  It was down with humor – yet the message about safety, respect and boundaries were well set.  The evening concluded down by the lake around a campfire with songs and creative satire on the Idol.  You would have been so proud of your Covenant kids; they all stepped up and made the best of each introduction.  I was very proud to be their pastor!  We have such great kids…

 Monday June 18…Started down by the lake with first word.  Four support staff gathered on the beach singing their hearts out while youth lumber down the steps to begin singing and hearing a topic about the Holy Spirit and the gifts we have been given.  By the end of First Word all of the youth were singing, clapping and AWAKE!  Wow, the staff is amazing early in the morning!  Breakfast of waffles and sausage filled the plates and for those preferring a lighter fare grabbed fruit, yogurt or cereal.  Personally, I headed for the coffee. After breakfast it was back to the cabins do a bit of housekeeping. 

There has been a little change at Pine Lake since the last time I spent the week at camp - they moved the primary worship to the beginning of the morning followed by Confirmation Time.  This worship included high energy songs, one very creative invocation, a confessional paddle, the reading of scripture, a skit and a brief personal message by a counselor named Luke.  He addressed a topic all of the young people could connect with: self-confidence.  It was a great worship!  It is the type of worship that is so appealing to our young people and it reminds me how we need to take this concept to our worship and music team.  Corrine Olson said, “Pastor Mark, these are the songs we like from confirmation and Sunday School.”  Do you realize that they have already learned at least half-dozen songs that are new, since last night!   

Our first Confirmation Time included a conversation about our baptism, the gifts of the Spirit, and Jesus’ baptism.  Our morning focus question was: What is a triune God?  Our theme Statement is: We have been gifted with a loving God who comes to us in three different forms.  Olivia and Carl are the two counselors working with me during confirmation time and they are exceptional. Carl is the counselor to our boys and Olivia is guiding Rebecca, Retta, Shelby and Rachel.  Carl has been coming to Pine Lake since he was in third grade and Olivia was a camper here during her confirmation years.  Both love God, love kids and want to make a difference in their lives.  

I just left the mess hall where they are munching on biscuits and beef stew, yummy!  That is enough for Monday…I will be back tomorrow...  
 

Most precious and loving God, we are thankful you have gathered us here this week to learn about you. Help us throughout the week to never forget that you will always be a mystery to us. We are grateful for your love and grace. We pray for parents and families at home, may you bless them with new opportunities this week as they entrust their child to Pine Lake Camp.  Amen