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Less than a week after returning home, a delegation of youth trooped up to D.C. to welcome the Bradford Youth Exchange of six youth and two adults. Their three-week stay began with a tour of our capitol, then they moved on to spent time in first Staunton then Lynchburg.
Our English friends had the awesome opportunity to go on the mission trip to New Orleans with our diocese in early August. Our group of 43 caravanned to Louisiana to rebuild houses. Though the work was hard at times everyone felt that it was well worth it. Tom Beevers, a youth from Bradford Cathedral, said that he wished the group had been able to do more but that it was humbling to see how thankful people were. (Read more about the impressions of the Bradford youth through a link on the diocesan web site, dioswva.org. -Ed.)
We worshiped in many ways, from boisterous music to walking a labyrinth and also took advantage of the fun opportunities in the city, like zydeco dancing at a bowling alley that had a live band.
Upon returning from New Orleans, the Bradford contingency spent their last week in the states touring parts of the diocese. As a way for them to meet as many youth as possible, the Youth Ministry Team hosted a mini-youth event called the “Bradford Bash.”
It was a wonderful opportunity for our friend to see the type of youth events we hold and share some about their diocese as well. We were so fortunate to have a group of Monacans dance as a part of our worship service. It was a very beautiful and spiritual experience. Also of honorable mention was the sermon, delivered by one of the English youth, about unity. He concluded by pointing out that even in separate countries we are united in spirit.
After such a wonderful summer we have much to look forward in the coming year!
• We will again have tons of fun throughout the diocese as we hold convocational youth gatherings at Fall Mission Days, Sundays in October and November.
• October 17-19— Don’t miss Mass on the Mountain at Bear Mountain in Amherst. Join our Monacan hosts as we camp, hike and participate in a sacred sweat to prepare for the Eucharist to be held atop Bear Mountain. This will prove to be an unforgettable weekend. We will finish early on Sunday morning so people can return home for other activities.
• Also our annual Fall Youth Event will be November 14-16 for grades 8-12.
We will communicate more about these events as soon as me have he information! Keep an eye on the youth pages of the diocesan web site, dioswva.org.
Sarah Bentley was an Evans House staff intern during the summer. She is a parishioner at St. James, Roanoke, has recently graduated from Salem High School and will be attending Guilford College in Greensboro this fall.
08/27/2008
Travel and ministry fill summer for Dio SWVA youth
by Sarah Bentley
By Sarah Bentley Summer 2008 has been a busy one for the youth of DioSWVA, as we affectionately call our diocese. In July, 18 of us, including five Monacan Indians spent a wonderful week in San Antonio, Texas for Episcopal Youth Event.
We met interesting people, had powerful worship services, learned how to salsa dance and taught others how to make Anglican rosaries. Through our adventure-filled travel we became closer as a diocese.Less than a week after returning home, a delegation of youth trooped up to D.C. to welcome the Bradford Youth Exchange of six youth and two adults. Their three-week stay began with a tour of our capitol, then they moved on to spent time in first Staunton then Lynchburg.
Our English friends had the awesome opportunity to go on the mission trip to New Orleans with our diocese in early August. Our group of 43 caravanned to Louisiana to rebuild houses. Though the work was hard at times everyone felt that it was well worth it. Tom Beevers, a youth from Bradford Cathedral, said that he wished the group had been able to do more but that it was humbling to see how thankful people were. (Read more about the impressions of the Bradford youth through a link on the diocesan web site, dioswva.org. -Ed.)
We worshiped in many ways, from boisterous music to walking a labyrinth and also took advantage of the fun opportunities in the city, like zydeco dancing at a bowling alley that had a live band.
Upon returning from New Orleans, the Bradford contingency spent their last week in the states touring parts of the diocese. As a way for them to meet as many youth as possible, the Youth Ministry Team hosted a mini-youth event called the “Bradford Bash.”
It was a wonderful opportunity for our friend to see the type of youth events we hold and share some about their diocese as well. We were so fortunate to have a group of Monacans dance as a part of our worship service. It was a very beautiful and spiritual experience. Also of honorable mention was the sermon, delivered by one of the English youth, about unity. He concluded by pointing out that even in separate countries we are united in spirit.
After such a wonderful summer we have much to look forward in the coming year!
• We will again have tons of fun throughout the diocese as we hold convocational youth gatherings at Fall Mission Days, Sundays in October and November.
• October 17-19— Don’t miss Mass on the Mountain at Bear Mountain in Amherst. Join our Monacan hosts as we camp, hike and participate in a sacred sweat to prepare for the Eucharist to be held atop Bear Mountain. This will prove to be an unforgettable weekend. We will finish early on Sunday morning so people can return home for other activities.
• Also our annual Fall Youth Event will be November 14-16 for grades 8-12.
We will communicate more about these events as soon as me have he information! Keep an eye on the youth pages of the diocesan web site, dioswva.org.
Sarah Bentley was an Evans House staff intern during the summer. She is a parishioner at St. James, Roanoke, has recently graduated from Salem High School and will be attending Guilford College in Greensboro this fall.
