Week at Camp Artaban

Last week I had the great privilege of being the chaplain and theme leader for the Jr. Coed week at Camp Artaban (the Anglican summer camp on Gambier Island).

I am so grateful to you, St. John’s, that you express this level of love and commitment for ministry with young people, that you empowered and supported me, on your behalf and for the glory of God, to do this important work.

All week I, along with 21 campers, sang, prayed, shared stories from the Bible, and wondered together about God and our faith, in community. Alongside this, we of course did many other fun camp activities: crafts, games, archery, rock climbing and swimming.

It was… Awesome. Amazing. Wonderful. Inspiring. I highly commend it to you, or to any one you love. I can’t wait to go back.

 While I did not grow up going to Camp Artaban, I experienced profound transformation at places like it. Places where people of all ages get to have fun, experiment with vulnerability, try new things, build deep relationships and community, and encounter God in new and powerful ways.

 These places are essential, I believe, for the life of faith. They are, I realized last week, like Kingdom-of-God laboratories – places where we experiment, are invigorated and inspired to be the people we were able to be there; to build the community we were able to live in there; to experience God in the ways we experienced there;  to love, forgive, trust and serve in the ways we discovered we could there, in our everyday lives.

 I believe last week was that sort of transformational experience – a Kingdom-of-God lab – for most (if not all) of those who attended. Let me just share one story of why I think that is true.  

 As our water taxi pulled up to Horseshoe Bay at the end of the week, the kids were loud and boisterous, singing the silly camp songs they had learned together, with friends who a week ago had been strangers.  But, as I started to play some chords on my ukulele and sing softly, all of their voices at once joined mine with enthusiasm. Together we sang a song we had sung all week in worship. A song which, while it had not had any actions, or been all that upbeat, had been the heart of our little community.

Be at rest once more, O my soul.

Be at rest once more, O my soul.

For the Lord has been good.

For the Lord has been good.

Yes, the Lord has been good to me.

Thanks be to God!

CG+