Camp…I mean Conference
Last week was a fantastic week filled with lots of games and crafts and worship at the Arts, Recreation, Worship conference that I attended in Montreat, NC. It was adult camp…the clean version. Or at least what I envision camp to be. (I didn’t go as a child, so I totally have nothing to base my opinion on.) Did I just say that out loud? I mean, my week was filled with many LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES that can easily be incorporated into all areas of worship for the young and old and involve all of those in our congregation. It was a lot of classroom time and hard studies and homework and I will volunteer as tribute for the rest of my life. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
I had no idea what I was in for. Really. I am not even sure that I can describe it in a way that gives it justice. It is exactly what it is named and so much more. This is the description directly from their website. “The Arts, Recreation and Worship Conference is an experiential 5 day event focused on recreation, worship, community, creativity and the arts. It is designed for those who want to deepen their creativity, broaden their leadership skills and experience personal spiritual renewal.” It is definitely those things…and more.
I arrived the first evening and had no idea what I was in for. I was afraid that I would be left out and the last one picked with no one to sit with. That is not what happened at all. Many of these men and women have been coming for years. One told me that this was her 23rd time and she knew all the familiar faces, but for a few, they were in the same boat as me. They didn’t know anyone because this was their first time, also. From our very first activity at dinner which we worked on all week (making a paper chain based on a series of questions) or to my afternoon class regarding church videos and being interviewed and having to answer questions about why I am doing my job, I was learning about others and learning about and focusing on why I am in children’s ministry. What makes me qualified!?!? (Those are definitely discussions for future blog posts, so stay tuned.)
Every single thing that we participated in was something that we could use in our own ministries, whether we are volunteers with our youth, paid staff in charge of Sunday school, or are a Pastor at a church. Everything. From things that could be useful in our preschool, to after school, to youth, to Bible study, to our regular worship, to fundraising. All activities, worship, workshops, crafts, games, late night crafts/activities all centered around welcoming and including everyone in your reach.
I feel more focused and more energized about where I hope the children’s ministry at Wright’s ChapeI will go. I am, also, thankful for the people and connections that I met at ARW. I feel like all of those activities created some sort of bond with those that I met, some that may only be active each year for that week and others that I hope will last a lifetime and I hope to incorporate that into what we do here.
