My oh my has it been a busy two weeks, friends!
First, I left Nashville a couple weeks ago and headed for Montreat to lead a small group during the second week of this summer's youth conferences. Just like college conference back in January, this was my first youth conference at Montreat. Not on purpose really...we were just always busy when my church's youth group went. But, anyway. It was such a wonderful experience. I spent 3 hours a day leading a small group of 26 high school youth. Some discussion of keynotes and such, some just hanging out and having fun, some eating Dunkaroos (thanks, Black Mountain Dollar General). And as it turns out spending a couple summers as a camp counselor is excellent preparation for small group leading. Seriously though, I met so many wonderful/enthusiastic/inspiring youth, and on top of that met some awesome fellow small group leaders, made some YAV connections, spent some time with friends from Davidson, and got my fill of energizers (not that there's such a thing as too many of those...). And I mean, I tell ya. These conferences I keep going to keep directly applying to my life. Wondering Wanders? Searching For the Signal? Sheesh, Montreat.
From there I headed down the road to camp. Camp was...so so wonderful. But weird. Wonderful to see many of my close friends that are still on staff there, but weird to not be on staff with them. I was one of the first aid folks for the week, so I didn't get to do a ton of camp-y stuff, but I did have a thoroughly entertaining sea weed (or...lake weed?) battle with some 8 year olds in canoes on Lake Refuge. And I learned a new blessing. If you're interested in blessing your food a la Sponge Bob Squarepants, you just let me know. It really was wonderful though. Lovely to see the people I already knew and fun to meet some new ones. Hard to leave yet again, but I've got some more thoughts on that coming later.
Annnd approximately 7 hours after I got home to Davidson from camp, Mom and I were on our way to Ohio, from whence we'll be heading to Michigan tomorrow. I was telling my mom in the car ride up here that I feel like a lot of great/difficult/meaningful things have happened in the last two weeks, but I'm not quite sure I've had the time to process it all. So, we'll see what ends up on this here blog in the coming weeks. There's the last two weeks, and then the fact that when I get back to Tennessee in a week I'll have just one more month left in Nashville. After that, a week and a half in Davidson and it's off to New Orleans! I s'pose one day maybe I'll be in one place for a while...
Love,
Allison.
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Happenings
My oh my, friends, how many things have happened since I last wrote!
About a week and a half ago, I made the long commute (and by that I mean drove 10 minutes down the road) to Nashville's Scarritt Bennett Center for a Volunteers Exploring Vocation (VEV) conference put on by the Fund for Theological Education (FTE). Hooray, more acronyms! Anyway, VEV brought together about 50 young people each spending a year serving with one of around 15 different faith-based volunteer organizations. Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Church of the Brethren, a handful of Presbyterians...all sorts of folks were there (all sorts of Christians, that is). I find it amusing the way God works. Off I went blogging about how the problems of the world can be overwhelming (scroll on down to my last post, if you missed it), and then I end up at this conference. As it turns out, one can be quite inspired by three days of nerdy conversations about living in intentional community and how our current cities of residence are handling various issues. In addition to hearing from several Vandy Div School professors (all really great, and I'd be happy to tell you more about their talks if you'd like), we took several field trips. We visited Thistle Farms one morning, and it was a really really great experience. If you haven't heard of them before, check out the link. It's good stuff. We also stopped by Room In the Inn's Campus for Human Development, which I've talked about before, I think. And also also there was our coffee break (yeah...coffee break, on the schedule. Awesome.) at Rocketown, a place for young people to go hang out in a positive environment. So that's the long story short about VEV conference, but I've got plenty more to say if you care to have a longer conversation. :)
The day after the VEV conference ended, I was off to Asheville, NC for PSF's spring break mission trip! Although we only had three students go with us, I think our seven-person group was really fun. It was quite lovely to be back in my home state, and to see mountains on the horizon. We spent our three workdays at A Hope Day Center, which provides a lot of the same services as the Campus for Human Development in Nashville. Showers and laundry, storage, an address at which to receive mail, birth certificate help, and a place to get out of the elements. They also focus a lot on getting people into affordable permanent housing (something of which Asheville apparently does not have nearly enough). It was really interesting to compare the two organizations, and see the differences between homelessness in Nashville and Asheville. We did all sortsa stuff at A Hope...a couple people spent most of their time talking (or perhaps more listening) to folks in the day room, while the rest of us did various cleaning/sorting tasks that the staff just don't have time to do. One of our big accomplishments was cleaning out and organizing a big closet, so A Hope could easily store their donations and have an operable clothing closet for their guests. We also attended an Ash Wednesday service at Haywood Street Congregation, which every Wednesday brings together people from all walks of life over a free meal and worship service. It was a really special experience, and we got the chance to talk to Haywood's pastor after the service. Maybe I'll write more about spring break later, but that's it for now. All in all it was a swell time in a town I was glad to get to know a little better.
Love,
Allison
About a week and a half ago, I made the long commute (and by that I mean drove 10 minutes down the road) to Nashville's Scarritt Bennett Center for a Volunteers Exploring Vocation (VEV) conference put on by the Fund for Theological Education (FTE). Hooray, more acronyms! Anyway, VEV brought together about 50 young people each spending a year serving with one of around 15 different faith-based volunteer organizations. Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Church of the Brethren, a handful of Presbyterians...all sorts of folks were there (all sorts of Christians, that is). I find it amusing the way God works. Off I went blogging about how the problems of the world can be overwhelming (scroll on down to my last post, if you missed it), and then I end up at this conference. As it turns out, one can be quite inspired by three days of nerdy conversations about living in intentional community and how our current cities of residence are handling various issues. In addition to hearing from several Vandy Div School professors (all really great, and I'd be happy to tell you more about their talks if you'd like), we took several field trips. We visited Thistle Farms one morning, and it was a really really great experience. If you haven't heard of them before, check out the link. It's good stuff. We also stopped by Room In the Inn's Campus for Human Development, which I've talked about before, I think. And also also there was our coffee break (yeah...coffee break, on the schedule. Awesome.) at Rocketown, a place for young people to go hang out in a positive environment. So that's the long story short about VEV conference, but I've got plenty more to say if you care to have a longer conversation. :)
The day after the VEV conference ended, I was off to Asheville, NC for PSF's spring break mission trip! Although we only had three students go with us, I think our seven-person group was really fun. It was quite lovely to be back in my home state, and to see mountains on the horizon. We spent our three workdays at A Hope Day Center, which provides a lot of the same services as the Campus for Human Development in Nashville. Showers and laundry, storage, an address at which to receive mail, birth certificate help, and a place to get out of the elements. They also focus a lot on getting people into affordable permanent housing (something of which Asheville apparently does not have nearly enough). It was really interesting to compare the two organizations, and see the differences between homelessness in Nashville and Asheville. We did all sortsa stuff at A Hope...a couple people spent most of their time talking (or perhaps more listening) to folks in the day room, while the rest of us did various cleaning/sorting tasks that the staff just don't have time to do. One of our big accomplishments was cleaning out and organizing a big closet, so A Hope could easily store their donations and have an operable clothing closet for their guests. We also attended an Ash Wednesday service at Haywood Street Congregation, which every Wednesday brings together people from all walks of life over a free meal and worship service. It was a really special experience, and we got the chance to talk to Haywood's pastor after the service. Maybe I'll write more about spring break later, but that's it for now. All in all it was a swell time in a town I was glad to get to know a little better.
Love,
Allison
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Don't Do Nothing.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the sadness in the world. Don't get me wrong, I been having plenty of happy times too, but there's just so much tragedy and hurting out there. And that has the potential to be really really intimidating.
There's this house near the Shed that recently caught on fire. Though I don't know the owners, my guess by the current sight of the house is that it was a total loss. It's right there, maybe a five minute walk but we just go on about our relatively pleasant Shed lives. I passed by this house walking to CVS the other day, and I think it was the smell that got to me the most. It was smoky, almost like campfire smoke but will just a touch of something really unpleasant. At first you smell it and just assume someone is burning something off in the distance, but as you get closer to the house and the smell gets stronger, it just seems downright sinister. I think a smell can be sinister? And the way it looks...from the outside probably a third of the house looks untouched, then moving your eyes to the right you see the roof partially caved in, and the other end is just totally black and completely roofless. I mean, I can't imagine what it would be like, to all of a sudden lose your home out of nowhere. And right down the street from this house is a house that's been vacant and for sale since I got to Nashville, because the couple that lived there lost their lives in the flood last May. All that sadness just within a few blocks.
Then there are the situations that are bigger than just down the street. This past weekend we YAVs went to Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty's annual student conference (fellow YAV Vic works there and helped organize the conference), and I've been thinking about it ever since. Regardless of how you feel about the issue of the death penalty, it's pretty heart breaking. I mean, it's heart breaking that people commit violent crimes, and it's heart breaking that one of the ways people have sought justice for those violent crimes is to end another life. But anyway, I don't mean to turn this post towards politics.
I've been thinking lately about all these painful situations--the specific ones I just talked about as well as the ones that are around every day that can often get overlooked. Homelessness, hunger, depression, political conflict and war. It's really overwhelming to me. There are lots of nonprofits are out there, and that is so so great. But think about how many of them there are. Obviously I'm not saying they shouldn't exist, but my mind wanders back to the word "intimidating." How are you supposed to pick which ones to support? What cause deserves your attention more than another? If there are still going to be so many problems out there even after you try, what's the point?
That last question is a dangerous one, but I guess where I've ended up after this reflecting is that I can't do nothing. I don't mean that in the grammatically-incorrect-double-negative sense. I mean it in the sense that I have to do something. We have to do something. It doesn't have to big or revolutionary or even that important. I mean if it is, that's fantastic. But maybe our somethings can be taking a friend who has suffered a loss out for a cup of coffee, or helping set up for Room In the Inn, or even just a hug. (Though I'm told there are some people out there who don't like hugs, so choose your something wisely.) Whatever your something is, I figure even if we just stick to tiny acts of kindness it's better than doing nothing. And who knows, all those tiny things could lead to something pretty wonderful. As per the usual Tuesday, I served lunch at Isaiah 58 today and the pastor that spoke before lunch brought up an excellent point (that I think applies regardless of your religious views):
There's this house near the Shed that recently caught on fire. Though I don't know the owners, my guess by the current sight of the house is that it was a total loss. It's right there, maybe a five minute walk but we just go on about our relatively pleasant Shed lives. I passed by this house walking to CVS the other day, and I think it was the smell that got to me the most. It was smoky, almost like campfire smoke but will just a touch of something really unpleasant. At first you smell it and just assume someone is burning something off in the distance, but as you get closer to the house and the smell gets stronger, it just seems downright sinister. I think a smell can be sinister? And the way it looks...from the outside probably a third of the house looks untouched, then moving your eyes to the right you see the roof partially caved in, and the other end is just totally black and completely roofless. I mean, I can't imagine what it would be like, to all of a sudden lose your home out of nowhere. And right down the street from this house is a house that's been vacant and for sale since I got to Nashville, because the couple that lived there lost their lives in the flood last May. All that sadness just within a few blocks.
Then there are the situations that are bigger than just down the street. This past weekend we YAVs went to Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty's annual student conference (fellow YAV Vic works there and helped organize the conference), and I've been thinking about it ever since. Regardless of how you feel about the issue of the death penalty, it's pretty heart breaking. I mean, it's heart breaking that people commit violent crimes, and it's heart breaking that one of the ways people have sought justice for those violent crimes is to end another life. But anyway, I don't mean to turn this post towards politics.
I've been thinking lately about all these painful situations--the specific ones I just talked about as well as the ones that are around every day that can often get overlooked. Homelessness, hunger, depression, political conflict and war. It's really overwhelming to me. There are lots of nonprofits are out there, and that is so so great. But think about how many of them there are. Obviously I'm not saying they shouldn't exist, but my mind wanders back to the word "intimidating." How are you supposed to pick which ones to support? What cause deserves your attention more than another? If there are still going to be so many problems out there even after you try, what's the point?
That last question is a dangerous one, but I guess where I've ended up after this reflecting is that I can't do nothing. I don't mean that in the grammatically-incorrect-double-negative sense. I mean it in the sense that I have to do something. We have to do something. It doesn't have to big or revolutionary or even that important. I mean if it is, that's fantastic. But maybe our somethings can be taking a friend who has suffered a loss out for a cup of coffee, or helping set up for Room In the Inn, or even just a hug. (Though I'm told there are some people out there who don't like hugs, so choose your something wisely.) Whatever your something is, I figure even if we just stick to tiny acts of kindness it's better than doing nothing. And who knows, all those tiny things could lead to something pretty wonderful. As per the usual Tuesday, I served lunch at Isaiah 58 today and the pastor that spoke before lunch brought up an excellent point (that I think applies regardless of your religious views):
"Jesus had 12 people and turned the world upside down."
Love,
Allison.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Plotting hope.
Well happy 2011, friends!
After watching the ball drop with some lovely friends from camp (let's just say one of them juggles fire...), I headed to Montreat for College Conference. Technically my intern self isn't in college anymore, but the theme for this year was Wondering Wanderers...which I've gotta say, fits me pretty well. Having thought a lot about the topic over the few days we were there, I think the title can fit just about anybody. We're all somewhere on the journey, you know?
All in all, there were about 1,000 people there. Some were college students, some ministers, and others Montreat staff. Plenty of Presbyterians, but certainly not everyone was. At any rate...that is a LOT of people. Maybe not in the grand scope of the world, but for a three day conference in the mountains North Carolina? At Tuesday night's worship service they played a clip from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? during which the movie's three main characters see a group of white-clad people walking towards a pond to be baptized, singing "Down to the River to Pray." (For your aural pleasure, here's the movie's version of the song on YouTube.) The three men are some combination of mesmerized and confused at the whole situation, and one of them eventually rushes into the water to be baptized himself. The point of this little story though, is that, without any instruction to do so, the entire auditorium started singing along. There we were, almost 1000 strong, sitting together singing. No words on the screen, so music leader up front, just singing because we could. It was haunting, in the best of ways. God was so in that place and in that time that it literally gave me chills.
In addition to keynote speaker Brian McLaren and the other conference/worship leaders, the Resurrection Dance Theater was there. Based out of St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Haiti, these inspiring people have been spending time traveling the US and Canada in hopes of raising money to rebuild two of their three homes (which were destroyed in the earthquake that shook Haiti country almost exactly a year ago), and for continuing support of their mission. Find more info about them here. In addition to a keynote Q & A session during which a few members shared their experiences in Haiti and with St. Joseph's, there was a spectacular dance performance after worship one night...and that was definitely a highlight of the conference. Here's a group of men, all of whom were once orphaned on the street and have since been touched by St. Joseph's, dancing to glorify God. I mean, of course they share their dancing with different people in part to raise awareness and funding, but that's not why they do it. You could see it in their faces...the sheer joy as they moved to the drums and soaked in the thunderous applause. The fact that their faith is so strong despite having gone through far more than I probably ever will: it's incredible. One night at worship an offering was collected and dedicated to St. Joseph's. The wonderful part: it was $4,000. Combined with the proceeds from crafts and tshirts the Resurrection folks had brought with them, college conference attendees raised around $8,000 for St. Joseph's, Wings of Hope, and Trinity House. If you ask me, the fact that a bunch of college students gave that much over the course of a day and a half is pretty awe inspiring.
All in all it was a fantastic few days full of really great conversation, worship, and fellowship. The tricky part will be to pay as much attention to God out here in the real world as I could with a thousand other wondering wanderers at Montreat.
Brian McLaren wrote about us on his blog, and the conference co-directors read this at closing worship:
Apparently we Presbyterians can hold our own. :)
Love,
Allison.
After watching the ball drop with some lovely friends from camp (let's just say one of them juggles fire...), I headed to Montreat for College Conference. Technically my intern self isn't in college anymore, but the theme for this year was Wondering Wanderers...which I've gotta say, fits me pretty well. Having thought a lot about the topic over the few days we were there, I think the title can fit just about anybody. We're all somewhere on the journey, you know?
All in all, there were about 1,000 people there. Some were college students, some ministers, and others Montreat staff. Plenty of Presbyterians, but certainly not everyone was. At any rate...that is a LOT of people. Maybe not in the grand scope of the world, but for a three day conference in the mountains North Carolina? At Tuesday night's worship service they played a clip from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? during which the movie's three main characters see a group of white-clad people walking towards a pond to be baptized, singing "Down to the River to Pray." (For your aural pleasure, here's the movie's version of the song on YouTube.) The three men are some combination of mesmerized and confused at the whole situation, and one of them eventually rushes into the water to be baptized himself. The point of this little story though, is that, without any instruction to do so, the entire auditorium started singing along. There we were, almost 1000 strong, sitting together singing. No words on the screen, so music leader up front, just singing because we could. It was haunting, in the best of ways. God was so in that place and in that time that it literally gave me chills.
In addition to keynote speaker Brian McLaren and the other conference/worship leaders, the Resurrection Dance Theater was there. Based out of St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Haiti, these inspiring people have been spending time traveling the US and Canada in hopes of raising money to rebuild two of their three homes (which were destroyed in the earthquake that shook Haiti country almost exactly a year ago), and for continuing support of their mission. Find more info about them here. In addition to a keynote Q & A session during which a few members shared their experiences in Haiti and with St. Joseph's, there was a spectacular dance performance after worship one night...and that was definitely a highlight of the conference. Here's a group of men, all of whom were once orphaned on the street and have since been touched by St. Joseph's, dancing to glorify God. I mean, of course they share their dancing with different people in part to raise awareness and funding, but that's not why they do it. You could see it in their faces...the sheer joy as they moved to the drums and soaked in the thunderous applause. The fact that their faith is so strong despite having gone through far more than I probably ever will: it's incredible. One night at worship an offering was collected and dedicated to St. Joseph's. The wonderful part: it was $4,000. Combined with the proceeds from crafts and tshirts the Resurrection folks had brought with them, college conference attendees raised around $8,000 for St. Joseph's, Wings of Hope, and Trinity House. If you ask me, the fact that a bunch of college students gave that much over the course of a day and a half is pretty awe inspiring.
All in all it was a fantastic few days full of really great conversation, worship, and fellowship. The tricky part will be to pay as much attention to God out here in the real world as I could with a thousand other wondering wanderers at Montreat.
Brian McLaren wrote about us on his blog, and the conference co-directors read this at closing worship:
Presbyterians love to make jokes about themselves (God's frozen chosen, declining in a decent and orderly way, etc.). But the 900+ young adults I met this week in Montreat, NC, exemplify an inspiring future for the Presbyterian church ... if they're taken seriously and listened to and encouraged. The quality of conversation and interaction was at the "wow" level. My level of hope and enthusiasm about new things breaking forth in Mainline Protestantism continues to rise. What a great way to start the year - with tremendous young disciples like these!
Love,
Allison.
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