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Archive > Youth Synod
RMC Youth Shine
at General Synod
By David Popham
We stood on the wharf as the Amistad Freedom Schooner
set sail to Europe and Africa. Carrying with it, the principal that equality
and freedom are human rights to be granted to all and denied to none.
For the Conference youth contingent that went to General Synod, there
was a special connection as we had spent the night in the church which
supplied the first lawyers for the ex-captives and continued financial
support as their case was tried before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Later our youth took to the main stage at General Synod
to be part of a “living” time capsule as youth from around
the country brought objects to be sealed away until the 100th anniversary
of the
UCC. We placed a La Foret banner in the capsule as a sign of the sanctuary
our Conference affords the many campers whose lives are touched in this
beautiful setting. Whether the campers be adults or children, whether
they attend a Conference sponsored event or a church family weekend,
we celebrated the one sacred place as a sign of all the many sacred places
found throughout our local churches.
The youth were impressed with the messages of hope they heard from people
like Bill Moyers, Barak Obama, and Lynn Redgrave. Some even made the
local Hartford paper as a cast of folks enthused with God and God’s
work through the UCC. Some enjoyed the business sessions and were taken
by the free flow of ideas and the give and take of the conversations
that were going on. Some were impressed by the shear number of people
and strengthened by the knowledge that we are not alone. Several commented
on how they liked the up-beat services and their sense of the abundance
of welcome, hospitality, and talent in the UCC.
Standing on the beach, during our day off, it was obvious that one of
the favorite things the youth enjoyed was each other. Many commented
on how easy it had been to fit into the larger group. While how just
hanging out with each other talking and sharing stories was one of the
highlights of the trip. This would explain the impromptu dancing in the
park, the rugby game, and all those chatty conversations in the vans
and shuttles.
Our youth represented the Conference well. Not only with the Time Capsule
at the 50th Birthday Bash, but also in volunteering to do some rather
menial tasks during the large Sunday worship service. By way of creativity,
spontaneity, and a lot of improvising our youth came, partook, and connected
to the larger and wider picture of who we are as the United Church of
Christ.
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