November Newsletter Article-- Young Adults ROCK

Young Adults ROCK

There is a reason why Compline is more wildly popular among young adults than say, Morning Prayer. Sure – on one hand, it fits better into the rhythm of our lives, and soothes the mystery of our day with offerings to God. However, if you spend a lot of time reading Compline, and accept – as most Episcopalians do – that praying shapes believing, the words found in this bedtime prayer speak to the deep needs of many young adults today and help us through the “chances and changes of this life.”

Tending to our deep spiritual lives was just one of the topics in the north Georgia mountains on the weekend of October 10-12, 2008. Sponsored by the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults (DAYA), the first Young Adult Summit was held at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, GA. This gathering – the first of its kind for young adults in the southeast – drew 35+ young adults from three surrounding dioceses, for workshops, fellowship, and discussion on empowering young adults for leadership and personal spiritual growth. With workshop topics ranging from campus ministry to spiritual direction, Episcopal Relief and Development to the discernment process, there was a wonderful balance between learning how to feed our own needs and the needs of others.

Part of what was so amazing about the weekend was that it was hosted, staffed, and sponsored by young adults for young adults. It “practiced what it preached” and “preached what it practiced.” If the point was to empower young adults, the best way it was done was that young adults were the ones doing the empowering. Sure, there were many people of all ages there to support what was happening and to lead workshops, and be resources, but none of it would have been possible without DAYA, director Lauren Woody, and the incredible young adults involved with this group.

Our own Bishop J. Neil Alexander addressed the gathering on Friday night, and was the keynote speaker. He rejoiced in this gathering, and spoke candidly about his own experience as a young adult in the church and his hopes for young adults today. Primarily he spoke of relationships – emphasizing God’s relationship in the Trinity, and urging us to worry less about how much we love God and focus more on how much God loves us.

And that is exactly what it felt like we did that weekend, and what I carried away from this amazing time together. Relating to each other was the purpose – some new relationships were formed, others rekindled, and others deepened. I believe the people that were at the first annual Young Adult Summit were impacted in ways that cannot be contained or measured. The energy was palpable.

You might not have actually felt the shift of the earth on its axis that beautiful fall weekend, but it occurred and nothing will ever quite be the same again. Primarily, we rejoice in just how far we have come already – the recognition of the gifts and ministry of young adult leaders in the Diocese of Atlanta who work many, many hours to make this event, and many weekly events possible. We celebrate and recognize the presence of Christ among us, working through us and in us to make a safe, warm, welcoming place for young adults in our church.

And we look to the future for the second, third, fourth…annual Young Adult Summits and to finding our place in this church and in the world. I am honored to have been a part of this first event, and know that mountains moved that weekend – and trust God is working in us daily to raise up, recognize, and nurture the young adults among us. Watch what happens next!


Submitted by Sharon Hiers