I just returned from the Young Adult Festival at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and I have to share how much the opportunity to represent Emmanuel Parish and the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta meant to me.
This five-day festival was held in conjunction with the General Convention to offer young adults from around the globe opportunity for fellowship, workshops and worship. It also provided opportunity for the young adult ministry of the church to be readily seen and appreciated by both Deputies and Bishops at the General Convention.
For me, it was an opportunity to learn from other young adults around the world what works best in their ministry to this vital and important part of our church, both globally and in our local parishes. In addition, the workshops offered as part of the festival offered an enriching variety of experiences in worship, formation and community.
The opening reception of the festival was a wonderful event where I had opportunity to meet young men and women from around the globe. I was fascinated with a young lady from Haiti who spoke with me about the challenges of poverty and violence in her country, and my heart sank as she shared the plight of so many of our fellow Christians struggling to survive that poverty and violence. My conversation with several young women from Scotland was cheerful and happy as they described their adventures in the United States. I was happy to meet my roommate for the festival, who also served on the design team, during the evening’s event. It was a marvelous start to what would be a very moving and engaging five days.
Each day many of us would gather for breakfast and then shuttle to General Convention. I spent most mornings observing legislative committees, the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops as they deliberated on the life of the church. The polity of the church is truly amazing, and clearly is founded in the same democratic ideals as those of our national life. Everyone who spoke did so with great passion and earnestness, and at times the emotion of a speaker stirred my own emotions. This was especially true when speakers shared their most intimate life experiences in support or opposition of a particular issue. It was difficult to avoid tears when several at the microphone began to cry as they spoke with great passion about the matter at hand. This was especially true of the matter regarding the inclusion of all the Baptized in the full life of the church.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the festival had to be the workshops held most days.
The first workshop I attended was entitled “Community Expressions” which centered on the unique ways in which local customs and practices are incorporated into worship. The workshop presented a variety of ethnic musical traditions from South Africa and some liturgical traditions from Japan. It was a fascinating and enjoyable time. I then attended the workshop entitled “Meditation: Beyond OM” which offered a brief discussion regarding the role of meditation in prayer and spirituality. This workshop used the Labyrinth as the example of meditative prayer, and I had hoped for a deeper discussion of other meditative practices.
Saturday’s first workshop perhaps took me out of my comfort zone the most. It was entitled “Don’t Just Sit There! Body Prayer” and was entirely about liturgical dance. Now you may not know me, but I’m a very tall, stout guy who has good dexterity, but I’m definitely not a dancer. This workshop was for me one of the most intimidating experiences, but also proved to be one of the most enjoyable. We learned to use dance to enhance the liturgy; yes, it sounds odd, but it really worked. I could see the value of this immersive form of worship, especially for younger people and children. The next workshop was much more in my comfort zone and was entitled “Prayer Beads: More than a Pretty Necklace.” This workshop offered a primer on the use of prayer beads for centering prayer, and then each participant had opportunity to make a set of prayer beads for personal use. It was tactile, engaging and wonderfully relaxing to assemble my first set of prayer beads. I loved it!
On Saturday evening I had opportunity to attend a special event entitled “Simple Dinner” in which the concept of sustainable farming was presented in a very meaningful and relevant manner. The use of local produce and meat in our meal that evening was the start to an engaging and encouraging presentation about the need for us as Christians to ensure that our environment is well cared for by society, and on a more personal level how the earth can provide for each of us the nourishment and sustenance that we need through our own hands. I believe very strongly in good stewardship of the earth and its’ resources, and this presentation really reinforced the need for this to be one of the focuses of the church.
The most moving experience for me had to be the worship.
At many of the Eucharistic services during the General Convention, I had opportunity to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. This is a ministry in which I serve at my own parish, and I was happy to do so during the General Convention. It was a blessed moment when during my serving of the Host at one of the Eucharistic services, I communicated my own Bishop Neil Alexander. I've never been so moved by the Holy Spirit as I was during Sunday's Eucharistic service, and my emotions overwhelmed me after taking communion. Being fully present in that moment and knowing that with us thousands upon thousands of fellow Christians were doing the same act of worship brought tears to my eyes. To think that each of us are one in the past, present and future when we partake of the Eucharist was overwhelming. What a gift from God! I haven't cried like that since my Mother passed away.
It's always a blessing to be in the body of Christ, and this experience was no different. Being with young men and women from around the world this last week was a joyful, engaging and exciting experience. Participating in the various workshops was great, and seeing the polity of the Episcopal Church in action was amazing. Truly the Holy Spirit moves in this body as the center of every action appeared to be centered on our love for one another and Christ's love in the world.
In all that I experienced at the General Convention, I realized ever more fully how blessed I am to be part of the Emmanuel Parish family. Everyone in my parish are blessings to me, and my unbounded joy at knowing them inspires me to greater service to my parish, my church and my God. I will carry my flame and share it brightly with all those around me, that they may experience the love of Christ through me.
I know that the love of Christ is indeed for all people in all of time, past, present and future.
General Convention and the Young Adults Festival was another opportunity to enhance my own ministry with young adults in Emmanuel Parish. The experience offered me a greater understanding of the importance of this vital ministry to the church, my diocese and my parish. As I shared my time with so many other young adults one thing became clear: each of us brings to our ministries and our lives a passion to share Christ with others and in doing so to bring His kingdom into being for us now through community and love for one another.
Brian Paul Freese is a parishioner at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia. He serves as the lay coordinator for the young adults ministry, called E2YA, as well as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Adult Acolyte.
