Youth Experience Happening #7 at St. Christopher

Happening #7 was a great success last weekend at St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center. Happening is a high school retreat led by high school students, following a model of an awakening-style retreat, during which youth from around this diocese get to experience how their peers live day-to-day within their own faith journey. Through a series of talks, singing, worship, activities, and surprises—all at the best place on earth: St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center—these youth have a safe place outside their everyday busy lives, to take down their walls and enjoy Jesus.

This year's Happening was made possible through through the dedicated work of the 11 team members, and the support of six adult leaders, and three clergy (the Rev. Brooks Boylan, the Rev. Laura Rezac, and Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley). This dynamic leadership team of youth and adults welcomed 15 Happeners to experience Jesus in the most awesome of ways! Making this year's experience even more special, one of the Happeners, Angel F., decided he wanted to be baptized and confirmed during the weekend. After receiving permission from his parents, Angel was baptized and confirmed out in the waters of the ocean by Bishop Ruth.

View more photos from the weekend on Facebook at this link.

New Barnabas Team Provides Support at Happening (photo, top right)
With the new direction that Happening took this year, a new retreat was created to run parallel to the Happening group, named Barnabas Team. This was a retreat for those who had graduated high school and who may have had a fondness for their Happening experience. The purpose was to provide this age group their own retreat, which also worked behind the scenes to support and encourage the Happening staff and participants. Their focus was prayer and support, truly acting in service for our wonderful youth.

-Report submitted by the Rev. Brooks Boylan