Memories of Columbus Day 08

Random

Memories
from
Blairhaven









The Orc-powered Suburban death trap
Dying and going to the spirit world
Brownie batter sundaes
Disco bowling
MB's beautiful piano playing
The Newlywed Game
Killer Croquet
Late night Charades
Heavenly collages
Pitching shoes with Celie
Burning our mask chain
Would you rather
Learning & growing to understand that friends really can be friends forever

Columbus Day Retreat 08

What a great time was had by all at this retreat! Check out the pictures in the slide show! The theme was Friends are Friends Forever ~ Living in Heavenly Communities. I think we did a wonderful job living together as friends. How about some stories about this Blairhaven retreat from some of you teens who attended?

Audrey on Why Go to Camp?

[Audrey recently commented on the August "Why Go to Camp?" post. I thought her comment was amazing - so in case you missed it, I wanted to post it for everyone to read]

by Audrey

WHAT?! WHY GO TO CAMP?!?Only because it's the best place ever!Camp Alomont is one just of those places where the first thing you do when you get there is run screaming like a COMPLETE idiot and launch into a rib-cracking hug onto the first friend you see.lol.The first thing i think of when some1 says how was your summer is Almont.Not just because im going to start the horrors of school like 3 weeks after i get back from camp(how lame is that),cause even then a summer full of babysitting would look better,but beacause i can honestly say that Almont is where im the happiest.i mean i even learn lotsa new stuff at almont like who knows how to improvise the ending half of a chapel service that was thrown together by a bunch of insane laughing teenagers that said ok lets make this work and if it doesnt just start making up stuff,go with the flow,and hope every1s laughing by the end.And where else am i supposed 2 learn how to make 1 of those twisty gimp things,wich im still trying to figure out btw,not to mention all of the spiritual questions i ask about the bible and god and just life in general.And i love the fact that parents get let go 4 a week and every1 trusts every1 2 help a crying little kid(where else am i gonna find a buch overly hyper kids,due 2 sugar,besides my own household) Oh and come on Almont is the only place where all of the teens can make a mad dash 4 the swings,fall like 12 times while getting there,and still feel cool cause you got the swing in the shade.Even the work we do there is fun,blareing the music in the kitchen while doing dishes and having a HUGE water fight on the last day,dancing to insanely loud ipods in the the dorms while supposedly "cleaning",planning all those pranks every year that,we never seem to get around 2 any way,at like 3 in the morning,and working at the survivor store all afternoon and keeping it open just a little longer because u know that right after the last class bell those little kids are gonna come truckin across the grass and convincing u with cutesy little smiles to keep it open so they can get last minute candy. The thing i love the best about almont is my friends(which is pretty much every1 any way).I dont think their is a single person from camp that i wouldn't love to see sooner(besides cody im sick of seeing him every sunday,lol,jk).Theirs no tension of trying 2 fit in at almont,because no matter what someone there always makes you feel wanted.So,to wrap it up,almonts great because its a place where people from different places,have different ages,and would most likely travel in different social circles altogether,mesh into 1 and become a giant group of friends that you know you'll love with all your heart and remember for a lifetime.

The Source of Violence

Here's the September edition of the Chaplain's Corner
by Pastor Dave, SCYL Chaplain

Perhaps as a reflection of this diffused global violence, I have been noticing in the movies coming out of Hollywood these days an extremely high degree of violence. Shooting, killing, car chases and destruction fill hours and hours of movie time. On top of all this violence, movies today often depict anti-heroes. I can’t help but think that the effect of these hours of violence, crime and adrenaline can’t have a good effect on the viewers.

Violence and fighting all come from the lower level of our personalities, called the natural level. This level of human personality is concerned with meeting the needs of the self first. This means gratifying the senses, and the body’s needs, eating, clothing, shelter, financial security, and self-protection from any threats—emotional or physical. When the natural level of our personality is threatened, the reaction is to preserve self at any cost. This may mean to fight and destroy anything threatening the self’s survival.

The spiritual level of our personality works against the natural level. While the natural level is formed after the world, the spiritual level is formed after heaven. While the natural level sees self first, the spiritual level sees God first. Where the natural level wants the world to bow to its needs and desires, the spiritual level wants to give to others and to serve the neighbor. While the natural level wants to control and dominate, the spiritual level seeks mutual freedom and consensual relationships.

When our spiritual level begins to rule in our personalities, we begin to know peace. To the extent that ego and selfishness recede, and we allow God into our consciousness, we begin to know bliss and peace. To the extent that we love our neighbor instead of seeing our neighbor as an enemy or as competition, we come into bliss and peace. Letting our spiritual nature rule in our personalities comes over time. It takes a lifetime. But it is worth the effort. As Swedenborg says, “The nature of the tranquility of peace is so delightful, that it surpasses every idea of delight.” (AC 92)

Quote to Share

by Rev. Jenn

there's no greater power than an idea whose time has come

~ wayne dyer

Caterpillars to Butterflies

I recently read Rev. Sage Serene's blog entry "The unknown" (sagereflections.org). Sage has a new job working for a hospice assisting people who will soon be dying. Can there be a bigger rite of passage? I'm also studying Monarch butterflies with Ava (her first science project in school). As she tells me about the caterpillar in her classroom building the chrysalis to create the safe and necessary environment to morph into the adult butterfly, I smile and think, "Okay God, I get the connection". We are all caterpillars crawling along on our oft-randomly appearing journeys that spiral along towards the butterfly dreams. I look forward to traveling the journey with you and recall that it is the journey not the destination that matters. Heaven is not a place, it is a state of being. Let's see if we can find a bit of that world together this fall at our youth groups and retreats.

Upcoming Retreats in October

As I enter into the fall season, I look ahead to the upcoming retreats and youth gatherings. I am so excited to begin our monthly youth group gatherings again here in Maine. I love seeing the new faces coming into youth group as well as the teens who have been involved in retreats and activities for awhile. I'm thrilled that we have three retreats planned in October! New England over Columbus Day weekend (Blairhaven is letting us come!), Indiana/Michigan over October 25 and Kansas (Camp Mennoscah) over Halloween . Each of these events will be filled with opportunities for meaningful discussion, joyful play and nurturing community. Hosting teen events are so important to me. They changed my life when I was a teen and I hope that you teens find them equally precious and fulfilling.