St. Mark Presbyterian Youth's experience at Montreat June 6-13 incorporated the theme of “This Is Our Story” using a daily theme that was threaded through the Keynote, Small Group, Recreation, and Worship. Ten youth along with Pastor Susan and Katie Sternhagen, ventured to the mountains of North Carolina for Montreat’s Youth Conference. We told our stories, along with 600 other students, advisors, and volunteers discussing what it means to be part of God’s story.
We started Sunday evening establishing that God is the Author of our stories, and we are named and claimed by God. Moving through the week we discussed our stories being messy, are intertwined, and our stories need to be told. Per the tradition, keynote starts with energizers, silly choreographed dances to secular pop songs, before exploring the scriptures. Small group was also a time for us to integrate the scriptures and the theme into our stories. This year was particlarly special, because four of our students helped with worship. Three of our youth elders and deacons served communion, and one of our students sang with the worship leaders.
Our down time was spent hiking, “rockhopping,” hanging out at the “Huck,” playing soccer, ultimate Frisbee, cards, and of course, rocking in the William Black Lodge’s rocking chairs. Friday night’s worship concluded with lighting candles and encompassing Lake Susan. Many friendships were renewed, and many were forged, forever incorporating them in our stories.
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