A Buoy for Weary Souls

Beloved in Christ, 

I’m writing this week from the shores of beautiful Green Lake in western Minnesota, where I’m spending the week with our diocesan youth camp. This is the first time we have been able to have a fully in person youth camp since 2019, which, for young people especially, feels like a very long time ago. 

I did not grow up going to camp, but I’ve spent most of my ordained ministry in positions closely related to work with young people, and I didn’t realize how much I missed camp until I got here Sunday evening. The days are long and full, our young people are showing up with their fullest and best selves, and the energy and joy are palpably contagious, and a buoy for anyone’s weary soul. 

The buzz around camp today is what everyone is planning for tonight’s talent show. This is a staple of many a church camp, where campers either showcase talents they have been carefully honing for years, tentatively try some new thing they’ve always wanted to do, or make up skits and stories. Everyone cheers raucously at the end of every offering, and to me it always feels like a preview of the kingdom of God. Everyone matters, everyone belongs, everyone is loved, affirmed, and celebrated. 

It’s part of why camp is so powerful and important. It offers us a glimpse and experience of what we as the church can be when we are at our very best: communities of contagious joy, deep love and belonging, and saturated in God’s Spirit. You don’t have to play competitive games of nine-square and Gaga Ball all afternoon to work toward that in your own faith community (but it certainly doesn’t hurt!). I hope you’ll consider joining us for Family Camp later this summer. I’m so grateful to our campers, their families and congregations, our counselors, and Dan Miglets-Nelson, our Minister for Children and Youth, for their work in bringing back at long last this critical part of finding our way toward God’s future together.

Grace and Peace,

The Right Reverend Craig Loya
X Bishop