Senior High Conference Day Three!

Today was a slightly different day from our routine.  A couple years ago we added a service project aspect to the program.  So none of our usual class time.  Bishop Bill had to turn into Bishop Franklin to go back to the "real world".  He led a special morning worship and thanked the conference for their time and energy and input.  He appears to have had a great time and is talking about coming back for as long as possible starting next year.


We did have our time with the chaplain, Father Ethan.  It was a little tough this morning because the conference has hit the mid-week doldrums.  We had so much fun the last couple days our tails were dragging this morning.  But Fr. Ethan did a great job talking about covenants this morning.

One of the traditions of the conference over the last  five or six years has been rubber duckies at the Kinda Sorta Beach party.  This year, in line with our theme of  "A New Thing" we got baby rubber ducks!  Bishop Bill got the first of what we hope is many, many duckies.  We also gave one to Lee Lindeman the director here at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center as a thank you for the great reception we've gotten this summer.

 

The big portion of our day was spent at St. Lukes in Jamestown.  We helped them clean out their boiler room, re-organize part of their youth rooms upstairs at the parish house, move some pews in the chancel, and pull some weeds around the Thrift Shop as well.  Then Fr. Eric Williams from St Luke's took the conference out for some coffee and smoothies at a local coffee shop across the street from the church.  We worked hard and had a good time!


Tonight is a presentation from Youth Commission, then the Talent Show.  Then I think we'll all be ready for bed!

Matthew and Quinn doing a comedy piece

Kelsey and Jeff duet

August with a tune he wrote himself

I'll try and get some video up tomorrow!

Senior High Conference Day Two

Got off to a worrisome start with clouds and cool temperatures.  Then it got worse when it started to rain.  However during worship we were singing about the shining sun and whaddya know?  Out came the sun!

Of course class time is a big part of our routine at Senior High.  Casual, relaxed times with the teaching staff discussing a wide variety of topics.  This summer is our first with Bishop Bill (sadly this whole bishop thing is dragging him away from camp after only 2 1/2 days).  He opened his first class time by learning more about the recently ended EYE (Episcopal Youth Event).  If you haven't heard yet the EYE delegation had enormous adventures when severe weather re-routed their flights both to and from Minnesota.  The trip out took 29 hours and involved stops in 5 airports.  Bishop has never been to an EYE and was very interested in the experience.

 In today's class he spoke with the conference about the issue of the state of New York recently passing a Marriage Equality bill.  This is the first of a series of meetings on his schedule this week that will bring the input from a diverse group of people from our diocese.  He then segued the conversation into a larger discussion of the role and duties of a bishop.  Along the way he talked about the symbols of the office and gave the conference a chance to see his pectoral cross, miter, episcopal ring and crozier up close.

 While it was very calm in our protected little portion of LCLC (the retreat center is surrounded by trees) the wind was pretty ferocious today so sailing was called off.  We did get some swimming in.  You can see what a beautiful day it was on Lake Chautauqua and kind of see the big waves the wind was creating.  The water was comfortable once you got in.

Our evening activity was the "Kinda-Sorta Beach Party".  We played music, had a game of Apples to Apples that included almost the entire conference and then sang songs and told ghost stories around the campfire.  We even decided to do Compline (from memory!) at the campfire too.  It was a great end to a great day.

Senior High Conference Day One

We had a great first full day!  Father Ethan Cole is our chaplain and is leading us through our theme "A New Thing" and our worship schedule as well (morning prayer, midday Eucharist and Compline).  Our classes on Monday and Tuesday are with Father John Paul Boyer and Bishop Franklin.

Lots of frisbee being played, KanJam, Ladder ball.  We went sailing yesterday too!  Turns out a lot of the conference wanted to be on boats so we had two catamarans on the water and a bunch of kayaks as well.  A good time was had by all, including Bishop Bill.  The more distant sail seen in the photo at right has him on it.

Our music leader Chuck Basil is working with the youth to on the music and they brought him one that they love.  So here they are working on an arrangement for piano and four guitars.

We ended the day with a little excitement as a bat came to join us but that was resolved very quickly and we all fell asleep.

More to come!