Here we are again in our weekly exploration of the summer camp curriculums on Thursdays! Thanks for coming back! Today we return to the HC Spirit theme "What's in a Name?" But before we dive in, I want to make sure you know there is a t-shirt design contest for our HC Spirit shirt this year. Contact Rev. Alice Rauch for more information on how to submit an entry. Adult volunteers are also encouraged to contact Alice for opportunities to help out August 6-12 at Camp Mount Luther.
"They were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” (Luke 1:59b-60, 65-66a)
In this passage from a familiar Advent story, Elizabeth and Zechariah depart from traditional naming practices and give their son John the name that God designated despite the challenges of family and community.
This departure from the norm caused the community to ask, "what then will this child become?"
What indeed? Change is hard. Campers will explore the ways this passage opens up ways of understanding change as a faithful way to follow God's call. They will look at how historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. named the change they wanted to be and see in the world and how they lived into that faithfully.
Discussion Starter: What expectations come with your family name, if any? How do those expectations feel? Is there something in your community that you hear God calling you to change? What small first step might you take faithfully?
Check out all of the camping opportunities and remember to use code PENNCENTRAL2022 for 50% campership when you register for HC Spirit, Kirchenwald and Nawakwa!
Rev. Nora Foust
Associate Conference Minister
