Compassion literally means “suffering-with”—feeling a deep sympathy or passion for the suffering or the misfortune of the other. The Greek word for compassion has its roots in a word that means “guts.” “Feeling it in our gut” … that feeling where our reaction to something sends our stomach churning—a visceral feeling. But there is more to compassion than merely feeling. It’s also a doing. It is an urge on our part. It hits us in the gut and sends us into motion for the sake of the other. This is what "suffering with," "having passion together" means—it causes us to go outside of yourself. To allow that rush from our gut to go into the places and spaces that need it and need it desperately.
We are still processing all that has been disrupted and changed in our lives, all the losses we’ve suffered, and all the new things we have learned as the pandemic has been raking havoc across the globe and as we’ve been grappling with political and racial upheaval in our communities. We need more than ever to cultivate our capacity to have compassion for ourselves and others as begin to navigate our new normal and respond to all the changes in constructive, imaginative, and kind ways.
With our partners at First Presbyterian Church, we are creating a wonderful opportunity to cultivate compassion for ourselves, our neighbors, and our planet. Together we are hosting an exciting alternative to VBS—a Compassion Camp between August 2-6, 9-11 AM. The camp will take place at First Presbyterian Church.
We will examine different places in our lives where we can cultivate compassion. The practice of lovingkindness serves as the backbone for our theme. Lovingkindness is the utmost form of selfless love toward ourselves and others. The practice begins with focusing on self-compassion because once we have compassion for ourselves, we can have compassion for others.
Our themes move in this order: Session One introduces compassion and shares how to recognize opportunities to practice it. Session Two focuses on the self. Session Three moves out to the neighbor. Session Four moves out to the world. Finally, Session Five asks us how we might act upon all we have learned from Compassion Camp.
Through Music, Bible Stories, Creative Learning, Movement, Recreation, Lovingkindness Practice and more, your child will learn, do, and see God in work.
Help us share this information broadly. Invite a neighbor’s child, a grandchild, a good friend’s child or grandchild.The camp is open to children aged preschool through 6thgrade. If you are an adult or a teenager, we’d love your participation too as volunteers to lead various games and activities.
Here is a sneak-peek of the daily scriptures, activities, games and music.
I love that in Arabic the word for compassion is the same word for “womb.” As if saying that from compassion issues life. We see people and communities overwhelmed by need and hopelessness, our world torn by violence, and we have become more and more polarized. In these broken places it is crucial that we discover and practice the art of compassion so that life could be protected and nurtured. Hope you join us in this adventure!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Enikő
