Family Spirituality Day at Highlands Presbytery
The Young Leader Formation Team hosted Family Spirituality Day on March 2 at Camp Johnsonburg. Despite unexpectedly rainy weather, the families and leaders learned and experienced what it means to have a deeper relationship with God. The day was so successful that there is already discussion of a second Family Spirituality Day next year.
Led by Presbytery Resource Staff Steve Shussett, Steve Gaden (Morris Plains), Diane Halper (Flanders), Joann Willans (Whippany), with contributions from Amy (Denville) and Rev. Tim Clarkson (Denville/Succasunna), those attending learned that there are many ways to know and love God. Sometimes we love God like the people dearest to us, and other times we think God as much as we do those who pick up our trash or deliver our mail.
That metaphor laid the ground for the many ways we can know God in our lives. Participants spent time unpacking ways in which we are all invited by God to be with God. This can be in our homes, and signs posted on ordinary items like doors, light switches, and over faucets (and even a cooler at Johnsonburg) reminded us to be thankful for the most basic things. Such attentiveness to God naturally expands, into prayers for and actions in the world, and in other daily activities, including when we eat, which we practiced by eating lunch together. Crafts accompanied each of our four segments, with different take-home reminders for frequent use to keep those learnings alive.
Despite the rain, several indoor meditative walks allowed participants to spend intentional time with God, taking time to call out the many reasons we have to give God thanks. At its best, this gratitude spills over. For example, that we were in a safe, warm, dry place was a reminder to pray for those in more dangerous, less comfortable situations.
Many thanks to those who attended, and the leaders for their support and many contributions. If your church or a group of churches would like to explore a Family Spirituality Day, or you would like to participate as a learner or a leader in a future event, contact Steve Shussett at the Presbytery Office.
Watch the Presbytery newsletter for information on upcoming Young Leader Formation activities, including our August 25 Young Leader Formation Leaders’ Workshop on August 25. Once again we will be led by Princeton Seminary’s Institute for Youth Ministry, this time to moving our good ideas for youth ministry to planning an even better reality.
