The
Messenger
2012
Spring Edition
Feature
Articles Continued
2012 Kanuga Parish
Retreat was balanced
blend
of spiritual worship and fun for youth
Continued
from Page 1
They learned that the Republic of China was established
on January 1, 1912; the 3,000 cherry trees in Washington,
DC were a gift from the mayor of Tokyo on March 27, 2012;
and that Albania declared independence from the Ottoman
Empire on November 28, 1912. They also spent several minutes
before they finally got the correct price of a gallon of
milk. It was $0.32 in 1912. Allyson Hurst was fascinated
to discover that much of what she was studying in her history
class at school happened during this decade and aided her
in correctly figuring out life expectancies of age 48 for
men and age 52 for women.
After the game, the youth dressed up in 1912 attire complete
with felt mustaches and paper doily collars. The formal
feel of vests and long skirts contrasted the every day jeans
and T-shirts. “It was really fun. I thought we really
looked like people from the 1910s,” expressed Emma
Hurst. Winston Collins channeled his inner Irish immigrant
with a golf beret and chop sideburns. While at first the
activity was strange and awkward, the kids found it entertaining
and educational. They took pictures that would later be
antiqued to look as if they were taken in 1912.
After this program, the youth embarked on a hike to Eagle
Rock, which is one of the highest points on Kanuga property.
After this hike to the summit, which was harder for some
of the members of the group than others, everyone stopped
and took a minute to breathe before celebrating An Order
for a Service of Noonday. They took in the beauty that God
had created all around them. After an easier hike down,
and a lovely Kanuga lunch, the youth loaded up into the
bus and went into Hendersonville, North Carolina, where
they shopped 'til they dropped before returning to Kanuga.
Then, it was time for dinner and “St. John’s
Got Talent” where the youth of St. John’s got
to show off their talents when they performed a lip-sync
to “Africa” by the band Toto. The youth danced,
drummed, and fake sung their hearts out. "You could
tell that they really put their heart and souls into their
performance, which ended up tied for 3rd place," said
Clay.
Sunday morning, the youth played a large role in the closing
Eucharist, with some serving as ushers. After a wonderful
Eucharist, it was time to depart back to Columbia. When
asked about Kanuga, Jack Moore replied “After 17 years
of going to Kanuga, I have noticed the fellowship has become
much stronger. I would encourage anyone thinking about going
to go.”
For more information about upcoming and past youth events,
visit the youth blog link on the homepage. A YouTube video
of the talent show dance is linked on the blog. St. John’s
EYC is also on Face Book. Like the group to be connected.
Director of Youth Ministries, Clay Cutler, can be contacted
at cdc@stjohnscolumbia.org.