By Baz Skinner, Youth Animator for Lethbridge & Area
Please check out YouthTrek 2024 Lethbridge Photo Gallery below!
Youth Trek 2024 Lethbridge kicked off with a circle dance and storytelling by Blackfoot singer Troy Delaney. Troy set the tone for the weekend. He gatherered everyone together, holding hands in a circle dance, teaching us the importance of listening to each other and our Elders during this October 4-6, 2024, weekend in which teens from all over the Region discerned the divine question, “Who do you say that I am?”
Have you ever tried to get a chapel full of teenagers to sing the high notes of How Great Thou Art first thing in the morning? Because that’s how we started our Saturday morning… and let me tell ya…that might become a new tradition! Special shout out to Gabe Olsen who played music for us all weekend long! We then loaded up the vehicles and travelled to Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden where we were taught by retired United Church Minister Rev. Dr. Tad Mitsui. He shared with us the history of Japanese people in Canada after World War 2, and their contributions to The United Church of Canada. He told us stories of Rev. Kabayama who used to bike to work from Raymond (36km) every day, including in the snow! The gardens were beautiful, and the wonderful staff took us all over the park sharing with us the history and culture of the park. It was then time to unwind a bit, and we went over to the Cor Van Ray YMCA where teens crushed the wave rider, flew down the waterslides, and tossed some gym equipment around in the courts.
Throughout the weekend, teens chose which stream they wanted to be in: Chat, Play, or Create. Then each stream contributed to the Sunday worship service where the Southminster and McKillop United congregations also joined us! Play stream, led by Baz Skinner and Jessica Ens shared the scripture reading with a series of tableaux; Chat stream led by Nik Sloat and Rev. Taylor Croissant shared the reflection; and the Create stream, taught by Amy Dodic, shared paintings that lined the worship table where Rev. Pamela Evans later presided over communion. It was a spirit-filled service, with many people in the pews commenting that joy filled the sanctuary. We ended the weekend with a soup luncheon in the gym. Special thanks to Michele Montgomery and the various volunteers who donated crockpots full of soup for everyone to feast over.
By the end of the weekend, everyone knew each other and friendships were made. Conversations about the next Youth Trek are already taking place!
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