News and Events
Donate to Wesley Woods
Newsletter Subscription
| | Print | |
Promote Wesley Woods Ministriesat Your Church and in Your Community!The camping program is here to help your congregation meet its missional goals and to support the ministry that you are already providing. Below are resources for your church to use to better promote summer camp! Camping StewardsMost churches have an individual or group that has a passion for reaching out to their community and making sure kids get to camp. These stewards of the camping ministry take responsibility for promoting camp to the children in the congregation. Some congregations go above and beyond to support the camp with their prayers, volunteer time, and financial gifts. Camping stewards can also help communicate the camp's need to the congregation. To learn more about becoming an advocate / steward for Wesley Woods, please review the Camping Sunday information on the Conference Website, call the camp and speak to a staff member, or attend one of our Info and Sharing Sessions. Promotional materials are always available, and staff members are willing to come and speak to your congregation. Camp Stewards Info and Sharing Sessions(no sessions are scheduled at this time)
Camping Stewards!!! Join us at one of the following locations as we gather to share success stories, new ideas, and encourage one another as we strive to engage students in the ministry of summer camp. All gatherings begin at 7 pm with light refreshments. Please RSVP 3 days in advance by registering on our website. There is no fee. We want this to be a time of sharing, learning from one another, and encouragement as we support our camp and work towards "Making Disciples for Christ..."Key discussion points for the sessions: * Training on how to effectively use website and facebook to get info about the camps * discussion on scholarship opportunities at churches and conference * discussion on how to sponsor and sign up children * discussion on effective camping Sunday Services - audience participation, goal setting * discussion on outreach - how to encourage churches with no youth to sponsor community students as a means of outreach Additional ResourcesLake Okoboji United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center Ambassador's Guide Pages 1-4 Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center Ambassador's Guide Pages 5-8 http://www.beacamper.com/church-camp_sunday.html The United Church of Canada has some great worship service resources that I have used when putting our own services together. You might see if anyone on the network is related to that group and if they could get permission for a link or something? http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/camping
Camp and Conference Ministry Emphasis Sunday Worship Service
Wilderness Encounters
Welcome and Announcements Minute for Mission Prior to Camp and Conference Sunday identify those in your congregation (or other local congregations) who have worked at a camp and conference center. Invite one or more of these folks to share briefly how their work at camp shaped them and helped them grow spiritually and professionally. If you are unable to have someone come and speak, then ask your local camp if they have a dvd that includes camp counselors talking about the value of their work. Gathering Song Begin by singing a gathering song that may be familiar to campers in the congregation. Check with your local camp director for suggestions. “Sanctuary” or “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” or “Spirit of the Living God” would be appropriate choices.
Call to Worship Leader: If we come here hoping You will confirm all our beliefs and values People: Convict us that our thoughts are not Your thoughts. Leader: If we come here uncertain we are welcome People: Embrace us in Your loving arms. Leader: If we come here longing for Your Word People: Open our ears to hear it. Leader: If we come here merely out of habit People: Meet us as we are and transform us into what You call us to be. All: How ever we come here, let us now worship God!
Hymn of Praise A praise hymn that references God’s creation would be fitting. Some suggestions include, “Morning Has Broken” “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” “How Great Thou Art” “All Creatures of Our God and King” Great Is Thy Faithfulness” or “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”
Prayer of Confession (Taken from The Pattern of Our Days Worship in the Celtic Traditions form the Iona Community, Kathy Galloway, Editor) God of the spirit of kindness, in the glory of earth and sea and stars, in the kaleidoscope of color and shade and shapeliness, in the patterns of humor and tenderness and touch, we celebrate your generosity. Forgive us when we forget the gift in our every breath, the care that sustains our every moment, the grace that can transform our every day. Set us free from the prison of grudging hearts, mean desires, resentful spirits. Give us the courage to act with justice and generosity, and draw us into love that does not calculate or keep scores…(silent prayer)…Amen.
Assurance of Pardon Through the cross of Christ, God have mercy on you, pardon you, and set you free. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Prayer for Illumination Almighty God, your Word does not return to you empty, therefore we trust in Your power to silence in us any voice but Your own. We anticipate the promptings of the Holy Spirit that will take us to people and places yet unknown so that we might proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ where ever You lead us. Amen.
Scripture Readings Exodus 18:13-27 Acts 8:26-40
Proclamation of the Word “Wilderness Encounters” In both these passages the main characters find themselves in the wilderness as a result of being obedient to God’s call. Moses has led the people out of Egypt and now is overwhelmed by their needs. Philip has followed the Spirit’s instructions and gone on the wilderness road and encountered the Ethiopian eunuch. Neither had anticipated their role in God’s plans and yet through their willingness to go into the unknown God uses them to lead others. The Holy Spirit frequently sends people into the wilderness, a space not fully known and often frightening, in order to equip and use them to further God’s salvation history and bring others into God’s covenant community.
Many people have discovered and honed leadership skills through answering God’s call to work at camp and conference centers. Often they learn that God has equipped them in ways they had not known until they were placed in positions of leading and caring for others. Some have learned, like Moses, the importance of shared leadership and empowering others. Some have been more like Jethro, offering the gift of wisdom and experience to those new to their responsibilities. Like Philip, many have encountered the stranger and those with radically different experiences because they followed the prompting of the Spirit. Camp is often the place for such encounters and through their training and on the job experiences those who work in camps and conference centers have often answered the questions of those seeking God, helping them understand God’s Word and God’s will.
Invite leaders in your congregation to share, in writing, a time when they were in a position of leadership. Suggest that they share how they felt, what had prepared them, maybe what they would have done differently, who mentored them, and where they felt the presence or absence of the Holy Spirit at that time. It may be as simple as when an elder had to pray aloud in public for the first time, or the first funeral the minister conducted. It could be as daunting as having to perform CPR on someone who was dying. Perhaps it was a time when they were called upon to speak up on behalf of another. Invite youth and young adults to participate. Seek out those who have been camp counselors or youth who have been counselors in training. One option is simply to read these stories aloud in worship. Another would be to read the stories and intersperse them with images that highlight the emotions or setting or with Scripture passages that echo the sentiments expressed. Close with the prayer below or with one of your choosing that gives thanks for the leadings and power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Caring God, we thank you for calling and equipping leaders to participate in your work in the world: for those who have loved us enough to correct us, may we have teachable spirits and heed their wisdom;
for those who have allowed us to grow through failure and mistakes, may we gain both insight and humility from these experiences;
for mentors who have seen gifts in us that we never knew we had, grant us the disciple to hone our gifts for your use.
We pray: for all of those who are in the midst of the wilderness, uncertain and afraid, envelop them with your peace and assure them of your constant presence;
for those who know they are called but have yet to say, “Here I am,” confirm in them not their own worthiness or ability, but your power and providence;
for camp directors, counselors and campers, may their time in the wilderness bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ and bring light to the world.
We thank you, Lord God, for all of those who have followed the leadings of your Holy Spirit and gone to unexpected places and people in order to proclaim the good news about Jesus. Uphold them, and us, as we all seek to be faithful, going to where ever you send us, even if it is the wilderness road, trusting that you use us and are with us. In Christ’s name we pray, amen. Following the service offer a time of fellowship and invite those who shared their stories for the proclamation to be available to talk with worshippers. Set up tables with pictures from camp and retreats. Invite member to bring photos to share. Put together a slide show and let it run throughout the fellowship time.
Some Resources Ideas from Oregon-Idaho - videos http://www.umoi.org/videos/topic/2 Camp Sunday Worship Suggestions from past years An Order of Worship for Camp Sunday Call to Worship or Leader: Come and See, Come and See.
Song Suggestions
Sermon Ideas "Come and See" " What do these Stones Mean?" "A place to meet Jesus": a sermon starter
New England Conference Celebrate Camp and Retreat Sunday - March 11, 2012
New England churches are encouraged to recognize and celebrate our Retreat and Outdoor Ministries on Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Learn more about our Conference camping and retreat ministries, or visit the web sites of our New England camping and retreat centers:
--Camp Aldersgate, Scituate, RI --Camp Mechuwana, Winthrop, ME --Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, N. Andover, MA --Wanakee United Methodist Center, Meredith, NH --Covenant Hills Christian Camp, Cabot, VT (web site in development – contact CHCC at 802-426-3340) |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 24 March 2012 08:46 |
