Every summer, for its faith-based camps, Pilgrim Lodge uses a curriculum to guide its programming and themes to explore with campers. This summer, the Pilgrim Lodge Outdoor Ministries Team wrote a curriculum specifically for Pilgrim Lodge. Assistant Director, Lydia, shares her reflection on all we have to look forward to in our exploration and community-building this summer.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Creator who is in heaven.
♩ it only takes a spark, to get a fire going ♩
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE a campfire. I love to sit around a roaring fire under the star-filled sky. I love to hear the crackle and pop of the flames as they grow and blaze higher and higher. I love to listen while people gather around a campfire and share sacred stories. I think there is something love-filled, something spirit-filled, that happens when we come together in this way. It is so special to be sitting together late at night, when the crickets are chirping, a guitar is softly playing in the background, and people from all walks of life are laughing and singing. Can you imagine it? What stories would we tell one another? Who would bring the kindling? Who would bring the firewood? Who would bring the bucket of water to make sure we all kept safe? Can you imagine it?
If you’ve ever sat around a campfire, perhaps you have also been part of building one. And maybe you know that the power of a roaring flame does not come without some pretty intentional preparation. I love campfires for their ability to gather people and weave community together through smoke and spark, and I also love campfires because of the intentionality that is needed to get a flame going. The hands and tools to chop the wood, to gather the kindling, the breath to blow life into the flame, and the spark that brings everything together. It is a sight to behold, witnessing a community of people build a campfire. My most favorite part is that very first moment when flame catches. When early embers become brave enough to show their face and shine their light, dancing with all that is around them. If you’ve been part of building a campfire before you too have surely noticed the joy and relief that lights up on the faces of all who gather, when the very first very brave spark ignites. And when it does, the Spirit can be seen moving in. It only takes a spark, and oh what a mighty spark it is.
Often when I am building campfires of community, I am at Pilgrim Lodge. What a gift it is to invite you into the holy fire-filled and spirit-filled community that is our summer camp. A community of care and connection, an open table of inclusion and acceptance. A summer camp and retreat center focused on the spirit of extravagant welcome. A place where new perspectives are formed, stories are woven together, and the spirit and spark come alive in each and every one who travels down the camp road, daring to try a new and brave thing. You need not come with the whole campfire ready in your suitcase. You need only a spark of excitement, of curiosity, of wonder.
♩ It only takes a spark to get a fire going ♩
At Pilgrim Lodge, we are building community like a campfire. We are gathering sticks for kindling and we are gathering voices to sing. We are carrying logs of firewood and we are carrying one another. We honor old traditions and we are welcoming in new generations. At Pilgrim Lodge, we like to say all who come in love have a seat at the table, and let’s add, around the campfire circle. This means, that absolutely anyone who wishes to come to camp is welcomed and accepted and celebrated for who they are and what they bring with them. All who come with open hearts and open minds are welcome at Pilgrim Lodge. All are invited to Pilgrim Lodge. All ages, all abilities, all understandings, all misunderstandings, all identities, all forms of love, all religions, all genders, all people – all, all all.
♩and soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing ♩
At camp, each year our summer season is wrapped around a chosen theme that we use as a continuous centering idea while we engage in programming, worship, and camp life together. This summer, we center ourselves around the words “It Only Takes A Spark” From a familiar camp song “Pass It On”. Thoughtful hearts have chosen this theme as an invitation to all who come to camp: big and small, brave and fearful, faithful and doubting, energized and weary, fire-filled, and those just beginning to glow.
♩It only takes a spark♩
Community takes a spark. It takes you, and you, and yes you! Spark after spark after spark. Camp is a place where every spark matters, and every spark has the gift to bring light and life into the holy story. “You are the light of the world!” Jesus says. “You have a spark the world needs!” A light that the world so often tries to hide away.
Camp is a place where your spark and my spark together create the light Jesus is saying we have the ability to be.
I see this light shine at camp each summer as I watch campers cheer one another on after swimming in the lake for the very first time. I see this light shine at camp each summer, as I watch our oldest 80 and 90 year old campers lead worship in the chapel bravely together with our youngest 8 and 9 year old campers. I see this light shine at camp each summer as I watch young queer middle schoolers use a chosen name for the very first time. I see this light shine at camp each summer as I watch our high school aged campers speak out about injustices in the world, praying beneath the trees for peace, daring to be a light for someone whose spark feels extinguished.
Each of us, have a spark within us, ready to join together to create a roaring fire. No matter if you have ever been to summer camp before or you are bouncing up and down waiting for summer to start like I am, the spark you bring is the spark we need.
What is it that makes you glow? What is it that makes you shine?
Might you bring it to Pilgrim Lodge this summer?
Oh, what a gift you will be to our campfire of community.
My most favorite part of camp is that very first moment flame catches. When new campers become brave enough to show their face and shine their light. Maybe, this summer, that might be you. May you remember those gospel words, You are the light of the world. Yes you! And oh how the world needs your light. Oh how the world needs your spark.
I hope you will bring your spark to Pilgrim Lodge this summer. I hope you will bring your whole self, your light, and keep our fire of community glowing.
♩That’s how it is with God’s love, once you experience it. You want to sing. It’s fresh like spring. You want to pass it on! ♩
See you this summer!