Peace Intern Closing Retreat AND General Assembly

Wow!! I cannot believe the summer is already over! I had an amazing closing week with Grace, Kaylie, Sarah and Brian. While in Indianapolis before General Assembly, we discussed each of our summers and the camps we attended.

It was so amazing to hear about the other intern’s camp experiences and talk about the similarities in all of the amazing camps we attended. We also took some time to wind down and simply hang out with one another before a jam-packed four days in Kentucky!

We went and saw the Barbie movie (and yes, we all wore pink!!) We went back to TopGolf (and yes, we all improved our golfing skills!!) And, we tried a bunch of new coffee places together while answering Brian’s famous fishbowl questions about our summer experiences. At the closing retreat, the question of “what season of life are you in?” came upon me again, but in a different fashion: what era are in you? (And yes, this is in reference to the Eras tour!) But, after a summer of thinking about it, I am in a season of change, but I am also in my comeback era. This comeback era has taught me so much about how I want to see myself in the world around me. I’ve taken risks this summer, tried new things, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I am proud of the Marci I embraced along the way. 

After a couple of days back in Indianapolis, we packed up and headed to Louisville, Kentucky for General Assembly! Where the theme was: Kindom of God: Within us and Among us. This was my first General Assembly, and what better way to go about a general assembly than experiencing it with your mama?! One of the fish bowl questions that Brian asked us was, “who are you most excited to see at General Assembly?” My answer was: my mom and Dr. Rev. William Barber.

The whole GA experience was like no other- especially coming off of a jam packed summer as a Disciples Peace Intern. I met past interns, got to see those from the camps I had just come from, and met some amazing individuals who work within the greater church. 

I had some amazing opportunities at this General Assembly and I still cannot believe all that I was involved in!! I got the chance to speak at the pro mic in favor of the Palestine resolution presented. This resolution means so much to me, considering I just got back from Palestine and have been learning so much about the history of Palestine and Palestinian culture. And to be able to speak to other Disciples about why supporting this resolution is so important, was amazing. The resolution passed too!! This was not the only historic resolution I voted in support of either! We also passed a resolution denouncing Chrisitian Nationalism, and another resolution in stand against the continuous legislature that is harmful and deadly for our transgender siblings. In the final days of GA, I also had the opportunity to sign on in support of an emergency resolution that calls for the end of “cop city” in Atlanta, Georgia and acknowledges the dangers that the climate catastrophe brings for people of color and indigenous communities. 

While all of my days started early, and ended late, I had the most amazing experience at GA and every second was cherished. One of the things I looked forward to most everyday was the worship services. The worship services were packed with amazing speakers and soul touching music. So many amazing lessons were taught from the pulpit and spoken in the form of prayers. One night, the worship leaders called for those who feel moved, to find one of the regional ministers standing along the wall and ask them to pray over you. My mom and I went up to Tennessee Regional Minister Cristal Williams for a prayer, and she said everything I needed to hear. I knew as soon as she started praying for us, that God was speaking through her. That is a moment I will never forget! 

Not only did I get that amazing message from Cristal, but I also got to hear Dr. Rev. William Barber preach in person!!! To hear Dr. Barber preaching only 4 rows in front of me was absolutely life changing. He is such an inspiration to me, and the message he preached will live on in my heart and mind for the rest of my life! Remember Disciples: we are called to be a challenge to the challenges of this life, this world, and this culture. I can’t wait for the next GA!! Hope to see y’all in Memphis, Tennessee! 

And lastly, thank you to everyone who sent me cards, packages, and prayers throughout the summer. Your support has meant so much to me and I am so lucky to have had an amazing opportunity. Your kind words and generous gifts are loved and greatly appreciated!! I am so blessed for the experience DPF has provided me with. I cannot wait to see who become interns as the years continue!

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My Week at Camp Crystal

Camp Crystal is a beautiful Disciples of Christ camp on the lakefront of Crystal lake in Michigan! I got the opportunity to spend two weeks at this amazing campground, and I loved every minute of it! When I first got to Michigan, I met Amanda who drove me to the campsite, which was about 2.5 hours away. So we had a bunch of time to get to know one another, and we are such good friends now! During the drive, we also saw wild horses running in a field, and that was so beautiful to see along the way! 

There is something that has to be said about live music being played at church camps- it truly feeds your soul. However, at camp Crystal, they have worship in a large dome shaped outdoor building where it amplifies the voices of everyone even more- the feeling I felt listening to some of those songs during worship… indescribable and enchanting. One of the nights, one of the fellow counselors, Adam, sang “come as you are '' while playing the piano for the night’s special music. I did not realize how much that song would affect me until I heard him sing a message I full heartedly believe God spoke through Adam’s talents. Each night had a different individual preaching to us, and they really spoke to me. One of them was given by Carol; and she told us that you will never look in the face of someone who is insignificant in the eyes of our creator. This message was so important, especially in a summer where our General Assembly theme is “The Kindom of God.” She preached that there are no nobodies in God’s kingdom… in God’s Kindom.

Like at Kamp Kaleo, Camp Crystal also does a float trip- and I got to do it twice! I have preached a sermon on inner and outer peace a couple times when I get to do pulpit supply. In this sermon I talk about how inner peace is found by everyone differently. I say all of this because I truly found some inner peace just floating down a river surrounded by God’s creation and feeling the water’s surface on my fingertips.

Something that is unique to camp Crystal is that they have an adventure course right on site!! They had a whole afternoon carved out for the campers and counselors to push themselves, and work on communication through various obstacle courses, including a rock wall!! One of the afternoon’s activities was also going to a popular tourist attraction in Michigan: sleeping bear sand dunes. This was a really good workout, but an even better view!!! Climbing those mountainous sand dunes is a great time and place to clear your head and really count your blessings. Once I got to the top of those mountains of sand, I immediately forgot the muscle aches I got while fighting to make my way to the top, because I was so amazed by the views before me. That night, some of the counselors “snuck” our cabins out to stargaze on the beach in the middle of the night. Just like on the top of that sand dune, while laying on the beach staring up at hundreds of stars, I was once again overwhelmed with the miraculous sight of God’s creation. 

Something else that is also unique to camp Crystal is the spectacular color war! You will see just how cool this is, once you get a look at how the photos came out! This is how Camp Crystal takes their camp photo every summer, and what a fun experience!! There is a water balloon fight, a shaving cream war, and then a color explosion, followed by swimming in the lake!  While I am sad I did not get to go to the last camp that was initially planned for me, I am so lucky to have spent a second week here. I got to kayak on the lake during sunset, go shopping at local souvenir stores, take a much needed nap on the jumping platform while also tanning for a while, and connect to God’s creation while floating in the lake.

 As Camp Crystal was the last camp I visited this summer, I had a lot of time during my last week of camps to reflect on my summer before the closing week with the other interns. Something that really stood out to me was how I have learned how to walk places without rushing. I thought about this: how often do I really walk somewhere and take the time to absorb all that is around me? How often do I walk places simply rushing with the goal of just getting to the designated location? Why haven’t I found peace in simply walking slowly to wherever I need to get, and really take my time in all that God has blessed me with? I think walking along the beach in Michigan really helped me take that reflection to heart and I can't wait to continue that practice this upcoming semester at school!

Snack update!! 

• Popcorn I tried at Stormcloud Brewing and Restaurant: honey sriracha, zesty ranch, and truffle oil/parmesan cheese! I loved the honey sriracha popcorn so much that I went back a second time the following week!! 

• Camp snack:  I got to have some really tasty banana cream pie from a local bakery that two of the counselors picked up for me! It was super good! I also got to have breakfast pizza from a local pizza shop, and oh my goodness, best breakfast ever!!

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My Week at Camp Walter Scott

““It is sometimes easy to forget that we are not separate from Creation, but instead a part of it. We can have beneficial impacts upon these ecosystems by wisely discerning that the voices to follow are those that call us to gentleness and humility in the wider world.” ”

— Quote Source-Camp Walter Scott social media reflection

Camp Walter Scott in Illinois was such a fun and educational camp I got to spend a week at! I learned so much about the eco-friendly actions that CWS takes to show respect for God’s creations…and I got to feed some goats along the way! CWS is a green chalice ministry campground which means that they practice, preach, and live through the example of environmental justice! The week before I arrived, they had just gotten three goats: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednegoat! I got to sneak over to their pen every once in a while and feed them some carrots and talk to them! CWS cares deeply about creation care and how we as humans can be giving back to the creation that God has provided us. Which means, getting rid of harsh chemicals (hence the goats for invasive plant species removal), composting food waste, planting a garden, and even investing in solar panels. It was so amazing to see how much this camp cares for the land they use, and teach the kids about why these actions are so important along the way. 

While at CWS, I had so much fun learning new songs at camp fire, planning worship/ morning reflection time with my small group, and getting to race against the other counselors in human mario kart! During the week, there were mission times where the campers would help give back to the camp grounds/ community at large. Some activities included moving picnic tables over to the goats pen so they had something to play on (and a neat way to recycle an old picnic table!), cleaning up the worship areas for future use, and even decorating cards that would be sent to children being held at the US border around Christmas time. I admire the ways in which Walter- Scott encourages their campers to give back to the spaces they use and love every summer in such beautiful and meaningful ways. In one of the small group activities, we had the campers draw out and narrate the life cycle of a chicken nugget. This was a really unique way of getting the campers to really evaluate where their food comes from and how the environment is impacted in different ways through that cycle. I have to say, there were some really intriguing depictions of a chicken nugget’s life cycle, and it really got me thinking more too about where my food comes from and how my eating habits can harm the environment. 

Unlike the other camps I went to, CWS used a curriculum that was from a couple years ago: Creation Speaks. So fitting right!? When it was my small group’s day to plan worship, my co-counselor asked the kids, “what season of life are you in?” While some responded with, “summer,” a couple of the other campers took the time to reflect and realize that many of them are in a season of change (school year, camp age group, emotional and physical changes). When we asked this question at worship, the question really burned into my memory. What season of life am I in? Yes, a season of change, that’s for sure- but more specifically, a season of learning about who Marci really is. (I would soon realize that this was a strong theme throughout the entire summer.) 

At this camp, it was clear that while we are all a part of God’s Kindom, that Kindom would not be the same without the creation around us that God has provided us. And in order to make that Kindom come true, we must respect all of God’s creatures- even those creepy crawlies you may find sleeping in your cabin at camp! I did get to lead a workshop day at Camp Walker Scott! Even though I had to maneuver around an unforeseen ending to my initially planned workshop, the kids took so much out of the boxes exercise and led discussion. This camping group was younger than the first two I was at, so I had to shift my presentation a little bit, but so many of the campers had already heard about the Israeli occupation in Palestine in school. Hearing the knowledge that some of these campers had about a topic I have grown to be so passionate about, was unlike any other feeling - they are so hopeful and not shocked out of that youthful innocence that asked the following question. They asked, “well why can’t people just get along?” They are right. As church leaders and justice advocates we ask this question a lot. Why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we love like God- without limits, bounds, and conditions? 

The final days at CWS were so much fun! With an awesome dance, where I got to take a little part of Tall Oaks and teach the kids the dance moves to Footloose!! That night, we also had an epic glow light game night outside! We played laser tag, tic tac toe, and rocket copters with glow sticks! I had an amazing time at CWS and I cannot wait to hear about how those cute goats are doing when I see Clayton and Eli at General Assembly! 

Snack update!! 

• Popcorn I got to try at CWS: home grown popcorn! From the amazing garden that they nurture, they plant specific kinds of corn that can then be used for homemade popcorn! 

• Camp Walter Scott snack: Fruit Pizza with cream cheese icing and delicious fruit!

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My Week at Tall Oaks

Before getting to the Tall Oaks camp, I spent my home hospitality at a former Peace Intern’s home! It was so nice to meet Rev. Laura Phillips, and talk about what her summer as a peace intern looked like. On the Sunday before camp started, I went to church where Laura preaches, and I was welcomed with open arms and excitement! (Thank you Overland Christian Church for inviting me to worship with you all!!) 

As a Disciples Peace Intern this summer, I have the most amazing opportunities to travel around the country and meet so many new people. Tall Oaks camp in the Kansas City larger region was the second church camp I traveled to. During a morning keynote on peace, I was left absolutely speechless. As a teenager, I was so passionate about justice and equality (and still am). But, sometimes the partisanship and blatant disrespect for human life that exists in our current political climate, the fight for justice and peace can be tiring and even feel impossible some days. While I get to be a Peace intern/ counselor this summer, I find that my internal flame of passion is reignited every day when I interact with youth. These young adults are SO passionate about racial justice, economic equity, environmental sustainability, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and overall inclusivity. I am very hopeful that youth will show up and show out and fight for peace and justice. I look at these teens and immediately see myself in their hopeful spirits and positive outlook on the future. I hear their conversations about the groups and ministries they are leading at home, and the feelings of frustration I have surrounding the current political atmosphere starts to turn into feelings of passion again. 

Something that Tall Oaks does at every CYF camp is a night dedicated to line dancing and square dancing!! It was SO MUCH FUN! I learned the line dance to footloose, which I will definitely be bringing back home to my church camp (so get ready Laurelview)! Everyone dresses up for square dancing night and has such a good time. I may not have had boots with me, but I definitely jumped in and got to dancing. This was a unique experience that I will remember forever. 

At this camp, campers and RYC members signed up for interest groups, and one of the activities was my workshop! Both days I got to do one of my workshops. Like at Kaleo, I chose to do my indoor activity because it was way too hot and humid outside to have the kids running around. I had the kids split up into 5 boxes that I had outlined on the floor in painters tape. I separated the campers and staff based on where they were from in the region; each box represented a different area of the region which separated them geographically. This activity is called “Don’t Put People in Boxes,” (which is linked in my DPS playlist!) where I would make a statement and if those within the boxes felt the statement resonated with them, they were to step into the middle of the room- leaving their boxes. After this activity, I went into a presentation about the Israeli occupation in Palestine. The point of this activity was to show how the Israeli occupation in Palestine is separating Palestinians into “boxes” which are represented by colored identification cards which designate where they are allowed to go. So many of the campers and young adults asked many insightful questions and connected how important not labeling people based on specific characteristics is. I was so proud to see how passionate these campers were once we started talking about this atrocity. 

Many of the campers in this region grew up going to 8ers camp, and I learned so much from these kids! It was truly an amazing experience to speak with those who grew up going to a church camp where body positivity and inclusive sex education is made a priority. Through these conversations, my eyes were opened to how positive going to an 8ers camp can really be, especially in such a confusing time in a young person’s life. I felt it was important to mention this in my Tall Oaks blog because this camp is a true reflection of how inclusive conversations and open dialogue can be life changing for campers. I was so proud to be a part of these larger conversations and learn more about the curriculum of an 8ers camp! 

Like many camps, Tall Oaks ended their camping week with a dance! Their dance was neon themed and everyone dressed up for a great cap to the week! There is a tradition at Tall Oaks where everyone signs up on a sheet of paper, and the RYC members split the group in half: half get asked to the dance, and the other half ask those to the dance. Everyone goes all out to support one another and it was so exciting to be invited to the dance with the sweetest sign and beautiful flowers!! Overall, my week at Tall Oaks was super fun, and I had the most amazing time being a counselor to some amazing campers!! 

Snack update!! 

• Camp snack at Tall Oaks: Churros (which I sadly was not able to eat, however they smelled delicious)

• Popcorn I tried from PopCulture in Kansas City: puppy chow popcorn and a kettle corn drizzled with white and dark chocolate

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