I just returned from a great week of camp! There is something about a week at Lutheridge that is hard to put into words. There are beautiful mountains, the campfires, the songs, the games, the worship, and the friendships that form, but those things only tell part of the story. As our Area Director put it this year, camp changes you. You are not the same person as when you came.

I have a special connection to Lutheridge. We do belong to confirmation cluster for campfirmation, but having grown up in Asheville, it is a special place for me. We would go often. We would go for retreats, camp, and youth group outings. My sister worked there when she was 15 and later became a counselor. We had some awesome Lutheridge leaders over the many years who served as our youth directors. In seventh grade, my Mom and I volunteered twice a week to help take care of children of leaders. It has a special place in my heart. I saw the cabin for which we, here at Christ Lutheran, helped to fundraise and it is beautiful! I am so proud!

Back to our week at camp. Our theme for the week is ACELEP. It takes us through the seasons of the Church Year: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. At first glance, these may seem like different chapters or separate celebrations throughout the year. But by the end of the week, our campers began to see something beautiful, and what we hope our campers will see: that these seasons are all connected as one story— the story of Jesus.

We began with Advent, a season of waiting and hope. Waiting is not something most of us enjoy. We like quick answers and instant results. Yet Advent reminds us that God is always working, even when we cannot yet see it. God's promises are worth waiting for. The people of Israel waited for the Messiah, trusting that God would keep every promise. And God did.

Then we celebrated Christmas, when God came to us in the most unexpected way—as a baby lying in a manger. We talked about the joy of material Christmas, and then the GREAT JOY of the birth of our Savior. We have a Christmas birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. We came to the manger to see the light of the world.

From there we moved into Epiphany, when God's light is revealed to the whole world. We play a quiz show game called “Wow! I had a revelation!” in which we answer questions about the scripture surrounding that day (such as: How many wisemen does the Bible say came to see baby Jesus? Answer: it doesn’t say.) If you get the question right, great, you don’t win anything. If you get it wrong, you lightly bonk your head and say, “Wow! I had an epiphany!”

We had our outing on that day and after our hike and cookout, we make masks to celebrate Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday. They decorated masks, paraded around in them, only to find that we ask them to burn them in the fire. This is symbolize our burning of the masks we wear in life so we come unmasked before God. We use these ashes for our Ash Wednesday observance the next day.

Lent invited us to slow down and reflect. It is a season that reminds us to be honest about our shortcomings and to remember how deeply we need God's grace. We went to Trinity View to visit residents there. We sang a few camp songs and our campers interviewed the residents about their life and faith. It is so neat to see our students connect!

Then came Easter—the joyful center of the Christian faith. We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and the incredible hope that comes with it. Because Christ lives, we know that death is not the end, despair never has the final word, and God's love is stronger than anything this world can throw at us. Easter reminds us that new life is always possible because of what Jesus has done.

Finally, we celebrated Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the disciples with courage and sent them into the world to share the good news. We created a “Re-Gathering Room” as opposed to an escape room. In teams and with clues, everyone had to find their way back to our meeting room! We were reminded that the story did not end at the empty tomb. The Holy Spirit is still at work today, calling and equipping ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the name of Jesus. That includes each one of us.

One of my favorite moments this week was watching our campers realize that these aren't just stories from long ago. They are all part of one great story—God's story of redeeming the world through Jesus Christ. Even more amazing, that story is now our story too.

The story of Jesus matters.

It is not simply history for us to remember. It is the story that gives meaning to our own lives. It reminds us that we are deeply loved by God, forgiven through Christ, and never alone. It tells us that hope is always possible, grace is always available, and God's love never fails.

In a world that often feels divided and uncertain, we need this story more than ever. We need to remember who we belong to. We need to remember that Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, to care for those who are hurting, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to carry His light wherever we go.

That is one of the reasons camp is so important.

Camp gives us the opportunity to step away from distractions and be fully present with God and with one another. It creates space for conversations that might never happen at home. It allows young people to ask big questions, discover their gifts, and build friendships rooted in faith. It reminds adults that we, too, are still growing as disciples. In so many ways, camp becomes holy ground where God quietly changes our perspective.

I am grateful for every camper who attended, every parent who made the week possible, every counselor and volunteer who gave their time and energy, and the wonderful staff at Lutheridge who welcomed us so warmly. Thank you for helping create an environment where faith grows, friendships flourish, and Christ is made known.

As we return to the rhythm of everyday life, my prayer is that we won't leave the lessons of camp behind in the mountains. Instead, may we carry them into our homes, our workplaces, our schools, and our community.

Thanks be to God for a great week at Lutheridge. We came home with wonderful memories, renewed faith, and joyful hearts. More importantly, we came home remembering that the story of Jesus is not just something we tell—it is the story we are called to live every day.