Voices Around Us - June 17

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm [83] or 34; PM Psalm 85, 86; 1 Samuel 2:27-36; Acts 2:22-36; Luke 20:41-21:4

This week, I am one of the program coordinators at Camp McDowell.  I get to work on the morning content, and then I just enjoy the day.  Responsibilities pretty much end after the morning, although spending time with our young people is always appreciated until 9 pm when we gather in a chapel for the evening ritual of Compline.

Compline is the Daily Office service before bed (page 127 of the Book of Common Prayer) that comes from the monastic tradition and is how every evening at Camp McDowell closes.  My role is not to lead worship, but to help the young people be our leaders.  Each day, a few young people come to find me at one of our meals and ask, “Father John, can I lead worship today?”  “Sure thing,” I tell them and then I ask them to meet me in the chapel a few minutes before worship.

What has surprised me this week is the confidence and leadership of these middle school youth that with eager hearts, desire to help the community gathered worship.  I would have been mortified of standing in front of over 100 of my peers and leading worship at twelve years old, but without fail, every day there is a new string of volunteers, and they lead with confidence, willingness, and openness.

The book of Samuel shares a vision of a faithful priest being raised up.  For the family (tribe of Israel) to survive, they need a faithful leader who can help the people reconcile with God.  Much of the Old Testament is about the role of the religious leaders and the role they play in the community. 

The tradition that has been passed down to us has some of those roles too, but we often forget that each person in our community can shape our collective relationship and worship with God.  We might have priests, but we all get to help each other deepen our relationship and connection with the one who created us and redeems us.  I am grateful to be reminded of that through the young people this week at Camp McDowell.  Who are the voices around us that have something to offer and need to be heard?

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What roles have I had in public worship before?  Is there something new I could offer that I haven’t done before? Altar Guild, Lector, Usher, Eucharistic Minister?

Daily Challenge:  Read the Compline service before bed tonight.  It is about seven minutes and can be found here.