One of our church members went to a gathering of young people from the Episcopal Church in Europe, held in Frankfurt. Here she writes about her experiences:
It was an unforgettable adventure, full of discoveries and memorable moments.
My mom came along as my chaperone - it was kind of like having my own bodyguard, but without the sunglasses! After a long journey of over 14 hours by bus - yes, 14 hours. I almost learned German just by reading the signs on the highway! - we were warmly welcomed by the Church of Christ the King. Reuniting with my Belgian friends there was great joy! We were about 20 young people, and I had the privilege of being the oldest in the group - the "elder", the "wise one" ...or simply the most tired!
We explored a huge park of over 10 km in size. Seriously, you could lose a T-Rex in it! We played, we sang, danced and made music. The joy of playing the piano, percussion and singing together was absolutely amazing! Our nights were spent in a church annexe, adorned with beautiful stained windows, adding a magical touch to our stay.
For the next two days, our mornings were filled with prayer, prayer workshops, and singing. In the afternoons we went on excursions: we visited the Bible Museum, where I served as a real-time translator for the whole group. That's when I realised that "simultaneous translation" is probably a ninja training method for the brain! 😊
Then we participated in a thrilling scavenger hunt throughout the city, solving puzzles to discover places and take group photos.
On the last evening, we watched two movies and said goodbye to our Belgian friends who left early the next morning. On Sunday, during the service, my friends and I dramatized a passage from the Bible between a tax collector and a Pharisee, all while singing and playing music.
Before saying goodbye, we shared a picnic in the park, strengthening our bonds even more. This fabulous experience deeply impacted me. I am determined to become a chaperone for future events because these moments truly bring us closer to God and make us proud to be His children.
I would like to thank Jane, Deborah, Pippa, the Christ church community, and last, but not least, the Christ the King community, for helping me with this wonderful experience.
And we would like to thank Lilou for her joyful participation in our Christ Church community, and for bringing her mum and dad, Frederique and François along to church. We appreciate you all.
Comments