St. Michael's MEGA camp!!!

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Luke 12:34
What a treasure full of wonders! we look back on the summer and it was filled with good stuff... from the work camp to the mega camp... we had time for fun amidst service, worship, food, and recognition that all that we treasure will become a large part of our lives.

Fr. Norman Fischer from St. Peter Claver parish in the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky,flew to us and shared how we can be treasure seekers, bearers and sharers...
Sometimes it is tough to see our own gifts... and it is elusive like a shadow that trails behind. and yet a shadow exists only because we or something reflects back the light... Our treasure and gift is the same... we can reflect the light back for others to see and to share.
His enthusiasm for God and us was so evident over the three days he was with us that our trip to Hershey Park on Thursday went auto-pilot after Fr Norm flew back to Kentucky on Wednesday.
The message to our youth was all about how we can seek the gifts in us and be a Princess or Prince of the kingdom... and that together we can seek that goodness.
In skit fashion we saw that by working together and sharing the load by using our gifts we can journey towards the kingdom.
At Cascade we enjoyed a perfect day in the water, on the slides, paddle boats and in the meal.
It was a chance to reflect or have a blast, to take a chance in a leap, or to observe life around us.

On Wednesday we had prayer in the sanctuary and heard Fr Norm teach us to forgive and let go of the things that burden us. Our skit showed the burden of holding onto grudges and hurts and how by releasing them we can be free to live and to love our neighbors... as ourselves.

On Thursday we gathered extremely early and took a group picture on the group picture steps... and then rode the four coach buses to Hersheypark. It was a great hot day for the park, the water the fun the food the laughter... all throughout the park you could see the gold treasure map shirts on the backs of our youth... in groups and large masses of people. It was a fitting end to our week of adventure. We continued to seek out treasures, gifts, places and adventures. we rode the Great Bear, the Lightning racer, and Fahrenheit! We all ended the day in chocolate of many varieties, cups, candies, hats, and other assorted treasures at the Chocolate Factory. And just like that at 9:00... 07 I mean, with some hearts pounding from the cross park run... we began the bus ride homeward.. many tired and happy campers... hmmm.
The most amazing experience of the week was to arrive at St. Mike's parking lot at 11PM full of waiting parents... and at 11:15... the lot was empty... what a gift!!!

So thanks to all our campers, to our peer ministers, to our adult chaperones and to our adult planners... and to Gabby and Fr Norm for a great experience!
Look for news of our next camp... seek it, bear it and then share it!

Work Camp St Mike's Style

We were missing several of our people... but this is as good as the group pictures get! Our planning began almost a year ago, and culminated in our group departure last Sunday the 21st from St. Michael's. Our hope was to serve several communities in western Marylandand with the help and support of many folks we were able.


G.I.F.F. The Great Iron Fence of Frostburg took on a legendary life of its own. Our Camp Coney group sent many young scrapers and painters to St. Michael's in Frostburg to bring some former shine to the old iron fence... about 100 years old I heard... Among the many other acts of service, these youth performed great landscaping services to a family who had been parishioners of St. Michael Poplar Springs in the early 90's...
Our Habitat crew, 41 strong donned the hardhats and framed walls, roof sheathing, graded and seeded a yard, laid up a concrete block foundation and generally set the stage for great success for the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity affiliate... our 6th year with them!
The McLeans whose house we framed interior walls and sheathed, joined us and the Habitat community for dinner at Ida Maust's place... a beautiful mid-week break. Great food, friends, volleyball, campfire and singing made it the special time Wednesdays in Garrett County are for work campers. Thanks so much to our hosts at Gareett County Habitat for Humanity, headed up by Doug Riley, executive director, and Frank Ferry Site Super.

Beach Volleyball at St Michaels

Let's get this game started...
Test...1,2,3...
The girls strategize before the game...
An evening of beachball volleyball, and some basketball mixed in with a few snacks, pizza, and the Beachboys... both musically and on the court.
Serving it up, the girls took the first game.
The boys came back and won the second...
Meanwhile Fr Mike took a break from his duties, just long enough to rest in the added light.
The crew gathers for a pic...
and then the noodles get noodling... It was fun, there was reflection of light and the message of Jesus, the light of the world...

Confirmation Retreat Summit Lake Camp

It was a cold and frozen mountainside when we arrived on Friday.


Surrounded by quilts from those before them, our youth had much on which to reflect.

Sunday afternoon as a group we gathered outside the chapel for a group photo... The sunshine made us blink, but the warmth allowed us to smile!
A little yarn and much affirmation is a great way to sum it all up!