On June 4th three vans of youth and their leaders traveled from their respective churches to an elevation of 8,000 feet to participate in an Eco-Justice Mission Trip at Buckhorn Camp, a UMC camp of the Mountain Sky Conference in Bellevue, Colorado. The group spent four days at this beautiful campground, which reflects the wonder of God’s creation. The site had also suffered two recent wildfires, that destroyed buildings and ravaged the land.
If you look closely at the cross at the Green Cathedral at Buckhorn Camp you can see how the wildfire has reached the bottom part of the cross.
The youth came with energy and excitement to prepare the space for campers as well as to help with wildfire prevention. With rakes in hand, they collected pine needles and moved them to a safer location. They also removed fire-vulnerable low branches and repurposed them for mulch. One afternoon they cleared the labyrinth for the campers who would be coming.
Woven into the service projects and the daily devotions was the theme of eco-justice. Youth gathered for Bible studies that looked at creation care and creation justice. Youth led “hiking worship” to learn about our call to be caregivers of God’s creation. They also designed “creation care cakes” with creation themes. They wrote letters of encouragement and commitment to be stewards of this Earth and pursuers of justice. The youth leaders were incredible guides and support. Thank you, Darcy Wood, Victoria Burkett, Cindy Clement, Ann Kessler, and Kermit Wood, for your witness of Christ’s love and service. There was a lot of sharing, laughing, learning, and teamwork.
On the final night, as the group prepared to travel back down the mountain and return to their home churches (Ft. Collins UMC, Loveland UMC, Phillips UMC), they gathered for Holy Communion, knowing they had now become one team, one in Christ. The liturgy of Communion reflected God’s love for the participants and for all of creation. Walking out into the night after receiving the elements, the team could see clearly God’s majestic work in creation. They took home with them an experience of awe and a call to creation justice.
If you would like to hear more about this Eco-Justice Mission Trip, please feel free to contact Rev. Courtney Randall (crandall@umcmission.org)