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Regional Youth Event
Regional Youth Event is a gathering of youth and adults from the Great Lakes Region of the United Church of Christ, which is our
denomination. This year RYE was held from June 29-July 2. They had 336 people attend. We were there with youth from Indiana,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois. The youth were in 6th -12th grades. By taking 16 youth and 3 adults, we were the
largest representation from one church at the whole event!
While we were there, we prayed, sang, walked a labrynth and participated
in workshops such as: Leadership Roars, Circumnavigating the US with Lost and Found, Fun and Games with Deep Meanings with Bryan
Sirchio and So you think you want to be a songwriter. Then there were six workshops led by a few people in our church such as: The
secrets beneath our feet led by Chris Kosmowski and Wayne Kukuk, The Way we Pray led by Pastor Leah, Mission Trip: a Journey to
Guatamala led by Sue Case, Design for Sacred Spaces led by Randy Case, Why we serve led by Larry Laughlin, and I'm just a kid and
God wants me to do what? led by Emily Labrecque. We listened to three concerts by Bryan Sirchio, Lost and Found, and Andra Moran.
We also had the opportunity to listen to two amazing keynote speakers: Ken Brown who is the associate for youth and Young Adult
Empowerment, Justice and Witness ministries of the United Church of Christ and works at the UCC headquarters, and then Valerie
Tutson who is an incredible storyteller who has traveled all over the world. Ken taught us that God is who God is and that God
cannot be boxed in. Also that God intervenes through us for justice. Valerie taught us that God is everywhere, and that in the
midst of war and devastation we can find a reason to thank God. Some of us agreed that it was the best 4 days of our life and we
are all looking forward to next summer's General Synod, and the following year's National Youth Event.
First Congregational Church - UCC - Battle Creek - Michigan
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