NYC 2022 | Day #8
Show of hands: how many members of the Fraternity congregation celebrated Tie-Dye Tuesday this week?
Melissa, Kennedy, and McKinley with several new Virlina District friends. Photo courtesy of the Virlina Youth Facebook page.
Not to worry — there's always next Tuesday. Tuesday at National Youth Conference wasn't only filled with bright, colorful tie-dye; it was also packed with incredible speakers, workshops, service projects, and more!
Photos courtesy of Glenn Riegel via the National Youth Conference photo website, McKinley Wall
Naomi Kraenbring spoke on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) during the morning worship. Here's a fun fact: Naomi used to attend Melissa's home congregation in Pennsylvania!
McKinley and Melissa sang in the choir again on Tuesday morning.
Photo courtesy of Glenn Riegel via the National Youth Conference photo website
Photo courtesy of Chris Brumbaugh-Cayford via the National Youth Conference photo website
Following small groups and lunch, the Fraternity group went straight to their workshop for the day — Keep Calm and Knit On. It has been very popular this week, so they made sure to arrive early since there were a limited number of knitting needles and the other sessions filled up quickly.
Kennedy shared that neither her nor McKinley had ever knitted before, but she was starting to get the hang of it by the end of the session. Spoken like a true big sister, "McKinley is struggling."
Photos courtesy of Kennedy Wall
Photo courtesy of Kennedy Wall
Everyone had so much fun learning to knit and they are excited to have a new hobby for the long bus ride back to North Carolina later this week!
Photos courtesy of Kennedy Wall
Following the workshop, McKinley and Melissa went to choir practice while Kennedy and Lydia did a service project: assembling school kits to be distributed through Church World Service. School kits give children in impoverished schools, refugee camps, or other difficult settings some of the basic tools for learning.
NYC announced that the youth and advisors made a total of 3,102 school kits this week. A huge thank-you to the Fraternity congregation for sending a large number of school supplies with the youth to help make this happen!
After a little bit of free time and dinner, the youth returned to Moby Arena for evening worship with speakers Chelsea Goss Skillen and Tyler Goss. This sibling duo is likely familiar to many Fraternity folks: they grew up in the Virlina District (West Richmond Church of the Brethren) and spent multiple summers working at Camp Bethel.
Photos courtesy of Glenn Riegel via the National Youth Conference photo website, McKinley Wall
Our youth advisors graciously agreed to be interviewed for today's post.
What is your highlight so far at NYC this year?
Melissa: So many to choose ... every worship service and speaker has been wonderful. Just when you think it can't get any better, the next speaker brings another incredible message. This morning was Naomi Kraenbring — she brought a powerful message on the Beatitudes. But then tonight was the brother-sister duo from Virlina of Chelsea and Tyler Goss. They had so much energy as they challenged us to Level Up by following Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Right after they spoke, Ken Medema sang a song summarizing their message as he's done after several of the other speakers. Getting to hear his music so many times this week has been another highlight.
Photo courtesy of Glenn Riegel via the National Youth Conference photo website
How has this NYC been different than the last one you attended?
Lydia: This NYC has been so different than when I came four years ago as a participant. In 2018, I was a youth and I was mostly focused on myself. This year, I am here as an advisor to ensure that Kennedy and McKinley have a meaningful experience. I love being able to see them make friendships and memories that will last like mine did. I also get to spend time with other advisors and soak in the wisdom that they have from their ministry.
Melissa: The last (and only other) NYC that I attended was in 1994. Dewey and I had just gotten married in June and then we were Virlina District bus leaders for NYC that July. Since I had been a youth leader at my church in Pennsylvania, I was technically still helping them at NYC, so they placed our two Fraternity girls (Amy Adams and Ronda Phelps) in the dorm with the Atlantic Northeast District so I could be over both groups. The thing I remember most about that week was Dewey walking completely across campus every night to take me back to my dorm because he was with the Fraternity guys in the Virlina District dorm on the other side of campus. This year is a whole lot easier with only two youth. It was also very stress-free to just ride the bus and not have any responsibilities for how the trip is going.
Photo courtesy of Chris Brumbaugh-Cayford via the National Youth Conference photo website
What is something that you are excited about for the trip home?
Lydia: I am excited about getting to spend time with the youth from Virlina. There are a few that went to the last NYC that I did not get to spend too much time with in 2018, so I have enjoyed getting to connect with them again and getting to know them a little bit better. (Shout out to Ewan and Katherine!) I am also excited to have plenty of time to read on the long bus ride.
These updates keep coming in later and later, which means that our youth are soaking up every last chance to hang out with new friends and make memories — exactly as it should be! Wednesday is the last full day of National Youth Conference and then the buses hit the road on Thursday after morning worship. Continue to remember the Fraternity youth in your prayers as NYC wraps up and they begin the journey home.
Not to worry — there's always next Tuesday. Tuesday at National Youth Conference wasn't only filled with bright, colorful tie-dye; it was also packed with incredible speakers, workshops, service projects, and more!
Naomi Kraenbring spoke on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) during the morning worship. Here's a fun fact: Naomi used to attend Melissa's home congregation in Pennsylvania!
McKinley and Melissa sang in the choir again on Tuesday morning.
Following small groups and lunch, the Fraternity group went straight to their workshop for the day — Keep Calm and Knit On. It has been very popular this week, so they made sure to arrive early since there were a limited number of knitting needles and the other sessions filled up quickly.
Kennedy shared that neither her nor McKinley had ever knitted before, but she was starting to get the hang of it by the end of the session. Spoken like a true big sister, "McKinley is struggling."
Everyone had so much fun learning to knit and they are excited to have a new hobby for the long bus ride back to North Carolina later this week!
Following the workshop, McKinley and Melissa went to choir practice while Kennedy and Lydia did a service project: assembling school kits to be distributed through Church World Service. School kits give children in impoverished schools, refugee camps, or other difficult settings some of the basic tools for learning.
NYC announced that the youth and advisors made a total of 3,102 school kits this week. A huge thank-you to the Fraternity congregation for sending a large number of school supplies with the youth to help make this happen!
After a little bit of free time and dinner, the youth returned to Moby Arena for evening worship with speakers Chelsea Goss Skillen and Tyler Goss. This sibling duo is likely familiar to many Fraternity folks: they grew up in the Virlina District (West Richmond Church of the Brethren) and spent multiple summers working at Camp Bethel.
Our youth advisors graciously agreed to be interviewed for today's post.
What is your highlight so far at NYC this year?
Melissa: So many to choose ... every worship service and speaker has been wonderful. Just when you think it can't get any better, the next speaker brings another incredible message. This morning was Naomi Kraenbring — she brought a powerful message on the Beatitudes. But then tonight was the brother-sister duo from Virlina of Chelsea and Tyler Goss. They had so much energy as they challenged us to Level Up by following Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Right after they spoke, Ken Medema sang a song summarizing their message as he's done after several of the other speakers. Getting to hear his music so many times this week has been another highlight.
How has this NYC been different than the last one you attended?
Lydia: This NYC has been so different than when I came four years ago as a participant. In 2018, I was a youth and I was mostly focused on myself. This year, I am here as an advisor to ensure that Kennedy and McKinley have a meaningful experience. I love being able to see them make friendships and memories that will last like mine did. I also get to spend time with other advisors and soak in the wisdom that they have from their ministry.
Melissa: The last (and only other) NYC that I attended was in 1994. Dewey and I had just gotten married in June and then we were Virlina District bus leaders for NYC that July. Since I had been a youth leader at my church in Pennsylvania, I was technically still helping them at NYC, so they placed our two Fraternity girls (Amy Adams and Ronda Phelps) in the dorm with the Atlantic Northeast District so I could be over both groups. The thing I remember most about that week was Dewey walking completely across campus every night to take me back to my dorm because he was with the Fraternity guys in the Virlina District dorm on the other side of campus. This year is a whole lot easier with only two youth. It was also very stress-free to just ride the bus and not have any responsibilities for how the trip is going.
What is something that you are excited about for the trip home?
Lydia: I am excited about getting to spend time with the youth from Virlina. There are a few that went to the last NYC that I did not get to spend too much time with in 2018, so I have enjoyed getting to connect with them again and getting to know them a little bit better. (Shout out to Ewan and Katherine!) I am also excited to have plenty of time to read on the long bus ride.
These updates keep coming in later and later, which means that our youth are soaking up every last chance to hang out with new friends and make memories — exactly as it should be! Wednesday is the last full day of National Youth Conference and then the buses hit the road on Thursday after morning worship. Continue to remember the Fraternity youth in your prayers as NYC wraps up and they begin the journey home.
Praise the Lord you all experienced God's presence in so many ways at NYC. Praying for you all to travel safely back home today and tomorrow.
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