Serving as a chaplain for two sessions at Shrine Mont Camps, MAD I and MAD II, allowed me to discover fun and inventive ways to highlight God’s holy and spiritual presence around the campers, counselors and me, at all times. For instance, at chaplain's time (aka “Happy Chappy Time”) during Session II, I invited the campers and counselors to sit together in a circle. I next divided our circle into five parts, handing to the first camper in each section, a mostly blank page of paper containing only the opening verse from Psalm 118. Their instructions were to, one by one, look at the verse in front of them, and quickly and quietly compose the next. Once one camper was done, he or she would fold down the preceding verse that inspired her or him, and share only their newly composed verse with the next person, who would then write his or her verse, and pass the form along in the same way. As each person read one verse and wrote another, the rest of the gathered prayed silently, while I either answered questions that arose or guided them in the process through meditative words. Together, in no time, we created our own psalm which was placed in the order that the five separate pages were handed back to me once each group was finished. No doubt as the campers, counselors and I saw, you too will witness how the Holy Spirit worked through our collective individuality with humor, warmth, depth, love, and more to create our camp psalm. Below is the psalm as authored by the Holy Spirit through the group, with the opening/repeating verse from Psalm 118 added to the conclusion. The Mad Camp PsalmGive thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. The Lord loves us. The Lord is always with us. The Lord will always influence us to do the right thing. So Lord, do the right thing through me. Encourage and guide us wherever our paths take us. Love us as you promise. Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. He forgives us when we turn away, For he is ever forgiving, and ever helping. He is with me when I am without. I believe he is in the wind so when it blows it shows his spirit. He is also in the lushness of the earth; We see him in all things nature and around us. Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. We are forgiven always; His good is eternal. His love is spread through his good and it is endless for each of us. He will live forever along with his love and use us through our lives. If we believe, we will have eternal life in him, a life filled with love. If you believe in God, he believes in you. And because we believe in God, we believe in those who made biscuits 'n gravy. God believes in us so we believe in the Holy Spirit. We feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, so we must believe. Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. Pound the drum and play the harp, Praise The Lord with song. Praise The Lord with giving. There is no gift worthy of God, Not even your heart and soul. But all of God's gifts are worthy enough for you. Cherish God's precious gifts, Like the sun and moon and stars. And cherish all living things like plants, and animals. Respect all of God's creations. Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. And let us be happy together, for he has provided for me in a time of need. I want for nothing. Even though there will be times of want when it is flawed - such as the want for others to be jubilant, or for those in a form of pain. For through thine words we shall not want more than ours and others protection and guidance. For love and patience throughout all the days of our lives, and for our Father to guide us through the shadow of death. The Lord walks beside each and every day for we are his children to care for. Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; His mercy endures forever. By Peter Ackerman et al. Peter Ackerman is the rector of St. Christopher's, Springfield. Following ordination in 2007, Peter began his career as a priest as the associate rector of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria, where he served for four years. Peter grew up in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley and first followed in his parents' footsteps working in the television industry, on both sides of the camera.
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The view from the mountainSpreading the good news of Shrine Mont Camps into the Valley of the World.
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September 2018
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