On the first Bank Holiday weekend in May, young adults (and a few older adults) came from around the South England Conference to the LIVE St. Austell and Area 1 Youth run camp ‘Chill in a field’ at the Chapel Porth campsite in Cornwall.
The theme for the weekend was ‘Be still and know…’ and each worship session consisted of exploring different names for God that are found in scripture. But what does worship at this annually attended camp look like? Well, half the hall was set up like a living room space and this year we had a bit of a ‘around the fire’ décor. The worship consisted of singing together, creative prayer, creativity through craft, journaling, and discussion. It was a safe place to be open and honest, to agree and to disagree, to be heard and to be quiet and contemplative. Jennie Hall (Plymouth Church) told me, “I look forward to the discussions, crafts and community every year however, what stands out for me most is the time we spend singing and praising God! Rarely do I get the chance to sing my heart out and be in the moment like at this camp. It truly is a special weekend.”
On the Friday evening after food together we started off exploring the name Yahweh Shalom (The Lord is peace) found in Judges 6:22-24, we looked at concepts of wholeness, completeness, calmness, and tranquillity. Sabbath morning saw us reflecting on the name El Roi (The God who sees me) found in Genesis 16:7-13, we contemplated on a God who is seeing, looking, or gazing. In other words, when we feel most invisible and forgotten by everyone else, we can remember that God does see us. He witnesses our struggles and comes alongside us. That Sabbath evening we discovered Yahweh Rapha (The Lord who heals) in Exodus 15:22-27, looking at God who restores, who cures, who repairs thoroughly, and who makes whole. The Sunday morning saw us considering Yahweh Jireh (The Lord will see to it/Provide) found in Genesis 22 where we thought, discussed, and journaled about the God who perceives and the God who experiences, and the God that see to it. On Sunday evening we talked about Yahweh Hoseenu (God our maker) found in Psalms 95 where we explored God as our creator. We rounded up the weekend on the Monday morning with Yahweh Tsidkenu (The Lord is our righteousness) found in Jeremiah 23:6 and Jeremiah 33:16, exploring the plan of salvation enacted by God our righteousness. Edit Liebhardt (Wateringhole, Southampton) said, "From a true regular, this is the place i come to recentre, reconnect, remember what really matters. I love the people this camp brings together and learning from them about how they see God. For me, that is the most beautiful thing about this camp. The community of people who share with each other openly, vulnearably and embrace each other every year like family."
We didn’t spend the whole weekend indoors, Sabbath saw us on a beautiful walk in the warm sun along the cliffs and down to Chapel Porth beach, in the evening we gathered around a real fire with some trying to get close with marshmallows on sticks, on the Sunday everyone had free time to do whatever they wanted, some went exploring, others went for Sunday roasts in a variety of locations, and some napped. There was always plenty of time to chill, to rest, to fellowship, to pause, and to learn. The feedback from the campers has been so positive and I truly feel that God was in that space. Basil Maruve (St. Austell) informed me, “The camp was really awesome, I had a great time there. The worship services lifted my spirit, and I felt that God was among us when we were doing the worship services. The music was really enjoyable, and I wanted it to keep going on and on forever.
When we visited the beaches, it helped me to refresh my brain, and I felt one with nature. If possible, I'd like to ‘Chill in a field’ again.”
Spaces like this are rare, and so as the leader of this camp I cherish the moment every year, and once it is over I am already looking forward to the next one. It is a joy every time—the singing, the conversation, the creativity, the food, the nature, and the spirit—and I long for more spaces like it.
