As a Director of Youth Ministry, one of the greatest joys I have been blessed with is the Cascades Presbytery Youth 
Team. This group of pastors and youth leaders gathers five times a year to plan weekend retreats for middle and high school youth, help with summer camps, gather youth groups together for mission trips, as well taking time to fellowship with one another. While the youth here at Westminster have a wonderful church family and are very connected to their youth group and the local community, I believe it is important for them to build relationships with other youth and adults in our Presbytery. As high schoolers, many of them attend a retreat in the Fall and the leadership retreat in the Spring, the Presbytery high school camp, and serve as counselors for the elementary and middle school camps and weeks of service. What an incredible opportunity for them to grow in their faith, surrounded by so many youth and adults who are also excited about their faith and their involvement in the regional Presbytery.
As a member of the Youth Team, I have had the opportunity to plan, organize, and lead the Cascade Presbytery Youth Assembly (CPYA) for the past three years. This weekend retreat is held every fall for all high school youth in the Cascade Presbytery. Each year we have between 130 and 170 youth and adults join to worship, learn, and fellowship together at Macleay Christian Retreat Center outside of Salem. This year I had the honorand challenge, to design worship and small group curriculum for the weekend. It was overwhelming at times, but also a great joy to see how the many hours of planning had such a positive impact on both the youth and adults who participated.
The scripture for the weekend came from Matthew 5:13-16:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Rev. Jennifer Martin, Presbyterian chaplain at the U of O, spoke to the youth about what it means to be salt and light, and how God created each of us in a unique and specific way, and that we can only shine our light the way God created us to do so. After worshiping and listening to the sermon, the youth broke off into small groups to play get-to-know-you games and activities. They then spent time in discussion, reflection and prayer, taking time to consider what gifts each of us has and how we might use them to shine our light.
Our culture has most of us running from one thing to the next, rarely taking time to sit still and listen to what God has to say to us. And unfortunately, we are raising our youth to follow in our path, playing more sports and instruments, taking every AP class offered and doing enough service projects to get into the best colleges with the most scholarships. While I don't expect to change the expectations of our society, it is on these retreats with the youth that we all can take time to slow down so that we might hear God's voice speaking to us. Not just the youth, but we all need to take time to get away from the chaos and stress of our lives and just be in the presence of God. I am thankful for these moments in which our youth have time to play and be goofy kids, as well as spend time to pray deeply and worship fully as God has created them to do. May you find time in the new year to breathe deeply and experience God’s presence in your life as well.
Grace & Peace,
Rebekah Hanson
Director of Youth Ministry