Lutheran Youth and Family Camp in Siberia
Our traditional Christian family camp was held in the village of Efremkino in Khakassia. We have been holding such camps for over 10 years now. We gather together, parents and children, to reflect on the Word of God, learn new things, go hiking in the mountains, rafting down rivers and descending into caves.
This year's theme, "Family," was a logical continuation of last year's theme, "Fathers and Sons." This time, we reflected on how spiritual and blood ties intertwine and complement each other (but sometimes even contradict each other). The family becomes like a Church, and the Church becomes like a new family.
For example, reading the fiftieth chapter of Genesis together, we saw that Joseph's faith in God not only complements his love for his brothers, but also makes it deeper and more sincere. And in another passage (Luke 10) we saw two sisters who serve Christ and accept His service, as it happens in the Church. And, as it sometimes happens with people, Martha believed that her service was more important than Christ's service.
On the last day of our family camp, we read a passage from the third chapter of the Gospel of Mark and saw that the Lord establishes a new community where we are united not by blood, but by spiritual ties. Communion with Christ, listening to His word, fulfilling the will of God unite us into a new family, which everyone can join. And, adopted by God in holy baptism, we become brothers and sisters for each other. And this also establishes a new, deeper unity between husband and wife, parents and children.
An important part of our family camps in Khakassia is hiking. It can be very difficult when we walk for a long time in the mountains in hot weather. It is difficult to describe these feelings in words, how hard it is to breathe on a steep climb, when the sun is blazing and there is no refreshing breeze, and thirst torments. But how valuable is the help of a neighbor and words of support in such moments ("Hold on, I’ll help you carry your backpack," "Take my flask, there’s water here!"). This could be help from a relative, or it could be care from a person you just met yesterday. As in our everyday life, when we are really having a hard time, when we are helped, or when we help, a feeling of kinship between people also arises.
During Matins and Vespers, as well as before meals, we read the Lord’s Prayer together, the beginning of which ("Our Father...") again and again returned us to the theme of family.
And on Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy, members of our Church approached the altar and, like brothers and sisters, received the Body and Blood of Christ. Despite the fact that in Efremkino we are in the field, on Sunday we always celebrate the full rite of the liturgy. Yes, we do not have an organ there, and instead of an altar we use an ordinary table, but the priest serves in vestments, and we do not shorten or simplify anything, do not replace church hymns with modern Christian songs. We consider it important that everything is "churchly." The liturgy should be celebrated clearly and God-fearingly. This is important for our children, who were brought up to take the liturgy seriously. And it is important for our guests, who are not yet churched. They can feel that they are now in the presence of God, even if there are no walls with mosaics or icons around.
God willing, next year, in July, we will gather again, and again we will read, pray, reflect, rise, descend, help, care, languish and rejoice.
