And now, for something entirely local, and yet oddly global...

Spending some time with 18 young people and 9 adults on an overnight camp-out - simple, local, and yet oddly global.

Local because the youth of St. Peter's Church, Lewes, are just that - local to this little city on the edge of the bay and the big waters. But global because I am dead certain that youth group members and leaders the whole world over find time to be together, share time an prayer and meals and conversation into the night and all that, and then find time to have a group picture taken. There are pictures of young people gathering everywhere. Here is ours:

This morning we celebrated the Eucharist at a gazebo on the edge of Trap Pond, with a gentle rain on the water. We talked about the Gospel and the call to unity that comes from God's welcome embrace.

Last night we said Compline. Someone asked about what a crag is and why that seemed a good way to talk about God as protecting.

Late late late last night by the fire there was conversation about the difficult times people were having. The sharing was itself a way of coping.

And there were many small moments of companionship and grace, including in the bread we ate together and the thanks we had for this time away.

I felt honored to be there. My body also rested in peace (sort of) and sleeping on the ground seemed to work out OK. We were kept as the apple of God's eye.