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Catching the E.Y.E. Spirit

Episcopal Youth Event - July 26-31, 2005 - Berea, Kentucky

By Melodie Woerman

Editor, The Harvest

More than 1,400 young people from nearly every diocese in the Episcopal Church and some from outside the United States gathered at Berea College in Kentucky July 26-31 for the Episcopal Youth Event. E.Y.E. is a national gathering for high school students that takes place every three years.

The Diocese of Kansas sent 12 young people, who were accompanied by diocesan Youth Coordinator Chad Senuta, two other adult chaperones and Bishop Dean Wolfe.

This year’s theme was “Can you catch the Spirit off the beaten path?”  Senuta said the event was designed to challenge teens to discover how they can connect with God’s spirit in ways and places different from their routines.

Participants saw a variety of worship experiences, including a Hip Hop Eucharist one evening, as well as dozens of workshops on topics ranging from photography and spirituality to donkey races, Senuta said. “Variety was the name of the event,” he said. “They tried to have something for everyone.”

A wider perspective

Kansas teens said they were struck by being part of such a large gathering of fellow Episcopalians.

Natalie Vanatta, St. Michael’s, Mission, said her eyes were opened at E.Y.E. “I used to think my diocese was the only place that the youth really were trying to make a difference,” she said. “But going to E.Y.E. made me realize we are not alone. There are youth all over the country working to keep the Episcopal Church alive.”

Phil Anderson, St. Margaret’s, Lawrence, said “It was cool to see other teens from across the nation, who worship the same God and had the same issues in their lives that I did.”

Charlotte Bishop, St. John’s, Wichita, said, “So many people from so many places ... New York, Illinois, Alabama, even Guam and Ecuador. It gives me shivers just thinking about it. God was there in all of us.”

Betsy Robb, St. Matthew’s, Newton, said interacting with youth from other places made Kansas teens realize even more the strength of the youth program in this diocese.

She also said Kansas youth greatly appreciated Bishop Wolfe’s presence at E.Y.E. He was one of 53 bishops at the event, in addition to Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.

Hip Hop Eucharist

The Hip Hop Eucharist, which originated at an Episcopal church in the Bronx and uses urban vernacular for liturgy texts and rap beats for the music, was a hit with Kansas youth. “I liked it,” Anderson said. “It was a new thing to do. It was off the beaten path.”

Vanatta said Bishop Wolfe was the only bishop to dance in the opening procession. “He was the only member of the clergy to ‘get jiggy’ with all of us youth,” she said.