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[Back to index of May/June 2009 articles] Truth or Dare: Be a Legend
Washington Window Seventy high school students and 20 adult chaperones from 15 parishes around the Diocese of Washington took part in an April 17-19 High School Retreat, held at Camp Letts, Edgewater, Md.. The event, themed, “Truth or Dare: Be a Legend,” included workshops on a variety of topics that showed the students, in grades 9 through 12, tangible ways to make a difference in the world. Joel Tjornehoj of St. Peter’s, Poolesville led a forum on his church’s work in Richmond, South Africa; Sandy Webb of St Margaret’s, D.C., spoke about a mission trip he took to Burma; Melissa Opryzko of Christ Church, Rockville led a forum to discuss increasing access to safe drinking water in Afghanistan; Michael Meachum, a Washington paramedic and Ethel Oliveri of the D.C. Council for Child Abuse and Neglect spoke on a panel about destructive behaviors and their consequences; Tyler Edgar, who serves on the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Staff, led a forum about environmental stewardship; and Bishop John Bryson Chane spoke about interfaith dialogue. “That was very, very cool as the kids could choose which workshops they wanted to go to, and I think that showed them ways of being a legend,” said the Rev. Jessica Hitchcock, the diocese’s interim youth missioner. Other weekend highlights included an outdoor Eucharist around a campfire following a liturgy for eco-justice and a Saturday night talent show which featured singing, guitar playing and poetry reading. “The crowd is very generous and gracious,” Hitchcock said. “They’re all very supportive of people getting up there – it’s just amazing how supportive they are of each other.” In addition to the scheduled events, the retreat included an impromptu half-hour of dancing, Hitchcock said. Priscila and Cristina Lemos of Transfiguration taught the students how to do the meringue and then the whole group did the electric slide. [Back to index of May/June 2009 articles]
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