First Congregational Church and Society

Ten young people from Middle and High School attended The Music, Art, Dance, and Drama Camp at Horton Center, Located on Pine Mountain in the scenic White Mountains of New Hampshire. Horton Center, donated to the New Hampshire Conference, UCC by Douglas Horton for use as in outdoor ministry, is a place of incredible beauty and spirituality. The week-long camp was a wonderful experience in which campers could participate in traditional camp activities like swimming, rock-climbing, sports, art and craft projects, and games as well as take time to explore the nature of their relationship with God and with the community created in the camp atmosphere. Each day, our cabin participated in a time of faith development, which included reading of scripture, discussion, and a chance to pray and share with one another. Each day also included a unit challenge, in which the group learned how to cooperate through trust building and communication activities that were fun as well as being physically and mentally challenging. Mealtimes were held at the Spirit Lodge, a facility built through donations from the recent NHCUCC Capital Campaign. Every evening, the camp gathered for a time of vespers, held on Chapel Rock, a rock ledge with a stunning view of the White Mountains. Vespers included songs, poetry, scripture, and quiet meditation, with the final vespers of the week including communion on Chapel Rock. Our last evening meal, the Agape meal was a special time to celebrate the events of the past week. One of the things that make this meal special is that no one may ask for anything. All campers are encouraged to attend to one another, so that no one is in need. After vespers, the camp gathered for a variety of activities including a talent show, campfires, skits, and a hilarious version of ‘Who’s Line Is It anyway’. One night, our activity included a ‘Hunger Banquet’ in the style of an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, in which the inequities of hunger in the world are presented dramatically. This was followed by a meaningful discussion of hunger and homelessness that many campers called ‘life-changing’. To truly understand the Horton Center experience, I encourage you try it yourself, either as a camper or a unit leader. You may return tired, sore, and a bit scraped up, but you will not return without experiencing the beauty of God’s creation, and the wonderful feeling of living in Christian community. *Rev. James Melhorn* http://www.hortoncenter.org/index.html