Bible Text: Ephesians 2: 15-22 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
Canada Youth has been a part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada since 2000. It began as a one off event for the millennium. We had every intention of making it an event that would be remembered, but had no intention of making it a tri- or bi-annual event. But after the success when a thousand youth, young adults and youth ministers descended upon Brock University in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, the national church had no choice but to see it happen again three years later. After the success of Canada Youth 2012 the national church decided that instead of it happening every three years, it would happen every two. And so, the Canada Youth, or CY, legacy continues to grow. This conference is not only unique in that it invites young and youthful members of the Presbyterian Church to gather for worship, play and study for a week, but also because it includes youth ages 14-18, young adults ages 19-25, and youth ministry training for anyone over 21. The leadership also includes many people from clergy to lay leaders, from young folk to retirees, and so it is the most inter-generational event within the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It is also the largest gathering of Canadian Presbyterians ages 14-18…and boy, do they come. This year we had over 400 participants coming from all over Canada from places like Mistawasis to Miramichi but also from Taiwan, Romania, North Carolina, and Hungary. The theme this year was “Joined together as God’s dwelling place: We Are Home” and it was based on the passage from Ephesians 2:20-22. The theme statement was, “So many doors. So many journeys. Still, whoever you are, wherever you’re from, wherever you’re going….we belong to each other. Even more, we belong to God. God who says, “Welcome Home.”
Remember when you were a young person, a teenager, remember when all those hormones were confusing and concerning. Remember when feeling like you needed to belong was of the utmost importance. Remember when you struggled to define who you were—no matter how old we are that can still be the case. Imagine hearing those words. “We belong to each other. Even more, we belong to God” and how comforting it is to know that. That’s what Canada Youth was for so many, a place to belong and be faithful. It is why I continue to be involved every year- because it is so important to remind ourselves that we have a home in God- and that no matter your age- you have a place in this church.
This year, I was privileged to be one of two preachers. I shared the responsibility with Reid Chudley, minister at Trinity, Victoria. Worship at CY is a little different than worship here. First of all, there are production meetings in which we discuss lighting, videos, and set design. It often took us 6-8 hrs a day just to get ready for the evening worship service. While I was preacher, I also held responsibilities like set painter, carpet purchaser, video producer, communion bread cutter, and all kinds of other interesting tasks. It included early mornings and late nights. And yes, I would do it all over again. At our first worship service we began the evening with a video of all those descending upon Brock University followed by a video in which we had youth answer the question, “What is home to you?” It helped us set the stage for the week.
After Reid and I shared what home was to us we jumped right into the passage from Ephesians. First, what did Ephesus look like in Paul’s day? It was this massive metropolis and it was one of the top three cities in the East. Even back then they had dredged the harbour, giving it access by sea and it had easy access to trade routes by land to the interior of Asia. It is estimated that the population was 250,000 and with so many trade routes beginning or ending in Ephesus it was a multicultural hub. Paul called Ephesus home for 3 years where he ministered in the Synagogue, then in a school and then he rented a lecture hall. By the time Paul left, the early church in Ephesus was well established.
Eventually, however, conflicts arose between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. There was debate about who really belonged in the sanctuary and questions about who could worship where. So, the church wrote to Paul and Paul wrote back. It is his reply that we have in Scripture, but what is not really explained is that Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome. Imagine, here he is in prison- in the most pitiful kind of home one can imagine- and he writes to the Ephesians about the importance of being members of the household of God. So while Paul is experiencing his own conflicts he is telling the Jews and Gentiles to reconcile their differences because we are all saved by grace.
Through grace we are united to God instead of being separated from God. Paul is clear that the divisions that the early church in Ephesus faced are not what matters to God. Rather, we have been made a new community- we are Christ’s body in the world and we are all part of a single building and it is in us, this building, that God has chosen to dwell. God is here, the Spirit is dwelling in this place and Jesus is the cornerstone. The stone that forms the base and joins the walls. And God’s grace finds expression in a unity marked by welcoming one another to this dwelling place.
Throughout the week we looked at Scriptures that touched upon this theme of home. We looked at the prodigal son and what it means to find ourselves away from home. We looked at Jesus calling us to obey in love and what it means to find a home in Christ. We spent an entire day centred on the Refugee Crisis in which participants experienced a UN simulation and had just a small taste of what it feels like to be a refugee or without a home. We encountered the magi and what it means to be changed and go home different. For youth across the country and within our denomination, this was a place to call home. At the end of the week we presented another video and asked, “what will you take home from CY?” This video was later posted on the Presbyterian Church website because these youth are telling the church that they are here, and involved, and have faith. Something we need to hear more often.
Next week we will have Presbyterians Sharing Sunday and you will hear all about the ministries that those funds support. One such ministry is that of Canada Youth. We may be a church on the extreme west coast of Canada where we are predominantly seniors- but what we do here can help and affect youth across this country and provide a home, joined together as God’s dwelling place. So many doors. So many journeys. Still, whoever you are, wherever you’re from, wherever you’re going…we belong to each other. Even more, we belong to God. God who says, “Welcome Home.”
Amen