Diocese of New Jersey | Bishop's Blog | EYE 2005

The Design Team, led by Coordinator Lisa Kimball, from the Diocese of Minnesota, has done a marvelous job with the arrangements for this event. The rhythm of each day is roughly the same: morning program for the entire community, followed by small groups; free time after lunch; mid-afternoon workshops and forums; evening program for the entire community. There were dozens of workshops and forums and worship and recreational opportunities.

Presiding Bishop Griswold offered another in a series of meditations on the theme, 'Can you Catch the Spirit off the Beaten Path?' All of the young people with whom I spoke, including all of our New Jersey representatives, are so impressed and so grateful for our Presiding Bishop's presence at EYE and his commitment to being available to youth. He takes them seriously and includes them as full partners in the Church today.

The EYE community welcomed 'Friends of the Groom,' a performing arts ministry from the Diocese of Southern Ohio. They did several sketches, including a presentation of the Lord's Prayer that touched me and moved me to tears. They were very well received.

This afternoon I attended a Forum entitled, 'Let's Talk About Sex.' The handout material, prepared by Elizabethe Payne, Ph.D., NEAC Education Coordinator, included the following:

In the United States...

We have one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world.

Every year, 3.75 million young people under the age of 21 contract a sexually transmitted disease.

Approximately 2/3 of high school students have had sexual intercourse.

Nearly ¼ of 12th graders have had 4 or more sex partners.

Fewer than ½ of sexually active high school students report consistent latex condom use.

50% of young people (boys and girls) who have had sexual intercourse say they wish they had waited longer.

So, we should talk about sex with our young people in the Church. And we did. Over 200 young people asked questions and received clear answers, grounded in the Baptismal Covenant and Christian values, and emphasizing truth, trust and talk in the consideration of any sexual relationship. I was impressed by how much our young people here know and how much they want to be responsible Christian stewards of the power and mystery of their sexuality.

God is in the House!
Make some noise, for Jesus!
He's UN-BE-LIEVE-A-BLE!
Amen! Word!

Tonight was a real highlight of the week. We were privileged to welcome the Rev. Timothy Holder, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Morrisania, in the South Bronx, New York. Just a year ago, he and members of his parish and community began to offer a service they call the Hip Hop E Mass. It is a faithful, joyful, evangelical effort to offer worship in the idiom of Hip Hop music. This Mass featured the Georgia-based Christian Hip Hop Group, The Remnant (see Jeremiah 23:3). The Remnant is convinced that it's not the beat but the intent behind the beat that will keep young people in the fold.

I have never witnessed nor experienced a Celebration of the Eucharist with more joyous excitement and exuberance and energy. Everything that was prayed and said and sung proclaimed Christ and communicated the Gospel with joy and hope for the whole world. In movement and dance and clapping and swaying and lifting up of our hands, and (for some) doing flips and flops on the floor, we proclaimed that Jesus is Lord and we are his servants, sent forth into the world to share the Good News. Alleluia!

The Celebrant of this Hip Hop E Mass was an Asian American priest, assisted by an Anglo woman Deacon. The Blessing was given by Bishop Victor Scantlebury, originally from Panama.

I love this Church.

On to 29 July->