Perfect and Beautiful

It was an exhausting weekend.

WinterFest brings together 425 (or so) youth and adult counselors from around the East Coast for a weekend of experiential worship, seminars and fellowship. It's an honor and privilege to be the co-planner and co-leader of the weekend. Although it always takes a lot out of me (from which it seems to take me longer and longer to recover from each year), it always puts more back into me than it takes. This year was no exception.


Our speaker, Rev. Judy Howard-Peterson, Campus Pastor at North Park University in Chicago, was a great mix of challenge and edification. My lasting impression is her challenge to find the "perfect and beautiful" in our situations, in those we cross paths with, and in ourselves. That is a theme that has always resonated deep within me, and her willingness to share part of her story of loss (she has had 7 miscarriages) while yet finding the "perfect and beautiful" was a real gift to all of us.



Our Artist-in-Residence for the weekend was Kelly Kennedy of Art and Souls Ministry. Kelly is an amazingly talented potter who used the medium of her art to enhance our worship experiences, and used the meatphor of clay and artist in ways that revealed the depth of our relationship with our God, who molds and makes us as He wills, and as we allow Him. It was powerful imagery that connected well. Her assistant Susie was a joy to be around, and is gifted in the arts in her own right.



Matt Lundgren, Pastor and Worship Leader at Willow Creek Church in IL sat in with the worship band for the weekend, and led a great seminar on using gifts in worship leading. His gentle spirit, natural wisdom for flows of worship, and all around good nature is infectious. I wish I could be around him more often and on a regular basis. To be able to play my guitar with him in the same band is just a blast. Willow Creek is blessed to have him.



6 adults came along from my church. Each one being perfect and beautiful in their own right. They're willingness to give up their time for our students frees me up to lead and plan the weekend. Every good pastor who works with youth knows the value of good, solid, faithful volunteers. I am rich in them.



But when it comes to perfect and beautiful, it is our youth here at church that spring to my mind. Watching them worship and play and tease and enjoy this past weekend was amazing. One day they will be our lay leaders and our pastors. The Church is surely in good hands, for they are perfect and beautiful, as is our great and grace-filled God.