Saturday morning got off to an early and slow start for most with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., but by mid-morning the energy was up as participants played Four Square Capture the Flag. After two rounds of the game and with wet, soggy shoes and socks from the dew on the grass, participants gathered for worship and then heard from Alongside Hope representatives Kim and Heather, who spoke about their work to provide solar suitcases to maternity wards in places where electricity was unreliable or non-existent. To demonstrate how difficult the task of delivering a child in the dark would be, three brave volunteers tried to assemble a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich in front of everyone while blindfolded. It was clear the difference a nice, bright light from the solar suitcases would make for so many women and the medical staff assisting in the birthing process.

Participants also heard from national youth animator Sheilagh McGlynn, who spoke about the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering this past August in Saskatoon; the event will be held next in Nanaimo in August 2027. Participants then gathered in smaller groups with others from their archdeaconries to read selected verses from the bible (​​Isaiah 40:28, Luke 1:37, Ephesians 3:20) and to discuss what it means to be in relationship with God, who is without limits and for whom all things are possible. They were also invited to write on a small piece of paper a prayer about how God could show up in their lives or about something that they were worried, concerned or feeling anxious about. The piece of paper would be burned at that evening’s campfire.

Following lunch, participants took part in a bible knowledge team challenge, and then had their choice of activities throughout the afternoon. Options included beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, pickleball, indoor rock climbing, archery tag, arts and crafts, a hike, a jam with the band session, help with homework, fun with a giant soccer ball, prayer bead-making or time in the beautifully decorated and thoughtfully curated prayer space. That space was well utilized by many youth and youth leaders throughout the weekend and contained quiet and reflective self-guided or small-group activities that facilitated times of prayer in various ways.

Following a filling roast dinner, participants had the opportunity to check in with others in their parish groups and then gathered at the firepit as the sun began to set. Gathered around the roaring fire, they sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to God and reflected on the God whose limitless love is made known to us in so many ways, especially in the beauty of creation. The prayers that they had written earlier were offered to God and then burned. The night ended with s’mores around the campfire, an amazing talent show highlighting the giftedness of many youth in the diocese, and a glow-in-the-dark dance party.

After the rush of breakfast, packing up and cabin clean-up, participants gathered for Holy Communion with Bishop Andrew and his spouse Mary. Everyone was encouraged to wear an orange shirt as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was being marked during the service. Youth served in many roles in the service, including playing instruments in the band, singing on the worship team, doing the readings, offering the prayers and serving Communion; one of them, Makayla Clouter of St. Thomas Brooklin, shared an inspiring homily based on Psalm 139, on the theme of our limitless God. After the service, youth participants were invited to consider if they’d like to be a youth representative at this year’s diocesan Synod. The annual group photo was taken and participants chose swag items to take home. They enjoyed lunch and visited the camp store one last time before loading up the buses and heading back to Toronto.

The Bishop’s Youth Ministry Committee, which organizes ReCharge each year, would like to thank the diocese and our bishops, who continue to generously support this event with funding for bursaries, ensuring that everyone who wishes to attend can do so. We would also like to thank all the clergy and youth leaders who attended and offered themselves to serve and support the youth of our diocese throughout the weekend. We pray that good fruit is born in the hearts and lives of the youth who attended ReCharge this year and we look forward to gathering again next September!

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After settling in, the Rev. Yohan Dumpala and team led a time of worship. Bishop Andrew and Mary shared about times in their lives when they felt close to God, and then they led the youth in night prayers before everyone headed to their cabins.

The sessions on Saturday focused on exploring the Season of Spiritual Renewal. This time provided an opportunity to help the youth begin to better understand what renewal is and what it can look like. The session opened by praying for renewal to begin in the hearts and lives of those present and then to spread to each of their families and home churches upon their return.

The Rev. Canon Dr. Judy Paulsen, coordinator of Season of Spiritual Renewal for the diocese, shared via video the four disciplines associated with renewal: widespread prayer; a deeper engagement with the bible; a commitment to worship; and more intentional discipleship. She also talked about her own personal spiritual journey, about how she identified with the biblical story of God calling Samuel, how Samuel’s life changed after his encounter with God, about times when she had experienced God’s presence, and how her life has been impacted through her relationship with God as a follower of Jesus.

Building on the video, Bishop Andrew and Mary spoke about what prayer is and what the Lord’s Prayer is. There were testimonies and stories of prayers being answered and some discussion on how we can respond when our prayers aren’t answered.

I led the evening session focused on the bible: what it is, what its purpose is, and what to do if you read it and don’t understand. The youth also played a very loud and enthusiastic game of Bible Jeopardy, followed by a “Bible Lab” that focused on practical tips for studying scripture more deeply, led by three of the diocesan youth coordinators, Sarah Mair, Ian Physick and Constance Kendall.

In addition to worshipping, praying and learning together, participants got to try out the Kraken, a six-lane water slide, and choose their own afternoon activities, which could include archery tag, crate stacking, the pump track (bikes and scooters), hiking, basketball, arts and crafts, tennis, pickleball, jam time with the band, or having time to catch up on homework and relax. Everyone’s favourite game, Flame Battlers, was played on Saturday night and involved a lot of strategy, team camp fires, and trying to protect your fire from having cups of water poured on it. There was a new activity offered this year, a prayer and reflection space where youth could have quiet time when needed and engage in guided prayer and journaling exercises. The space was a huge success and organized by Rose St. Thomas, co-coordinator of the Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Program.

On Sunday, the Rev. Jillian Ruch, chaplain at Havergal College, celebrated Holy Communion and preached. Youth were invited to bring an orange shirt to wear on Sunday as we marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In her sermon, Jillian said, “reconciliation is something as Christians we are called into. It is about caring for our fellow humans – following the commandment given to us by Jesus. It is in this spiritual renewal time that we can also fully enter a process of reconciliation with our whole Christian hearts.”

After worship, youth were invited to take a bible home if they wanted one, and they could also pick out encouraging words and verses of scripture printed on stickers and small posters as a way of keeping them encouraged and engaged with their faith back home.

The members of the BYMC would like to thank the diocese for its continued support of the ReCharge retreat. We continue to pray for all youth and youth leaders in this diocese that the Holy Spirit would spark spiritual renewal in each of them, and through them that God will bless the Church and this diocese in new and fresh ways.

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It was a joy to have Bishop Andrew and Mary Asbil for the weekend. They led night prayers on Friday night, led a team challenge and helped facilitate the Cast the Net session on Saturday. Bishop Asbil also celebrated the Eucharist on Sunday.

“This has been such an energizing weekend,” he said. “To see all these young people and their faithful leaders coming away, fighting the traffic to get out of the city, coming from the four corners of the diocese to gather for play, prayer and ministry is so inspiring. It gives me so much hope for the Church of today.”

The Rev. Yohan Dumpala, assistant curate at St. John the Baptist, Norway, led the worship, assisted by the Rev. Rob Petkau, a Wycliffe College student from the Diocese of Calgary, as well as numerous youth on percussion instruments. The theme for the retreat was “The Joy of Following Jesus Then and Now.” Cormac Culkeen, youth coordinator for Trent-Durham and co-coordinator of the diocese’s Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Program, was the main speaker. They shared with the youth about St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assisi, and from John 15:5-17.

Participants had lots of time to play and explore many of the activities that Muskoka Woods offers. They played glow-in-the-dark capture the flag on Friday night. On Saturday, they rode The Kraken, a huge, six-lane waterslide, and played an exciting game of flame battlers. Also on Saturday afternoon, they enjoyed their choice of volleyball, basketball, tennis, gaga ball, a high ropes course, indoor rock climbing, long boarding and scooters, hanging out by the lake, and arts and crafts. On Sunday, they battled in a team version of Jeopardy (the bible edition)

The BYMC would like to thank the diocese and the College of Bishops for their continued support of youth ministry and this annual retreat. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

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Bishop Andrew Asbil joined us on Friday night and was there to greet everyone as the bus rolled in from Toronto and for our first session. He shared about his own good times as a youth at the Niagara Youth Conference and then led us in night prayers before returning to Toronto. Bishop Riscylla Shaw was also in attendance and stayed with us the whole weekend. She made time to chat with youth and youth leaders on Saturday afternoon during free time and celebrated the Eucharist with us on Sunday.

Our theme for the retreat was Redemption: The Story of Us All. Cormac Culkeen, youth coordinator for Trent-Durham and co-coordinator for the Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Program (YMAP), was our speaker for the weekend, and the Rev. Yohan Dumpala, assistant curate at St. John the Baptist, Norway, led us in worship. Cormac shared in the first session about how the story of our redemption looks like a heartbeat on an ECG machine: it has ups and downs in the same way a heartbeat does when it’s represented on paper. At creation, everything God created was good, but it didn’t take too long before that changed.

In the second session, we spent time talking about lament and how it’s a good and right way to express to God our anger, hurt, frustration and angst with the world around us. Participants spent time in breakout groups either writing their own lament, taking part in a Lectio Divina exercise with Psalm 10, writing and rehearsing a drama to illustrate lament, or in a more active group where they built things and then tore them down.

At our third session, we read from Romans 5, where St. Paul writes, “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We talked about how God, through Jesus Christ, has redeemed us all. Cormac reminded everyone that God is always with them and refuses to ever leave them, whether times are good or bad. In breakout groups, participants chose to either spend time outside and give thanks to God for the beauty of creation, talk with others about redemption, dramatize redemption, or in the active group where participants again built things and this time beautified their creations.

In our last session, we had Communion together. We looked at the feeding of the 5,000+ and paid special attention to St. John’s account where he writes about the boy who brings his lunch and offers it to Jesus. Jesus blesses the boy’s meager lunch and feeds everyone to their contentment. Participants were encouraged to offer themselves and what they have to God and to watch how God brings about God’s kingdom on this earth as it is in heaven through them.

We also had a lot of time to play and explore many of the activities Muskoka Woods offers. We played Capture the Flag on Saturday morning and a very exciting game of Flame Battlers on Saturday night. In the afternoon, participants enjoyed their choice of volleyball, basketball, tennis, pickleball, high ropes course, indoor rock climbing, long boarding and scooters, as well as arts and crafts. Those doing arts and crafts designed and made a beautiful stole for Bishop Shaw to wear on Sunday at the Eucharist.

The BYMC would like to thank the diocese and the College of Bishops for their continued support of youth ministry. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

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I want to focus on three aspects of discipleship for youth – relationships, education, and formation.

The value and importance of building safe, healthy, and trusted relationships with our youth in the discipleship process cannot be overstated. It is often the area I spend the most time on; it is also the area most questioned by those not engaged in the process. Relationship-building can be playing games at a youth retreat, eating a simple meal together, talking over hot chocolate or spending a summer day at Canada’s Wonderland. This can be perceived as being a waste of time or unnecessary, but it is neither. This is the time when we get to know one another.

Another key component of discipleship is education, as we seek to teach this generation about God, the Bible and the Christian faith. Education may look like a Bible study group, a confirmation class, a Sunday school lesson, or listening to and later discussing or debating a sermon. This part of the process is often the most engaged and valued by parishes, but it is only one part and must be combined with the others in a wholesome approach to making disciples.

The final component is spiritual formation. This can include activities such as serving others (raking the neighbour’s leaves, working at the foodbank or serving as an acolyte or greeter), engaging youth in spiritual practices (prayer, meditation, silence, fasting), including youth in the rituals of the church (many found in services during Advent and Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter), and regular participation in the sacraments of the church. Formational activities look vastly different from educational ones in that they do not employ a schooling model and are not oriented toward knowledge acquisition. The purpose is to allow transformation, a work of the Holy Spirit, to occur. While we cannot produce transformation, we can provide a conducive environment.

As part of the Archbishop’s Youth Ministry Committee, where it is our goal to support and nurture youth ministry in the diocese, it is my prayer and hope that we will continue to make disciples of Christ in this generation and in future ones. Our next event, Recharge Retreat, is on Jan. 29-31 at Muskoka Bible Camp, where we will focus on the above aspects of discipleship while emphasizing engaging youth in spiritual practices.

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