Yesterday was a crazy mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and (finally) snow! I snapped some photos of camp — it was especially gorgeous this morning, before any plowing or tracking in had been done.
Probably not time to start filling up the pool yet…
In just three months, we’ll be having campfires again! But for now, the snow-draped cross is beautiful as is.
Do you recognize the way from the chapel to the pond?
Have a great week, everyone, and remember to live each day well (but look forward to summer camp, too!).
Hello! Greetings from Rachel at a soggy but spring-like CampGray. I might get in trouble with my ski-loving co-workers for saying this, but I’m pretty pumped for the next season to arrive. I think the fact that snow is melting all over camp with the sunny 50 degree weather today really helps get me excited for spring. I’m also slightly dreading another freeze or snowfall that will most likely happen in our lovely, unpredictable state. Anyhow, I know how much we love talking about the weather here at Camp, but I’ll change the subject into our Gospel for this week. Mark tells us the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, which is one of the more important and famous events of Jesus’ life found in the Bible. It is also the fourth of the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary, which are the newest set of mysteries for the Rosary. Fun fact. So, here we go. Read carefully…..
Mark 9: 2-10Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. Read the rest of this entry »
Greetings Earthlings! I know what you’re thinking, “Mo-T, you’re an Earthling too.” I’m not going to comment on the current state of weather or snow here at Camp Gray. That’s what is usually talked about here, but I wondered if you wouldn’t rather know what I am eating right now. That just happens to be a Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, of the Oats ‘N Honey variety. Great, now that we’ve covered the formalities, let’s move on to the Gospel for this Sunday.
Mark 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Well, today was another gorgeous day here at Camp Gray. Now that the weather has gotten “warm” again, and by that I mean above freezing, we’ve been able to enjoy the great outdoors with less than ten layers on. Last week I went for a walk down by the creek and there were ferns that looked pretty happy. All sorts of awesome things were out there waiting to be discovered, like coyote scat with bones and turkey tracks.
For retreats we’re brainstorming for activities that are fun outside even when it’s wet, slightly sloppy, and a little cold still. We’ve got a retreat this week where we’re introducing an awesome new event: the all-camp scavenger hunt. It’s sure to be filled with adventure, suspense, mystery, and food.
I’m looking forward to many more adventures this spring, both around camp and on travel retreats!
Howdy friends!
Chris Topher here, proudly bringing you the weekly Gospel reflection from Camp Gray. I hope this email finds you all well. Things at Camp have been going strong, and as spring is quickly approaching, those of us that work in the office are getting geared up for summer camp. Because I’ve taken up skiing this winter, I’ve been enjoying the cold and snowy weather, however, I’m getting pumped for some warm, sunny days!
Anyhow, let’s get to the Gospel, which comes to us from the good book of Mark:
Hello Everyone! This is Meghan writing from an icy Camp Gray. This Sunday’s Gospel comes from Mark:
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Back in Jesus’ time lepers were people who were excluded and shunned from the rest of the community. They were seen as dirty and unclean because leprosy is a contagious disease which causes sores all over your body. These people were considered disgusting so when Jesus healed the leper it was a great miracle. Jesus tells the leper not to tell anyone and to just show himself to the Jewish high priests. But the man was so happy and excited to be healed that he told everyone that Jesus healed him.
One thing that we can learn from this scripture passage is that it’s not always easy to listen to what Jesus tells us to do, like the leper that was healed. It can be extremely difficult to follow what Jesus is calling us to do because his message may seem unclear to us, we might ignore what he wants us to do, or our hearts may not be truly open to his calling.
I encourage you to take time to pray each day and listen to what Jesus is calling you to do and try to carry out his will every day.
We’ve had four straight days of retreats running through yesterday, with the retreat team rising to the occasion and beyond in working with a group of middle school students and a retreat of Confirmation candidates. As they take a much deserved day off, I’m going back and typing up some evaluations of retreats from the past few months, and I came across one Confirmation retreat evaluation that stopped me in my tracks:
What did you learn about yourself and/or being part of a group through this experience?
That I have a lot more to figure out about God - that the million questions I had before aren’t nearly enough, that I think I DO want to be confirmed Catholic. I think I am ready.
Wow. Praise the Lord for the good work He does through Camp Gray!
Greetings from Camp Gray and me, Jenna, on this warm and sunny Saturday morning. While the warm weather is a joy, it definitely makes cross country skiing, a favorite pastime around here, much more
difficult! This Sunday’s Gospel comes from Mark…
Mark 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
When the evangelist Mark was writing to inform his readers about Jesus, he highlighted many of Jesus’ phenomenal aspects. This reading is a great example of the wonders and miracles that Jesus performed. Read the rest of this entry »
