Online Archives

A wave of first-timers descended upon the United Methodist West River Retreat Center in Churchton, March 7-9, for this year's Middle High Retreat.

More than 90 children, in grades 6-8, arrived at the river front hauling backpacks, sleeping bags and flashlights.

Clinging to the security of familiar faces, they smiled nervously at strangers, trying to size them up. By the end of the weekend, however, the river front overflowed with smiles, warm hugs, happy tears, and promises to keep in touch.

The retreat theme, 'Living Eternally with God,' took on meaning as the weekend progressed. But in the early stages, Laura Crue, 12, from Hiss UMC in Baltimore, was glad she brought Russell, her teddy bear, just in case.

The retreat featured games, music videos, arts and crafts, movies, and workshops covering self-esteem issues, relationships, and topics like sex, substance abuse, and peer pressure.

Nicolas Blunt, 12, from Perry Hall UMC in Perry Hall, couldn't wait to meet new people. 'I met four other Nicks,' he said proudly. Like many others, he wants to return next year.

'I think that the retreat has been a very encouraging experiment for us young people,' said Marlin Cribbs, 14, from McKendree-Simms-Brookland UMC in Washington.

Simone Boudreau, 13, from Grace UMC in Gaithersburg, said, 'I like the food. It's really good.' Her buddy, Elizabeth Meyers, from Grace, found innovative uses for her Bible. She balanced it on her head. And Erin Kierman, 14, also from Grace, pointed to her friends and said, 'I came because they came.' Later, all three girls actively participated in workshop discussions centered on how to show Christian love to people you don't know or find hard to love.

Tom Price, director of youth ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, claimed, 'I'm stunned by their answers, their insights.'

Laura Spears, 11, from Hiss UMC, said she liked the 'If Only I Could Change Me' workshop. 'It showed me that I could be me,' she said.

Youth leader, Cindy Palumbo of Frostburg UMC in Frostburg, said it was worth the four-hour drive to bring her first-timers. Newly appointed youth leader, Desiree Steward from Beechfield UMC in Baltimore, agreed, even if her teens defied the 11 p.m. lights-out rule by cutting through her cabin's darkness with their flashlight beams until the wee hours of the morning.

During Sunday worship the more dramatic youth, painted as clowns, acted out dramatic skits, others formed a choir and sang, and still other youth took charge of the Holy Communion ritual.

'Each one of you has done something special to contribute to this worship experience,' said the Rev. Dell Hinton of Catonsville UMC in Catonsville, one of the retreat coordinators. 'Don't let anyone tell you that you don't know how to worship.'

Hinton previewed for her young audience her video-photo essay on the retreat, as the song, 'I Can Only Imagine,' provided a heart-stirring backdrop. The presentation drew cheers and joyful tears. She promised a premiere during the June annual conference session.

Price declared the weekend a success and went a step further. 'My dream is that one day we will have nine Middle High Retreats,' he said. 'As our district youth councils grow stronger, each district will organize its own, that we help fund through the conference. So that instead of 90 kids, maybe 900 kids could have this experience.'