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Becoming Tabasco Habanero Christians at the Confirmation Retreat
April 1, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb greeted the youth at the 2015 Upper New York Conference Confirmation Retreat via webcam from Pennsylvania. He started with a question – “Have you ever had a job as a babysitter?” – and a story. Bishop Webb once babysat a little girl who asked to say a prayer before bed. Not knowing what prayer the girl said, he began reciting his own, only to be met with protests from the girl, “that’s not the right one.” When he asked her which prayer she would like to hear, she responded, “I don’t know; it’s my mom’s prayer. I just listen to the words.”
Bishop Webb said that is how his faith once was; it was not his own, but instead his parent’s or his grandparent’s or others’ in his church, until confirmation.
“Confirmation is now a time for you to individually respond to that amazing gift from God, to then become a part of a community, the body of Christ that helps us to live our faith,” Bishop Webb said.
This year marked the first Conference-wide retreat that took place simultaneously at three locations – the Casowasco, Asbury, and Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Centers – that were connected through video cameras, computers, and a technology called Zoom. About 190 youth attended the retreat. This leadership development event was a partnership between Camp & Retreat Ministries, local pastors, Order of Deacons and the Episcopal Office.
“It’s pretty awesome that we’re doing it altogether simultaneously,” said Demetrio Beach, Camp & Retreat Ministries, Director of Program and Outreach. “We’re literally together in different locations, which really means a lot, I think, for the Church to see how we can come together. And to actually see all the youth being engaged and learning from one another and meeting new people has been very enriching for me.”
Alex Lyons, an eighth grader, was excited about the new technology that allowed the different retreat locations to interact.
“I think it’s cool that you can see them and how they react,” he said.
Bishop Webb’s address also referenced the second letter of Paul to Timothy, where Paul told Timothy: “To be who God has called you to be, you need to have a faith that has grown.”
And then Bishop Webb grabbed everyone’s attention with the mention of the Scoville scale and Tabasco sauce, explaining ketchup is zero Scoville heat units (SHU), green jalapeno sauce is 600 SHU, pepper sauce is 5,000 SHU, and habanero sauce is 9,000 SHU.
“As Christians, we are called to be salt to season the world or the community around us,” Bishop Webb said. “I think God’s also calling us to be Tabasco Habanero-type Christians that we are on fire; that our faith is growing.”
Bishop Webb emphasized to the youths that God gives them gifts to serve others.
“I want you to know that I celebrate the commitment you make first to God and then to the Church,” Bishop Webb said. “You are the Church of Jesus Christ. God is using you, and God will continue to use you in amazing ways.”
Each site had one district superintendent present to speak about their Christian journeys and to lead the Reaffirmation of Baptism and Holy Communion after the Bishop’s remarks. At Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, Finger Lakes District Superintendent the Rev. Jeff McDowell asked the youth some questions, playing off Bishop Webb’s remarks.
“Is this real for you or are you just going through the motions?” Rev. McDowell asked. “Do you want to be ketchup or hot sauce?”
During the Reaffirmation of Baptism, Rev. McDowell told the youth that Confirmation is about making the vows of baptism their own and that they must follow Jesus, trusting He will guide them every day.
“That is the Christian faith,” Rev. McDowell said. “It is a walk, and it is a journey.”