By Abby C.
8th Grade Youth from First Congregational United Church of Christ of Palo Alto
Every summer, our church youth group goes to a youth community service camp called SSP (Sierra Service Project). Both years I have gone, we always take a stop at IHOP in Sacramento. I get my usual, mac n’ cheese at 7am and about 20 packets of sugar. The reason that I take sugar is because there are absolutely no sweets at SSP, the closest thing to dessert is a glass of Gatorade. I stash the packets in my overnight bag so that when I need a little sugar, it’s there for me.
Every year, after I have done one day of service I realize that I don’t even need the sugar to keep me going. Helping out others is much more sustaining that any sugar packet. Worshiping the earth and God by being humble and realizing that my actions affect others fills me up inside and makes me feel like a good person. So to me, spending your time helping someone in need or thinking of how you can make a change is worship.
Helping out others is much more sustaining that any sugar packet.
I also think of worship as a community of people who come together to release thoughts and feelings. It is also for people to praise and honor God and share the same beliefs. Praising God is different for everyone because we don’t all think of God as the same thing. I don’t know if God is a person that is controlling us as if we are puppets, but I do believe in God as some sort of higher being. I don’t think that God started this earth or is an old man living up in the clouds with a long white beard. I think He is a holy spirit somewhere that is keeping a close eye on each and every one of us as we make life choices. And even when we think we made the “wrong” choice, it is not relevant in God’s eyes because He loves all of us equally.
When I worship, though, I am usually at the church and praying for people in need and I get sort of confused sometimes. How can there be something as amazing as God and things as terrible as terrorism? How can awful things happen to innocent people? These thoughts come into my head as I realize that I know I can be the change to repay God for all the good he has done. After all, there are so many amazing people to live up to in this world, like the person who started the Sierra Service Project and inspired churches like our own to serve for others.
Weeks later, I clean out my SSP bag (finally) and find 19 sugar packets in the front pocket of my suitcase. I can’t remember if I ended up eating one or if I lost it, but the 19 that are left symbolize something greater than artificial sweetener. The sugar now resembles my idea of worship and connection with God.
(…) I know I can be the change to repay God for all the good he has done.
Editor’s Note: This was written as a Statement of Faith for Abby’s confirmation, a common practice for the United Church of Christ. If you know any youth who have written about SSP, encourage them to email Pascal Domicone for inclusion in SSP’s monthly newsletter!