WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
ANNE PACKARD
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year again. There is no snow. Instead, it is 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity and a 20 percent chance of afternoon showers. There are no gifts to buy or presents to wrap. Instead, we are loading up on boxes of popsicles and bottles of bubbles. There are no green trees to light and decorate. Instead, there is Hawaiian-themed décor to purchase and assemble. It’s summer camp time!
This year’s passage is 1 Peter 2:9 and we at the Moore Methodist Museum are hitting the royal part of that scripture hard. The Queen’s Jubilee has us dreaming of crowns and corgis, scones and castles. The campers will begin their time at the Museum by eating Ring Pops (a lollipop shaped like a big, gaudy ring) and decorating their very own crowns. We even splurged for stick on “jewels” because nothing is too good for our royal priesthood. They will play games and try to find the “worms” in the bowl of beans. These visitors will be a mess of sticky giggles and that is just the way we like it.
Sometime during their hour with us, we hope to demonstrate the difference between being royal in the world versus being royal in God’s world. We hope to lead them from their jewel-encrusted crowns to a crown of thorns. Take them from a banquet feast of Ring Pops to a simple meal of bread and wine. Show them that the best way to win a game is to finish with the least amount of points.
If I had one wish this summer, it would be to have summer camp for adults. I truly think we need it after the last few years. I think we need the candy, games, and complete foolishness that comes with camp. I also think we need to remember what is most important and that these things are often the most simple: good friends, much laughter, the true joy of God.
So, whether you are attending camp this summer or not, please take the time to eat s’mores, sing camp songs, and laugh until your cheeks hurt. Enjoy the sunshine and warmth, swim in cool water, make time for friends. Remind yourself of the true joy of summer and of Christian fellowship. Here’s to the royal priesthood of 12-year-olds!
Anne Packard serves as Conference Historian and director of the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum on St. Simons Island. Contact her at director@mooremuseum.org.
