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Welcome to All things… Episcopal where we talk about anything and everything related to the Episcopal church. This podcast was designed with young people ages 18-39 in mind and a place to learn more about The Christian faith with the Episcopal lens.
Resonate Media (00:00)
Hey friends, we are diving into all things summer camp and the role of camp chaplains. We have some stellar priests today on the podcast that have faithfully served at Episcopal Summer Mega Camp. We're talking all things camp food, songs, and most importantly, faith formation and camp as a sacred space. Our guests on the pod today are Mother Casey and Father Andrew.
And of course, my fab co host, Mother Karen, who also has served as a camp chaplain. Friends, welcome to All Things Episcopal.
Casey+ (00:40)
Peace.
Andrew O'Connor (00:40)
Thank you for having us, Claire.
Resonate Media (00:41)
As with all of our guests, I would love for you all to tell us a bit about your story, how long you've been both a priest and camp chaplain, and in what division. A glorious unfun fact about yourself, what your favorite camp food is, and place of worship at camp. We'll start with Mother Casey.
And then go to Father Andrew and then Mother Karen. And go.
Casey+ (01:11)
That was a
super long list of things that you're asking, so just let me know if I missed something. So I am Casey Roletter, as of this July, I will have been a priest for 10 years. It hardly seems like it is possible to have been ordained so long as a priest.
Resonate Media (01:18)
Yeah.
Casey+ (01:33)
I have been a chaplain at MegaCamp, I believe. I just completed my eighth year, minus the COVID year, as elementary chaplain. My favorite place to worship at camp is on the back patio of Ritchie Hall, which is our dining.
area because the sun rises, it faces east and that's where the sun rises. And one of my favorite things to do at camp is to go out there and say morning prayer in the silence. And sometimes I take people with me and sometimes I don't. So for me personally, that's my favorite place to be. And my favorite camp food has become severely limited now that I'm gluten free, but I would have to say a forklift spaghetti night.
which I know I am alone in this, but I love watching the kids get really excited about eating with their hands, especially in elementary and making a big mess. And also the spaghetti sauce is pretty darn delicious.
Resonate Media (02:35)
I love all of that. I love all of that, all of that, all of that. And what is your glorious unfun fact about yourself?
Casey+ (02:43)
Right. Glorious unfun fact about myself.
Hmm.
I don't know, I'm so much fun. I can't think of anything unfun. I think my glorious unfun fact would be that I go to bed way too late and I get up way too early. I do not know how to get a good night's sleep.
Is that gloriously and fun enough?
Resonate Media (03:09)
I I will take it. I will take it. All right, Father Andrew, what about you?
Casey+ (03:11)
Okay.
Andrew O'Connor (03:14)
Hi, I'm I'm I'm Father Andrew O'Connor. I have I have been a priest for twenty years. and yeah, it goes by it goes by quick.
Some days. And I have served as the junior high chaplain at our diocesan summer camp since twenty sixteen, minus the COVID years. So I think this is my ninth summer in that role. and I just love it. My favorite worship spot would be Highwai, which is the highest point of our of our camp.
Where you kind of get a 360-degree panoramic view of of the Flint Hills of Kansas. and it's where we have our all-camp worship on Wednesday night of camp, our mega Eucharist, if you will. that's just always super special to me. One of those sort of liminal, thin place kind of moments.
to to be up there with the campers and all the young adults and all the more mature adults worshiping together and just yeah just love being up there as as the sun goes down and our praises go up. And then my favorite camp food
is tater tot casserole, which I'm deeply disappointed didn't get served at camp this year. I just I just love that meal. It's it's nothing special, but it it it's pretty fun and filling. And I th I would say my glorious unfun fact is due to my Irish ancestry, I just get sunburned so very easily, even even under fluorescent lights. And and so camp is a place where I'm I'm constantly applying sunscreen, but it's sort of a an uphill battle, honestly. Come home pretty pink.
Resonate Media (04:40)
So you're the reason why like certain companies are staying in business for sunscreen. That's what I'm hearing. All right, Karen, what you got?
Andrew O'Connor (04:44)
Yeah. Yeah.
Karen Schlabach (04:49)
well, I have been a priest for five years and I this was my third year serving as a chaplain for the senior high age group.
But it is it was my, I think I I've b I've been on camp staff since two thousand seven. So I've been serving as camp staff for quite a long time. And I also went to camp, that's my unfun fact is that I went to camp in this diocese as a camper from nineteen eighty-nine to nineteen ninety-five. it was a different world, but still an amazing community.
My favorite place to worship at camp is Hutch Hall, just because I think that is a magical place, a sacred space.
And has been for a long time. and my favorite camp food is biscuits and gravy, which we also didn't have this year, so major bummer. And you know, I don't want to yuck anyone's yum. I'm grateful that we do it, but when it is forkless spaghetti night, I like immediately turn around and walk out of the dining hall and do not come back until I know that is well beyond cleaned up because I cannot I love that kids are enjoying themselves, but
Resonate Media (05:49)
Yeah.
Karen Schlabach (05:57)
It is not enjoyable for me.
Casey+ (06:01)
and I'm right in taking all the pictures I can. It is hilarious.
Resonate Media (06:05)
Well, I I got suckered into doing it. I incentivize some of our junior high boys to b behave a little differently in in worship time by compromising with them that I would participate in forkless spaghetti this year while wearing a collar. And there is photo evidence. So I
personally wouldn't have chosen to do that but I did appreciate the outcome of it 'cause we had some really good relationship building time with with those young men and they got a good kick out of it that one of their priests was willing to to just go along with it. and I think that that's part of the camp experience is
The kids showing up and just sharing their joy, but also the adults in the room receiving that joy, even if it's not something that we would necessarily say, this is awesome. but yeah, just receiving where the the kids are. all
five of us are kind of in recovery mode from camp right now, so this might sound a little unhinged for an episode on on all things episcopal. So just roll with it folks. This is this is very much like a time at camp for us.
Karen Schlabach (07:14)
This is this is very much
Yeah. and if you're wondering, there's actually only four of us on this podcast right now, not five, as Claire just stated. Again, we're really recovering from that camp week.
Resonate Media (07:24)
so dear God.
Casey+ (07:25)
Not five.
Resonate Media (07:28)
Yeah, I'm I'm recovering from a sinus infection right now, so we're we're just gonna roll with it. anyway, so all of you have continually showed up for these kids as as camp chaplains and some of you are just like all for the
Workless spaghetti, and some of you are not, but there has to be a reason why you keep saying yes to being in a camp setting, particularly as a chaplain year after year. So why do you continue doing this? Like what is the benefit to you all in your ministry? I'm wondering. so we'll start with Mother Casey, go to Father Andrew, and then Karen.
Casey+ (08:10)
do it year after year? I think, well first of all it is a ton of fun. It is a ton of work and a ton of fun. The parish I serve does not have many children or youth. Youth and children's ministry has never been a thing of mine as a lay person or as an ordained person. So like with a title of such I would say.
So it is fun. It is a challenge to be able to jump in with both feet for an entire week, know, 20, almost 20 hours a day, 18 hours a day, whatever it ends up being, with a group of really interesting, funny, thoughtful in many cases, hilarious, hilarious kids. So it fills my cup.
And also for me, it is a challenge to step out of the ordinary parish ministry and do something a little bit different once a year. And for a few years, I was extra incentivized because my daughter was in elementary camp. has since moved on through junior high camp and is on to high school next year. But it was really, really great to watch her and some of her friends develop from.
third grade to fifth grade in their own understanding and relationship with God. part of the reason I come back is to see the kids who come back and just to see how they've grown and changed.
Resonate Media (09:26)
And ooh.
Yeah.
Andrew O'Connor (09:34)
Yeah, I mean I think the the first reason I keep coming back is that Karen hasn't fired me yet. I I have I said yes to being junior high chaplain and she's never let me go. and and you know it's a takes a special person apparently to to really work with that age group which which really spans from, you know, on on the one end, kind of little kids, still little kids, all the way to sort of thirty five year old know it alls. And ⁓
Casey+ (09:58)
He
Andrew O'Connor (09:59)
The you know, it's it's a challenge, but it's but I love it. I really, I really do. I love the quirkiness. I love the those sort of first real deep questions that junior high kids start to ask about their faith and about what it means for them and and how how they intend to kind of claim that for themselves as they grow. you know, like Mother Casey, I
have also had the opportunity to to sort of serve in this role while being a camp parent and and and
Several of my kids. four out of my five kids have been have been campers at one time or another. I think w at least one or two might might ultimately come back as camp counselors one of these days. But so it's so it's it's been kind of tremendous to see to see, you know, that both from a from a the perspective of a priest and from the perspective of a parent. and and you know, we create this incredible environment for.
kids to come and to be welcomed and to grow in their faith and to have a good time and and it does something good for my soul to be to be a part of it. You know, it is they are long days. you know there's there's I get I get more steps in during camp week than almost any other time of the year. My phone's sometimes like are you sure you're okay? Like are you you your your activity is pretty high for right now in this part of the day. but
Casey+ (10:56)
.
Andrew O'Connor (11:13)
But yeah, I I I sort of love the pure ministry aspect of it. You know, for most of the time I've been in this role, I I happen to be the rector of a parish and we all we often had kids from the parish as well involved. So it was great to sort of be off off with that group as well as the wider diocesan youth ministry. and now more recently, the last couple of years, I've been s you know serving in a non-parochial sort of nonprofit social service faith-based organization and
And so that, you know, now it now it's kind of gets to bring me back to you know part of our diocesan life that that you know I don't get to participate in quite as much in in my new role. So there's lots of different reasons, but I but I think at the end of the day I just I just love it and it's so much fun and and it's so rewarding.
Karen Schlabach (11:55)
so I like it that's my job to go to camp. So that's that's part of why I go every year, but also like I I truly love our camp and really look forward to it every year. a a huge part of my call as a priest was to be able to
Be a priest for our young people.
it it there have been times throughout me doing this job that I have not had wonderful pre-support like Andrew and Casey and so some of that frustration is is a little bit of what pushed me into exploring getting ordained.
And so yeah, I mean it's a real privilege to be able to administer sacraments to these young people in this setting, in h at Hutch Hall or up on Highway or and just be with them in that way.
Resonate Media (12:45)
Yeah.
I I love hearing y'all's why and the the depth to which it goes. I I think I I've seen each of you at various points in your ministry, like Mother Casey, every morning you help support these young people with morning devotions. Father Andrew, I I worked very closely with you.
in the junior high division this summer and then Karen. I've gotten to serve in senior high for my first two years on staff and just seeing like the depth of love and devotion to each of y'all's not only individual calls, but the call to really ensure that camp is a safe space to ask theological questions, to ask questions about
you know, emerging adulthood, you know, all of these things that make us who we are as individuals is is such a special thing. and to to Casey and Andrew's point, most of our listeners at this point know that I'm a first time parent and my son came to mega Eucharist and he turned eleven months while we were at camp. And I always make a a post
for each month of his life so far. And my mom captured a a beautiful photo of me holding my son at Mega Eucharist and my hope for him is that he desires to go to camp and experience this wonderful and sacred place of learning and discovery and faith formation and adventure and, you know, all of the things that camp is that I've
both gotten to experience, you know, as a staffer and now seeing things a little differently as as a parent. I hope that he becomes one of those campers one day, you know, ten years down the road. so we talk a lot about faith formation around young people. I'm curious if you all can share
What have young people taught you about faith in general?
And let's start with Andrew, then Casey, then Karen.
Andrew O'Connor (14:48)
That is a great question. I mean I'm I'm constantly blown away by the the things that our our youth are are hearing and drawing in from their faith year round that kinda comes out at camp. I mean one of one of my joys
now and as I said sort of in a non parochial role, shout out to Saint Francis Ministries, is is I get to go and visit parishes during the year and I and I encounter some of the kids from camp, you know, back home in their in their parish settings, often as acolytes and
you know, I I walk in in a you know in a sort of a different way than I do as a as a as a chaplain and to s to see their faithfulness is is really powerful. to see the kinds of things they're think or to hear I guess the kinds of things they're thinking about, as they as they really kind of seek to claim their faith you know, reminds me of the same kinds of questions that I had at that age and and as I kind of, you know, grew grew up and and
and
you know, ultimately found a calling in the church and all that. and you know, I I love I just I just sort of love the the
the bright eyed question. I love the enthusiasm when I ask, you know, for somebody to light the candle at worship and all these hands shoot up. it it you know, it's restorative, but it it it reminds me that sometimes my own philosophical meanderings kind of overcomplicate myself for myself and and that there's just something really lovely in in people who are eager
to to know God, to love God, to understand what that means for their life, to to sort that through with their well they're sorting through other elements of their identity. It's just it's just, you know, it it keeps me honest, I guess, is what I would say.
Resonate Media (16:24)
Yeah.
What about you, Casey?
Casey+ (16:26)
Every year, I leave camp renewed and restored and really joyful.
And certainly the setting is part of it. Camp Wood is in the Flint Hills, it's so beautiful and peaceful when it's not pouring down rain or a hundred degrees and the wind is blowing hard. But it's a really beautiful sacred space. the source of my joy and restoration and my cup being so full.
is that I get to witness pure joy on the part of the kids, right? Also some pure heartbreak, for sure. I don't wanna sugarcoat it all, but just some enthusiasm, enthusiasm for singing camp hymns, for example, right? Gosh, I wish I could have a camp hymn Sunday at my parishion.
you know, all of my octogenarians would get so into it, right? And the great grandparents and the grandparents. just, I, sometimes it is easy to forget that joy is the undercurrent of all things, like deep joy. And I find that being at camp and having so much extended time with these silly kids, both program related, but also in their new
why experiences big swing or climbing wall or fishing or whatever it may be, is it, it's infectious, that joy. And so they remind me to be joyful in my own faith.
Karen Schlabach (18:07)
one of the things that I don't I think Andrew and I maybe commented on it during during mega Eucharist this year. but it's so fun how like we we get volunteers from the camp community to do all the readings and participate in different ways. And like after every single reading, the people would clap, like they would applaud for that participation.
And it's just funny to think about like what that would look like if people did that at home at our churches during the church service, if after someone got up and you know, read the Old Testament reading, if we all like applauded their performance. and I just I love that support that they have for each other.
And so I have like just random thoughts tumbling in my head. So that was one random thought tumbling in my head. Another random thought tumbling in my head was that we had a lot of graduating seniors this year give sermons and and so hearing in their own words some of the lessons that they've gleaned from their time at camp and even a couple of them who e essentially said that they
they're not really so sure about God, but when they see how our community lives out our faith, like that's what they think, you know, God would have wanted. is just people like loving and supporting each other and being kind to each other and being inclusive and being welcoming and all of those things. And so that's it's incredible to hear that. as well as I mean there was there was one
camper who talked about like every counselor that he'd ever had and like what lesson he learned from each of them. you know, all the way back to when he was in elementary camp.
So just just hearing some of the the things that they share, it's it's truly beautiful. and and the other thing that I really love is that at and I don't even remember when I did this, but at one time I shared with campers how it's a little bit of a pet peeve of mine that like at the end of our worship services.
Casey+ (20:00)
So, thank you.
Karen Schlabach (20:10)
There's always this dismissal where we say, Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. And the whole congregation replies, Thanks be to God, in like the most deadpan, unfeeling
tone possible. And so a long, long time ago, I started like saying thanks be to God in a way that people would feel like I was actually thanking God, you know, like, thanks be to God.
Casey+ (20:35)
Mm.
Karen Schlabach (20:36)
And the kids
have started doing that and I haven't retold that story in a while, but the kids are still doing it. So at the end of Compline, at the end of worship service, they're joyfully shouting, Thanks be to God and it is just so beautiful and inspiring and I don't know.
Casey+ (20:51)
Mm-hmm.
That's so amazing you tell that story because the I think about the the littles who are also very enthusiastic in their thanks be to God's and our men's like no one's needed to tell them that they needed they that they had to get excited about this. Like there's something about this space this camp experience that that invites that and evokes that and yeah, I just I just
Karen Schlabach (20:56)
Amazing you tell it.
Casey+ (21:23)
hope they remember that and take that home and come back with more next year.
Resonate Media (21:27)
We need so much of that in this world right now. our world is a beautiful and broken place and the more joy we can pour back into it the better I think. so we were talking a little bit about camp traditions earlier and you know, inclusivity. Karen you mentioned inclusivity, Casey you mentioned joy. And because
This is an episcopal specific camp. it's not just faith-based, but it's within a specific denomination. I'm curious if you can each elaborate on what episcopal values are most visible at camp. whether it's in a story or just like general way of life. so
Karen, I'm gonna put you on the spot and then we're gonna go Andrew and then Casey.
Karen Schlabach (22:16)
man, I really like formulating my answer while Andrew and Casey go. ⁓
Resonate Media (22:20)
Yeah.
Andrew O'Connor (22:20)
Active listening, Karen.
Karen Schlabach (22:22)
Yeah.
Resonate Media (22:22)
Mm.
Casey+ (22:23)
Right,
I'm gonna sound so smart in my answer to this question because I get to go last. Proceed.
Resonate Media (22:28)
Yeah.
Karen Schlabach (22:30)
Proceed. Okay. Episcopal values. So I I mean this doesn't necessarily always happen in worship, but we also have program and camp every day. And my hope is that the program really encourages campers to think about their faith and ask questions and not just
you know, memorize things and take things at face value, but really explore what things mean and what it means for them in this place and in this time. and that's a huge aspect of being an Episcopalian, I think, is learning how to use your brain to positively interact with your faith.
So that's where I'll start and then I would love to hear what Andrew and Casey have to add to that.
Casey+ (23:16)
You
Andrew O'Connor (23:16)
yeah, I mean I love I love that stuff too, for sure. I was I was thinking one of the things that I think sort of exemplifies our our sort of episcopal approach is is really the way we build camp almost from the ground up. And that, you know, that really does start with Karen and her leadership. but I I think about the training we do,
During the sort of day and a half before camp starts, and and really even some of the stuff we do before we get get there. But I think we build this camp with an intention to be welcoming, to be a place that is that is safe for all to participate. You know, we have kids that come from all the you know, the two dioceses in Kansas, the Diocese of West Missouri. we have a number of kids who come from non-Episcopal backgrounds, and and then we have kids who sometimes come, you know, just you know, we've had we've had a family.
family that's where they've sent their kids, you know, from New Orleans and and Texas and places like that. So y you know, we must be doing something right if we're drawing, you know, kind of across all of those places and
And so yeah, program is important, worship's important, the f the fun activities are important. But I think I think built into the the DNA of what we're doing is this real commitment to saying, Hey, everyone is everyone is welcome here. and and also, you know, we we seek to to
Casey+ (24:20)
.
Andrew O'Connor (24:28)
Create a space where where you know people can grow and thrive. And that's that's kind of in the heart of our community covenant, you know, coming in to this event, and then and then even as each camp division sort of sort of figures out what they what they want to uphold. And and and
that means sometimes we have to have some hard conversations when behaviors are are inappropriate or or out of control. And you know, we you know we had a situation last year where a camper was sent home for for behavioral issues and worked with
hard all year all year round to get back. And that kid came back and was welcomed with open arms by by staff, by by the adults and and by fellow campers. And to me to me that is sort of us living out the way we think you know Jesus intends the kingdom to work. And and so I I just yeah, I'm not sure you'd see that in other places, to be honest.
Casey+ (25:16)
This may be sort of the other side of the same coin, or maybe it's the same side of the coin, but I just keep thinking about how we promise in our baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of every human being. know, kids are kids. Kids can be...
as mean as they are sweet and kind, but as a camp we set the expectation in love and mutual support. Years ago, used to say, know, Carolyn used to say, be sweet. I haven't heard that language be sweet for a while. And so we would sort of use that as a gentle corrective when someone was maybe just, I noticed this among the littles, just.
you know, not being nice or, or trying to be in control or whatever the case and be sweet with sort of just settle things. But at the heart of that is respecting the dignity of folks and of, of, of, of these kids and some of them who come in with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, other challenges,
where they might be less loved and accepted out in the real world.
that there's anything more painful than a talent show a lot of times and especially a little little kids so these elementary kids come in with their their talents I am amazed year after year after year how encouraging how supportive how enthusiastic kids are when when one of them has been brave enough
stand up and do something, right? And that to me is fundamentally what respecting the dignity of each other looks like, right? And it's not just a toleration. It's a full-on good for you. We love you. God loves you, right? And I have never seen that more clearly in the Episcopal Church than I have seen it at.
Episcopal mega camp.
Andrew O'Connor (27:20)
Talent show, talent show. I love me a talent show.
Casey+ (27:22)
and show.
You
Karen Schlabach (27:26)
We at the I don't know if they do this at junior high still or not, but a senior high talent show after every after every performance we say that was the best thing I've seen all night. Sham.
Casey+ (27:33)
yeah.
Andrew O'Connor (27:41)
⁓ zero.
Casey+ (27:42)
Sam.
Andrew O'Connor (27:44)
Yeah, we still do we still do that.
Resonate Media (27:45)
Yeah.
For our listeners, all four of us, not five, four of us, we're all saying that along with with Karen and doing our twirly fingers. We're like, sham. Another camp tradition that brings just one microscopic amount of joy back into the world. now I I so appreciate you all touching on the baptismal covenant and the
the work towards well Father Andrew didn't exactly phrase it this way, but what I heard was joyful reconciliation. and Karen talking about the inclusivity. Like we we talk about God's wide embrace of of God's children, no matter where they're coming from and like the questions that they're bringing. and I think that to to Mother Casey's point about the baptismal covenant
Andrew O'Connor (28:19)
Yeah, yeah.
Resonate Media (28:39)
that we as Episcopalians uphold is found in that prayer in between the imposition of water and the sealing of the chris with the chrism oil, give them inquiring and discerning hearts to know and love your creation. I just I find that that particular part of our baptismal
liturgy is just so fertile at camp. that there's this rich soil of asking questions not for the sake of asking a question but to really inquire and interrogate one's values and belief system. whether they're like totally sold on this radically
Casey+ (29:01)
Hmm.
Resonate Media (29:21)
loving divine human being called Jesus Christ, or if they're discerning a values based system that might not even be Christian, that this this place is is rich foundation for that. and because we are a people that focus on the Eucharist, there are two Eucharists that
all age groups participate in. One is the mega Eucharist with all age divisions, and then each division, as I understand it, has their own Eucharist. And this question is probably more for Karen, but I'd love to hear from Casey and Andrew. Why is it so important that campers experience Eucharist twice in a six day period?
Karen Schlabach (30:08)
I'm supposed go first? Yes.
Resonate Media (30:09)
Yes. Y
Casey+ (30:10)
.
Resonate Media (30:11)
you're the ringleader of camp.
Karen Schlabach (30:14)
I think in in some ways it's about the community that like mega Eucharist is kind of its own thing, that it's the whole community together. It's all three camps all at once having that communion together. and like it's you know, there's there was easily 270 people at that worship service.
which is larger than a lot of what our parishes see on Sunday mornings. Like I don't know exactly, but I would guess that there's not more than a handful of parishes in Kansas and Western Kansas that have that many people on a Sunday morning. And so it's a big group of people that's really special that we're all together. But then but then we are running three separate camps. And so like also having that time of communion and community in your smaller age group camp is
is also meaningful and and valuable to to do that as a smaller group together.
Casey+ (31:13)
you
Karen Schlabach (31:13)
I mean, and we could do it more. Like it's kind of up to the chaplains. I don't dictate that they have to only do it twice. They could do it every day if they wanted to, but we we also one of our goals is to to expose campers to a wide variety of worship services. And so like I like I tried to do that a little bit intentionally this year, that we did an evening prayer one night and we did just like a short evening devotion one night. Like
directly from the Book of Common Prayer so that they could not on a not on a PowerPoint so they could actually see like where this come from, that they could do it on their own, you know, after camp kind of thing.
So there's just a lot of goals mixed into that worship for a week, I think.
Resonate Media (31:57)
Yeah.
Andrew then Casey.
Andrew O'Connor (31:59)
Yeah, I mean
In in in my first year or two I I actually did three Eucharists, you know. we did you know an opening one and then we did you know, we did mega Eucharist and then we I I sort of organized my worship around the idea of an inst sort of sort of piece by piece and instructed Eucharist that that sort of finalized on the last day and then after a couple of years of of doing it that way I sort of switched things up and and sort of changed the worship around again and and now I've really kind of settled on that pattern of
Of using kind of a simple framework for evening prayer. Our junior high worship is usually in the late afternoon. And so kind of doing that and really trying to pick up and take up the themes from the scripture of the day from our program, and and kind of get a little bit creative around
you know, the prayer resources that come from our curriculum and then kind of across sort of the the prayer book tradition, the Anglican sort of prayer book tradition, as well as what's in our our prayer book. and then and then we do at least at the junior high and and senior high level and I and even even in a in a certain way at the elementary level kind of Thursday is always a rough day at camp. It just it's it's Thursday, you know. that's that's usually when when the missing home really kicks into high gear. That's usually where
people are tired and and emotions are are a little raw and
And so healing a healing service on that day is really a helpful and truly beautiful thing, thing to do. And then, you know, for for me, then sort of closing out that week with that, with that junior high you know, Eucharist, it's a little more intimate than than Highwai. you know, I I have this image in my mind from from several years ago where I I brought you know the chalice from the parish, you know, nice silver chalice from the parish, and in this
sort of instructed Eucharist format had you know let let just sort of passed it around the room all the kids could kind of hold it and see it up close in a way that they might not at home ever. And so what by the time it got back to me, you know, some 60 or 70 or 80 campers later, it was covered in their fingerprints. And I'm sure I'm sure the altar guild was furious with me after the fact, but also kind of delighted that you know that it had, you know, that their hands were all over it.
And so, you know, I've always hoped that the worship that that I lead at camp is is an opportunity for kids to get a little more hands-on, see it a little bit more up close, see it in a in an environment that is doesn't include a parent or a grandparent shushing them if they make noise, or there, you know, we're we're always sort of up against the you know the the challenge of of ears open and mouths closed, you know, when you
You
have 90, we we had 94 campers this year, which was a high watermark, I think, in in my time. And and but but you know, we we we roll with it. And and I trust, and I think we all trust that that God is doing something in in these opportunities for worship, in in these moments of Eucharist, with our campers. and and to me it's it's it's joyful reverence. You know, that's that's what I I I I like to sort of think of my liturgical style.
Casey+ (34:39)
you
Resonate Media (34:50)
Mm-hmm.
Andrew O'Connor (34:55)
And and if we can find that at camp, we can find it anywhere.
Resonate Media (34:58)
Preach preach. All right.
Casey+ (34:59)
Word.
Andrew O'Connor (35:01)
Sister.
Karen Schlabach (35:04)
I that was like one of the cool things I did this year is during our like we call it a senior Eucharist because it sort of honors the graduating seniors. the service ran so late because so many seniors wanted to talk and give sermons. So then when it became time for communion, like the altar is really far away from the amphitheater where the kids sit. And it was also like kind of dark by that time.
And so I asked them all to like come around the table. And like they literally came like right up next to the table. Like they were leaning on the table as we did Eucharist and got to be really close for that. And it was just cool. Like to be that close and to have everyone smooshed together.
Casey+ (35:42)
That's so cool.
Resonate Media (35:47)
Hey, that sounds like a a true Eucharist. Like amongst your closest friends. I hear that that was in the good book. Casey what do you Ready? It's a good story.
Andrew O'Connor (35:58)
Yeah, I think I read that somewhere.
Casey+ (36:01)
would have much to add to this conversation. I agree with everything that Karen and Andrew have commented on. For me, one of the most important parts of worship at church camp is the music. It gets a little crazy at some times.
every Farrow Farrow, you know, that's everybody loves that song starting in the third grade on. And it is embodied, right? Like we have hand motions sometimes with some of our hymns and we have echoes and we have like when we see all things sanctuary, they put their arms around each other and they kind of sway there even the
the cool boys are gonna do that by the end of the week. so for me, I want campers to leave having felt that, felt something. And music's not for everyone. There are always some who aren't really into the singing. But even so, I hope that they...
Resonate Media (36:57)
Yeah.
Casey+ (37:05)
they recognize the holy and the joyful in those moments of singing. I do have two Eucharists, a closing Eucharist. My Mondays are usually mostly a few prayers, of reaffirmation of the day's theme in some way, but a whole lot of singing. for the elementary camp, not, a healing service is not
I don't think quite developmentally appropriate, but so I do prayer stations and where, well, this year is all laid out and then we had a shelter in place. So I get to save it all for next year, but, creative ways of praying. So get allowing kids to light a candle and say a prayer for someone who's died. they're able to like.
place their hands in the sand and say a prayer of thanksgiving, right? They are, I bring the labyrinth and they're learning something about contemplation and a quiet walk towards center. you know, they're just, and so I hope that worship comes to me and is maybe more expansive
than when they arrived, right? That they, what they understand worship to mean. And I tell you what, there is nothing better than at the closing Eucharist within the camp and be able to say the body of Christ, the bread of heaven to every single one of them. I don't share that. It's my prerogative and it means so much to me to do so.
I had, I had one little boy come up and I don't think he was Episcopalian. and I, cause the way, and I only would know this because he didn't have his hands out in the normal Episcopalian sort of way. And so I put the wafer into his hand, like into his fingers and he said, this is awesome.
And I thought, yes, it really is. It really is such an intimate moment, right, of Jesus in his hands and his response was, this is awesome. And I don't know if he meant that moment or he meant the camp or what he meant, but ⁓ if he can leave camp having that experience of Episcopal worship in the Eucharist,
Resonate Media (39:18)
Yeah.
You know, one of the things that
Casey+ (39:32)
God's work has been done.
Resonate Media (39:34)
Hmm. I could not agree more. Could not agree more. I have two final questions. One of them actually relates to something funny, and then the last one is something touching. the first question is what's the funniest thing that's happened while serving as a chaplain?
And then the second one, and I'll repeat these. the second one is what's the most moving worship service you've experienced at camp? So the the first question is, what's the funniest thing that's happened while serving as a chaplain? And we'll start with Casey. And then go to Andrew and then Karen.
Casey+ (40:12)
it. I saw the eye. This is a hard question. Funny. There are so many moments of funny. This is only sort of sort of counts. So I'm just gonna tell a story of what happened last week. I had to the the Y staff who
Karen Schlabach (40:23)
Okay.
Casey+ (40:36)
There are always two adults in every cabin at mega camp. And in the elementary, one of those is a Y staff member. And they had the night off. So I was down there helping to cover during showers and kids getting ready for bed. so I was covering the bathrooms. And there are two cabins and
that share a breezeway and they each have their own bathroom with a couple showers in it. Anyway, I killed about nine spiders in the course of 20 minutes, which is fine. I don't mind spiders. They don't scare me. But I walk into one of the cabins afterwards and they're like, mother Casey is a hero. She killed all those spiders for us. She's not afraid of anything. like there was like, it was a fun.
thing because like that I did not know that killing spiders would elevate me so high and I just laughed about it all the way home because those little kids were just hilarious about it. If they would have had a crown I think they would have put it on my head. The most meaningful Eucharist or most meaningful worship.
Karen, Andrew, I think you were there that year, Andrew. Do you remember the year where there was like a lightning storm? There was some lightning in the distance and we were up in Hawaii. mean, yeah, yeah. I can't remember what year that was. They all rolled together. like the sky, was dark and the sky was lightin' up in the distance and we were singing our closing hymn and I just.
Andrew O'Connor (42:01)
Yeah. I sure do.
Casey+ (42:21)
I felt both gods.
transcendence and eminence in the same breath, right? God was so close among us, but yet the God of the cosmos, just the brilliant lightning display in the distance. And it was just really, really powerful. It was so powerful. I'll never forget it.
Resonate Media (42:43)
Andrew, what you got?
Andrew O'Connor (42:44)
yeah, so f funniest thing that ever happened at camp as a chaplain, I'm not sure I can actually tell that story, but Karen knows the one I'm talking about and it involves me and another one of our colleagues, whom who may or may not be the canon to the ordinary in our diocese, reacting
Karen Schlabach (43:02)
totally becoming junior
high boys in the moment, both of you.
Andrew O'Connor (43:05)
Yeah, yeah,
yeah.
So I I won't share that one. I'll just that'll just have to, you know, your our our listeners here will just have to imagine what what could make two grown men just turn into complete goofball boys, once again. there's always funny stuff happening. There's just it's just you know it's so hard it's so hard to sort of figure that out. But I'll I'll sort of come at a different tack, which is I'm I'm a pretty sort of stoic, reserved, buttoned up kind of person, Enneagram one.
and and camp is my annual opportunity to let my hair down and and do things and be goofy in a way that I might be with with close family and friends, but but sort of not in in public ministry kind of ways, I guess. And so this so this year and I don't dance, I don't it's not my thing, but but this year was prevailed upon by our junior high camp director, Riley Demo, to to actually get up at the very end of the talent show and
And and do a dance, I believe it's pronounced the Whip and Nene. And you know, I d I don't know. You would I mean I guess if you there's video of it, but y you would be surprised to learn it was my very first time dancing this dance. You would not be surprised at all. and it you know, just just to be just an absolute goofball. It it the kids went wild for it. and thank God they quickly got up and started dancing too, and it was it was a lot less painful and awkward for me. But
but you know it's I I will do that for the kids. And I and I think I think that's what's particularly special about about this kind of ministry is is that you get to
you you get pushed. You get pushed out of your comfort zone and into some places. and and you know, my hope is that that when you when you do that you are opening for for kids the opportunity to let their own little freak flags fly and and to be who God wants them to be. And and I and I even I even you know I I don't know that anything I've ever said in a reflection or a homily or a devotion at camp, you know, in twenty years no one's gonna remember any of that. But if they remember that
That we made them feel loved and that their chaplains were willing to do kind of goofy things. that that's that that's what'll stick with them as they continue their journeys in faith. So the probably the most yeah, that that that time at at Meg Eucharist when when the thunderstorm blew in was was pretty powerful, sort of the raw the rod majesty of creation kind of kind of punctuating kind of all all that we were doing and saying, it was was pretty powerful. I I also kind of have a couple.
Sort of flashes of images in my mind of the healing service that we've done with that with that junior high group over the years. You know, again, sometimes tensions get get kind of frayed, our nerves get kind of frayed, and and kids kind of really do need to be reassured that nonetheless God loves them. I've I've all I offer an opportunity to hear a confession or two during that time, and and and most years at least.
least one or two or three kids will come up and and mostly what they what they're concerned about really is not like a sin that's burdening them. It's it's something else. But you know, sometimes we'll we'll say the the confession right, the reconciliation right in the prayer book and sometimes just sort of listening and praying for the kiddo. and then and then I have I have sort of made it kind of a pe the centerpiece of that service that every kid gets a little slip of paper and they can write down something that is bothering them or burdening them or that
That's that's stressing them out or that they need to release, that you know, may well be a sin, may well be just something they're struggling with. and then we we set up on the little altar table a little icon of Jesus, the good shepherd with the sheep over his over his shoulders. And then they get to crumple up that little piece of paper and stick it there. And the idea is that you know they've they've given that up and over to to God, and it's not to bother them or burden them, or at least not as much anymore. And then you know, I'll collect I'll collect those up and then
Casey+ (46:25)
.
Andrew O'Connor (46:42)
at at a campfire, you know, we'll we'll toss them on the fire. You know, we never read them between them and God. and and then it goes up in smoke. And to me to me that's really powerful. I I've I've been moved to tears more more than once in in that time and and with those kids as they as they kind of wrestle with that piece of it and then and then you know know the know the relief that that comes from from that that kind of healing.
Karen Schlabach (47:04)
well, funny things I have such an abundance of. there was the year at ⁓ at the staff Eucharist when the camp cat kept trying to jump up onto the altar table and steal the communion wafers before we could get to the actual eucharistic portion of the service. And so we kept having to
Casey+ (47:10)
you
Karen Schlabach (47:29)
push the cat off the altar. that was entertaining. yeah. thi this year we thinking that they would not be very coveted items, we left the communion wafers in a in a plastic bin on the stage of Hutch Hall. And then we're lucky enough that we caught it when the raccoon tried to steal the entire
container, the entire gallon-sized container of communion wafers so that we could scare the raccoon into dropping the box and running away so that we had communion wafers for the week. so that happened.
Casey+ (48:04)
Mm-hmm.
Resonate Media (48:06)
Wow.
With all creatures of our God and King playing at the same time of the
Casey+ (48:10)
Haha
Karen Schlabach (48:10)
Yeah, right?
you know, so yeah, there's always funny things I think that that happen during worship services. And then the other part was the what what was the most meaningful or what was the most
Resonate Media (48:26)
What's the most moving worship service you've experienced at camp?
Karen Schlabach (48:30)
the most moving worship service.
I mean all of them
Casey+ (48:34)
Hmm.
Andrew O'Connor (48:37)
True.
Resonate Media (48:39)
I'm gonna hold your feet to the fire cairn. Take one.
Karen Schlabach (48:40)
Anytime any
anytime we're at highway, like I that Wednesday night Eucharist, like it always like we try to do parish photos right beforehand. We're trying to set up for worship. We're trying to get all the music equipment up there. We're worried about the weather. It's windy. It's blowing stuff away. It's the most hectic, chaotic thing to pull off and make happen.
Casey+ (48:46)
Mm.
Karen Schlabach (49:04)
But you get to the end of the service and you're just like, it was all a hundred percent worth it. It's always just so beautiful and impactful and moving and you just feel the spirit moving around amongst everybody when we have that Wednesday night full camp worship service. ⁓ every year it does things to me.
Casey+ (49:22)
Thank you.
Yep.
Resonate Media (49:28)
so true. This year like no, I was gonna say, this year like I I'm not a crier by any stretch of the imagination. And I had one of the Canterbury students be present and I've shared the story with at least one person
Casey+ (49:30)
I thought for- oh, sorry.
Resonate Media (49:48)
And
she had faithfully attended Canterbury every program since I had started as the campus minister at K State and she hadn't received ever she hadn't received Eucharist, the bread and wine. And out of the corner of my eye, I see her sitting off to the side and I I hold up the patent to her and I'm like, do you wanna receive?
And she gets up, tears in her eyes, and she says, I've forgotten how to do this I haven't received since I was thirteen. And that and she's now well into her twenties. So it's been almost a decade. And I was like, God doesn't care. God only cares that you're here. And I I showed her, you know, right over left hand.
Casey+ (50:22)
Hmm.
Resonate Media (50:38)
And she faithfully received. And like I just started crying 'cause I'm like, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. which was like a resounding thing that we did in junior high this year. But that was like I I've been to camp now three times and that was the one that like had me choked up. 'cause it was like, you know, the Holy Spirit stopped washing her hair.
Andrew O'Connor (50:44)
All the time.
Casey+ (50:45)
Mwah.
Mm.
Resonate Media (51:04)
For a moment and you know, started styling it and just was like, BAM, like in your face. Let's go.
Casey+ (51:05)
Thank you.
That reminds me of,
Karen Schlabach (51:11)
What were you gonna say, Casey?
Casey+ (51:13)
well, I'm not going to say what I was going to say, but I'm going to say something new. That one of the most impactful things for me about being a camp chaplain, and it was a surprise to me my first year, because I came in thinking, okay, I get to minister to and with all of these kids, but
We also have a staff, some of whom are college kids, right? They sort of range in age. And for me, some of the most moving moments of camp are those conversations with these young adults primarily, but not just who are trying to figure things out.
who are...
facing major challenges themselves and trying to do so with adult eyes who are maybe even discerning a call to ministry. Anyway, it's such a rich environment for the young adults who come and serve as counselors, for them to be moved and shaped and changed by the experience and by God's embrace of love.
So I just, wanted to be sure to share that. So that also is a real benefit of being a camp chaplain is working with the staff.
Andrew O'Connor (52:31)
I yeah, if I may if I may tack on to what Casey was saying there, one one of the things that I have also loved across the the many years I've been doing this is seeing that that leadership development. And I know I know Karen has has designed this, you know, in in no small part to be that for our college age and our young adult folks and even our older, more mature adult folks. and and and that that's that's almost the secret sauce of the whole thing, right? Is is that opportunity.
For folks to sort of sort of test out their leadership skills, take on a new role. There are a number of folks who in our diocese and now serving across the church who probably can easily point back to camp as being a part of, if not a major part of, their formation for ordained ministry. But it's also true for the folks who have vital lay ministries. And just as much as we may be cranking out the occasional new priests.
or new deacon from from that experience, we're also cranking out folks who will serve on a vestry and and take roles of leadership in their parish and folks who will put their faith into action out out in the out in the world because of because of what they learned at camp and and throughout our diocese in youth ministry and I and I just it i I'm I'm more and more and more convinced that this is this is really really why we do it and and that it is it's just the lifeblood of of who we are in our diocese at least.
Casey+ (53:46)
Hehehe
Andrew O'Connor (53:50)
so I I I I just I just have to say thank you to Karen for for for doing that all these years and making that that happen.
Resonate Media (53:58)
And we all collectively applause for Karen Schleibach.
Karen Schlabach (53:59)
Can we all collectively have their camp?
It is really special, like getting like I've been in my job for thirteen years and so kids can go to camp for ten years. And so like we are really seeing some of the kids that like were elementary campers my first years that are now coming back and being on camp staff and it's really cool.
Resonate Media (54:19)
Hey, I was a camp convert. I never attended Mega Camp and I was not team camp, but now I'm like camp evangelist. Everyone needs to go to camp because Karen really pours her heart and soul into making this such a good experience, not just for the campers, but for the adults too. so Karen, thank you for sharing your gift. with so many. It's it's so needed.
So needed. so with that being said, with all of our guests, we do a mini rapid fire. I hope this doesn't bring too much angst. But it's it's a quick little question. So it's one, two, three, four, five, six questions. And
The order that we are going to go in is Karen, Casey, then Andrew. Because Andrew has yet to go last. Okay, so and you'll all respond to the first question. high church or low church?
Casey+ (55:07)
You
Karen Schlabach (55:18)
Low church.
Casey+ (55:19)
Broadchurch!
Resonate Media (55:20)
Not an option!
Andrew O'Connor (55:23)
High
church.
Casey+ (55:24)
Hi church.
Resonate Media (55:25)
Favorite part of the liturgy.
Casey+ (55:27)
You
Karen Schlabach (55:30)
The dismissal.
Casey+ (55:31)
The Administration of Communion.
Resonate Media (55:33)
Distribution of the of communion. Got it.
Andrew O'Connor (55:36)
Distri yeah, distribution of communion.
Resonate Media (55:38)
Scripture, reason, or tradition. Pick one. I'm looking at you folks. One.
Karen Schlabach (55:44)
Reason.
Reason. I pick reason.
Casey+ (55:46)
Scripture.
Andrew O'Connor (55:47)
Tradition
Casey+ (55:48)
That's why we're a team.
Resonate Media (55:49)
Vestment color
you vibe with most. Vestment color you vibe with most.
Karen Schlabach (55:54)
Rainbow.
Resonate Media (55:54)
How camp directory of you, camp chaplain of e of you.
Casey+ (55:58)
Yeah.
The long green season of discipleship.
screen.
Resonate Media (56:03)
Casey, one more time. What's what's the vibe? Green. Okay.
Casey+ (56:08)
Green
for the long green season of discipleship.
Andrew O'Connor (56:11)
I'm I'm gonna go green also, but not that gross pea green that you see. I I like that nice dark green, forest green, green.
Resonate Media (56:18)
okay. We'll allow it. Easter vigil or Christmas Eve?
Karen Schlabach (56:23)
Christmas Eve.
Casey+ (56:24)
Easter Vigil!
Andrew O'Connor (56:25)
Yeah, Easter Vigil. Easter vigil.
Resonate Media (56:28)
Church Potluck must have
Karen Schlabach (56:30)
I even knew the questions ahead of time. ⁓
Resonate Media (56:32)
I was gonna say you've only
recorded half a s like half a season of this.
Karen Schlabach (56:36)
Church potluck must have when I what so I I'm sorry, this is not rapid fire, but when I was a kid, we were Mennonites and we had a church potluck every month. And there was one family that would bring these like sausages in a crock pot that were like obviously homemade sausages and they were so good. And there was another family that brought some also, but theirs were like slightly different color and they were not as good. Like you had to like recognize
Which sausages to get the good sausages. Like that's my those I don't know what they are. I was s such a young person at the time. No clue. But those church sausages were good.
Resonate Media (57:17)
Hehehe
Casey+ (57:18)
Wow, wow, was, that was, that gave me some time and I'm no closer to an answer.
Macaroni and cheese.
Andrew O'Connor (57:24)
Yeah.
Man, I am somewhere stuck between deviled eggs and like cheesy potatoes. Good Yeah.
Casey+ (57:30)
Mmm. cheesy potatoes.
Resonate Media (57:31)
Okay, well
yeah.
Karen Schlabach (57:35)
G excellent answers.
Resonate Media (57:36)
Yeah. In in fact I think for the last three, four episodes, we've all had some form of deviled egg potato type of dish, be mentioned. So I guess that's that's really a thing with folks. Well, thank you so much for joining the pod squad. s like
Summer Chaplin edition. but more importantly, thank thank you for your yes to your call. having seen all three of you at camp, exercise your ministry, it's it's a beautiful witness to what God is doing and how you show up for these young people. and for that I give thanks.
And so Karen, I'm gonna toss it over y to you so you can do the dismissal.
Your favorite thing?
Karen Schlabach (58:24)
my favorite thing. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Casey+ (58:28)
Thanks be to God!
Andrew O'Connor (58:28)
Thanks be to God.
Resonate Media (58:28)
Thanks, we to go.
Hey, we got it twice over. All right, thanks folks.
Andrew O'Connor (58:35)
Thank you.
Casey+ (58:36)
Thanks for the invitation. Bye.