CLAY 2010

Post Gathering Downloads

Allan — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:59:27 +0000

Drama Troupe Skit
Have you brought the message from Hands On home yet? Have you shared what we learned about and experienced with your congregation, family, and friends? The Hands On Large Group Gathering drama team would like to share a script we used in the Saturday evening session. It is called “Perfect Woman” and was written by one of our team members, Martine Teetaert. So please take the script and use it. Perform it as written, sing it, or make it into a video and post it online. But use it to spread the message you heard in London this summer. God Bless.

Click To Download: Perfect Woman Script

Click To Download: Body Prayers Script

Click To Download: MIrror Script

Clay-Nation Final Report

Allan — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:42:06 +0000

My lofty goal in London was to write a daily blog during CLAY, however the 20 hour workdays for NPC members on Thursday, Friday and Saturday left no time for quasi-journalism. This Clay-Nation Report will attempt to tie up loose ends.
Father Bill Cliff delivered and then some as keynote speaker at Large Group Gatherings and through his forum offering, “Bull with Bill.” When observing Father Bill in action speaking to a group of 1000 youth, it was apparent his sincerity and credibility like cream rose to the top. This would explain why youth raced to get good seats as soon as the doors to the LGG sessions were opened. Youth will likely remember for a long time Father Bill’s definition of grace and mercy and “when enough is enough.”
Another Forum event youth could attend Friday afternoon was “Jam With The Band.” Members of the CLAY band drew a crowd of 200 youth for an up close and personal discussion with the band. Brian Rude, a Lutheran missionary in El Salvador for over two decades lead a forum titled Vitality in El Salvador. Forums proved to be popular with youth and had something for every palate.
Youth and Home Team Leaders were divided into two groups for an excursion on successive afternoons at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Even went the first day and oddly enough I was lumped in with the odd. Participants on Friday enjoyed near-perfect weather while those who attended Saturday afternoon (including the blogger) had an old fashioned bbq in the rain. The rain also washed out plans for youth to walk as a group to attend a service Saturday evening in Victoria Park. The solution was to have the LGG evening session run longer and for Late Night Spots to begin earlier and run from 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
The Hands On Drama Team of Martine Teetaert, Peter Reinhardt, Caroline Wintoniw and Kristian Jordan proved to be a crowd favorite under the direction of Whitehorse drama-alumnus Andraea Sartison. The drama team retold the story of the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son as a prequel to Father Bill’s biblical message. The antics of Kyrie George portrayed by Peter Reinhardt as a youngster with more questions than any parent could be reasonably expected to provide answers to were memorable.
Late Night Spots in the Hilton Hotel advertised Saturday night as “Battle of the Bishops.” Four Bishops joined forces to sing, the Helen Reddy classic, “I am Woman” to a delighted crowd of 250 youth and adults.
A popular Sunday morning activity outside the Convention Centre saw youth create a mosaic comprised of broken dish pieces on 12 inch by 12 inch plywood boards inset into mortar.
The partnership between the Lutheran and Anglican churches was deftly reinforced when the head of both churches answered the statement, “So You Think You Can Dance!” The final Large Group Gathering on Sunday included the announcement that Saskatoon will host CLAY on the 3rd weekend in August 2012.
As in Whitehorse, the blogger received a loud chorus of boos for proudly sharing his fashion passion for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Good thing he isn’t sensitive!
Come to Saskatoon in 2012…the table will be set.!

Photo: Ella Dojack, winner of the early-bird registration package for CLAY 2024 is congratulated by CLAY 2010 Chair Christie Morrow

General

Allan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:41:37 +0000

Click here to look at the photos individually

Day 3 – Aug 21

Allan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:37:31 +0000

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Click here to look at the photos individually

Day 2 – Aug 20

Allan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:31:11 +0000

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Day 1 – Aug 19

Allan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:26:15 +0000

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Getting Ready

Allan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:50:27 +0000

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Aug 19, 2010 – DAY 1!

Allan — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:15:07 +0000

The first full day of CLAY 2010 is in the archives. Thursday began with Home Team Leaders registering in the morning. Judy Steers and her enthusiastic group of Ask and Imagineers led youth in welcome activities during the afternoon. Kudos to the A&I youth for sharing their gifts of music, dance and laughter. Wherever you looked throughout the Convention Centre, HTL’s and youth claimed squatting rights and held impromptu card games and fellowshipped in different ways.
At 4:00 p.m. youth flocked to Grand Ballroom 1 and 2 in the Convention Centre for the highly-anticipated Large Group Gathering kick-off. For close to two hours youth were treated to drama, interactive music from the band, video clips, puppetry, a tag team message from Bishop of Huron Bob Bennett and ELCIC Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse. Let’s not forget the straw who will stir the drink for four days as keynote speaker, Father Bill Cliff. He encouraged “shout outs” from the youth and they didn’t disappoint. The technical crew made sure it all unfolded as planned. It was a terrific start to CLAY 2010.
Following LGG #1 the Convention Centre banquet team did what they do best…feeding the multitudes. Lasagne, caeser salad, breadsticks and dessert provided sustenance for what would be a long evening for the Clay-Nation. At 7:00 p.m. Doug Sole brought his high-energy ensemble of gifted musicians to lead a mega-interactive session of music that reinforced values. Doug undeniably dances to the beat of a different drummer! Plastic “boomwhackers” were distributed to every person and all in attendance would unanimously agree that they went to a youth gathering and a symphony broke out. Doug invited six Bishops to join him on-stage. CLAY is the perfect opportunity for Bishops to show youth they are human, approachable and put their Alb on one leg at a time.
Following the presentation by Soul Drums youth had two hours to take in the dance, relax at the Quiet Zone or compete in different arcade games in the Clayground. The Quiet Zone sounds boring on paper but it is a popular locale to spend time doing puzzles, playing board games, drawing or just having a normal table conversation. Next up was the Midnight Worship (9:00 p.m. Pacifc Time) at St. Paul`s Cathedral. Youth and HTL`s returned to their hotel rooms around 1:00 a.m.
For NPC members 2:00 a.m. couldn’t come soon enough as they too retired for the night and looked forward to four hours sleep before their next meeting at 7:00 a.m. They could be forgiven for humming an MC Hammer song, you`ve got to pray….just to make it through CLAY`.

Post by Saskatchewan Representative to the NPC, Darrell Utley

Judy Steers and some of the Ask and Imagine youth group

The Jammin’ Bishops
(Left to Right) Fred Hiltz, Cindy Halmarson, Michael Pryse, Greg Mohr, Sue Moxley and Don Phillips

August 18, 2010

Allan — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:14:14 +0000

Twas the day before CLAY and all through the house, not a Home Team Leader was stirring…. not even their spouse. Wednesday started with a 9:30 a.m. NPC meeting to go over the day’s schedule and to confirm our assignments over the next four days. As much as schedules are vital we know that all NPC’ers must be ready to pitch in wherever and whenever we are needed. Besides being fashion trendsetters the NPC team must have good footwear because come tomorrow we will put in our first 18 hour day and the dogs will be barking for relief.
As a group we walked through all venues in the Convention Centre and Hilton London that will soon welcome youth and Home Team Leaders galore. Karen Triomphe will lead Home Team leader meetings in the LCC theatre. Karen has extensive experience as a member of the NPC and PCYM, as in Program Committee for Youth Ministry. Karen`s role is to provide information and answer questions from Home Team Leaders. HTL`s in turn spread the word to youth through the ever effective trickle-down effect.
The vision of Jordan Smith and his team was evident in the Large Group Gathering space. The music, drama, keynote presentations and special remarks by Bishops will leave an indelible mark on all those in attendance. The contracted technical crew and LCC in-house staff were busy running wiring, rigging, positioning lighting-sound equipment-giant projection screens and staging. To divulge anymore would violate my signed confidentiality agreement and make me a shoo-in for the RCMP Witness Protection Program. Leading a nomadic life with a new identity in a different province isn’t for me.
The biggest NPC task of all may fall to Kristel Mann, the CLAY 2010 Registrar. Kristel resides in Winnipeg and has earned the respect of all on the NPC for her dedication and organizational skills. It was Kristel who received every Home Team registration package and painstakingly entered all pertinent information to ensure accuracy. Kristel had to connect with Home Teams if some registration information was not sent in or incorrectly filled out. Kristel will be front and center when Home Teams register and pick up their swag on Thursday. Thanks Kristel for the many hours you put in over the last two years as Registrar. Kristel is quick to point out she learned and had help from the best… her Mom, a former Registrar at CLYG. A hard work ethic is hereditary… like mother, like daughter.
The NPC gathering office was a beehive of activity all afternoon and into the evening as final preparations were being made to primp the registration area. Youth and Home Team Leaders will soon arrive with a host of questions, most of which can be answered in the Gathering Book that gets handed out in the bag of swag. It will become your new best friend until Sunday.

Post by Saskatchewan Representative to the NPC, Darrell Utley

Photo: Kristel Mann NPC 2010 Registrar

August 17, 2010

Allan — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:13:22 +0000

At 9:00 a.m. the National Planning Committee reconvened for another lap of verbal updates to share late-breaking news related to Hands On. One of the questions heard throughout the morning was , “hey can somebody help me with…? We all pitched in where needed. Some NPC’ers were asked to take an oath of secrecy before being ushered into the loading dock area to assist with prop prep. This was classified “eyes only” clandestine work and to divulge anything further would jeopardize the moral fabric of democracy as we know it today.
The NPC broke into small groups after lunch to firm up more planning details and to attend meetings with Hilton and London Convention Centre staff. The synergy (no relation to sin-ergy) continues to build and the sheer reality of the gathering coming to fruition is sinking in.
Aristotle once claimed that, “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.” At large-scale national events like the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth gathering, some of its parts are volunteers, without them it would be be impossible to host a multitude of youth, Home Team Leaders and clergy from across Canada for four days at different London venues.
Linda Grainger is the Local Committee Chair, a native of London and member of the National Planning Committee. Linda has mobilized an army of volunteers (Grainger’s Rangers) to assist with security, transportation and the all-encompassing “and other duties as assigned.” Linda and her team have scheduled volunteers to work shifts at numerous posts through the gathering. Linda is up front with the compensation expectations of potential volunteers, “let me put it this way…volunteers pay 0% income tax and you’ll never get asked to take a pay cut.”
At 6:00 p.m. enthusiastic youth members from SOC (Stewards of Creation) were busy bagging “swag” as part of a finely tuned assembly line. The youth traveled from London, Exeter, Centralia, Zurich and Milverton to volunteer a few hours and helped make short work of a repetitious task. Working side by side with NPC members, Local Committee members and conscripted family members… the youth rolled up their sleeves and filled swag bags that will be distributed to every Home Team in less than 48 hours upon registration.
Starting Wednesday, Home Teams will begin to arrive and check into their hotels. They will have a day to do some advance scouting of the downtown London area. The Clay-Nation will deliver an economic boost to the local economy and from my experience with local restaurants and merchants, the hospitality will be second to none.

Post by Saskatchewan Representative to the NPC, Darrell Utley

Photo: Crew from Soc putting together “swag bags”