I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.

John 8:12


Bazile Creek is considered the “Mother Church of the Dakota Assocation.

Dakota Association Events & Gatherings in July 2012

 

National Youth Event from Fort Berthold Council of Congregational Churches & Dakota Association


BREAKFAST AT 7:00 A.M.
Sleepy as we were, everyone was showered, dressed and ready. We gathered in the same area to eat and talk about our day. Some went to morning exercises and meditation, a plenary and a workshop.

LUNCH AT HIGH NOON.
What? No nap? Workshops and a run through the fountains, gift shop, exhibit hall, book labyrinth, Then, Friday afternoon was an extravaganza of cultural exchange, music and dancing. Watch out for the jingle dress and fancy shawl dancing. Was that Louie leading a round dance?

DINNER AT 5 AND WORSHIP AT 7
Each evening, youth led the worship and offered the sermon/reflection. A lot of interactive participation and movement kept us busy and listening. Hey! There's Vicky Crows Breast leading a rhythm section. Oops. No camera.

Nightly Meetings: DA and FBCCC kids were there most nights. "Rosemary's Room" FBCCC Workshop
Reading from Juanita's Imagine... Life on the Rez &
Learning Lakota

Here's our peeps

PLANNING AND GETTING THERE
From March 19, 2012 to July 10, with the help of many people including Marlene Helgemo, Juanita Helphrey, Winifred Boub, Adrian Maxey and Rosemary McCombs Maxey (all old timers in youth ministry and national events) did tireless work to see that the youth of the Council for American Indian Ministry had representation at the National Youth Event. Waltrina Middleton, the staff director of the event, her staff, our conference ministers, partner churches and conferences, and Local Church Ministries staff and Justice and Witness staff saw to it we had our regi s t rat ion fees and transportation covered.

ALL TOGETHER WE WERE 10 FROM FORT BERTHOLD AND 5 FROM DAKOTA ASSOCIATION, PLUS 2 IN THE "AT LARGE" CATEGORY OF CAIM.

Lakota Youth teaching Chicago singers to sing "Jesu el u." Pastor Elise Packineau


From our various homes we were able to gather at Purdue University, some in time for dinner and some not. We all had difficulty registering and getting the right keys to our rooms, in the right doors, and all those things one expects when one travels into unknown territory. The girls were housed together and the boys near each other with chaperones nearby. Techno- Indians that we are, the young people had each other's numbers in no time. Brittni Badger, Louie Blue Coat and Adrian Maxey seem to know where they were in no time. The FBCCC girls were across the hall and around the corner from Rosemary and she got to meet each one. Minnie and Sharyden helped her set up for evening meetings. The DA girls were near Brittni and they bonded over work they were doing for Friday night Worship. The young guys were visible at meal time and available when we needed to see them, but each was on their own track.

YOUTH ARE NOT THE FUTURE. THEY ARE NOW.
For those who sent their young people, thank you. You sent wonderful representations of your communities. You can be proud of them and their spirit of cooperation and friendliness. It was a joy to see them interacting with others outside the CAIM group and with one another. May God bless them.

Photos of NYE & CAIM Youth

8:30 A.M. Some youth followed Adrian Maxey to Kung Fu. Some sat with Louie Blue Coat and Rosemary Maxey in the shade. At the Friday Afternoon Extravaganza, Louie showed them how to Round Dance.
Lonna Andrews, Carlencia Bobtail Bear and Brittni Badger make us proud!
 

NYE & CAIM Closing Worship

Adrian Maxey & Brittni Badger prepared and rehearsed the youth for closing worship at NYE. Lonna Andrews of Ponca Creek UCC and Carlencia Bobtail Bear of Green Grass UCC participated with Adrian of Christ Congregation UCC in Princeton, NJ and Brittni Badger of First Congregational UCC in Pierre. Dakota Association Youth, Spirit of Peace Youth of Sioux Falls, and the Chicago
Portable Document Format (PDF) version of 2012 Youth Event

 

Prior Events:

The kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17:21