OPC Family Camp ‘08

A Delight to the Ears

By Daniel VanDyke

The Presbytery of Michigan and Ontario has now held its 13^th annual Family Camp, a tradition which began in 1995 at Camp Brook Cherith and in 1998 moved to Camp Concordia in Gowen Mi. There have been many interesting sights seen and memories made during these historic weeks—sights ranging from strange pirates wandering through the camp, to young children racing to collect plastic snakes and bugs in the grass, to pastors and elders being hurled aloft only to come crashing down into the lake (while fully clothed and in the most undignified of manners of course). Waterballoons have sailed through the afternoon sunshine, elegant chalk work and paintings are made fresh every year, and every day wonderful smells drift out from the kitchen from the food diligently prepared by the church members inside.

Yet I personally believe that Family Camp is best experienced by the sound one hears throughout those weeks. Camp is never quiet, never still. There is always that noise, that resonance hanging in the air. Dozens of bicycle wheels constantly whiz by with the calling of the camp kids, and further out there is the deeper roar of a motor boat or see-doo hauling tubes across the lake. Meanwhile the younger children play and swim near the beach or slip n’ slide while being watched over by the parents on the banks above, who talk and laugh together as well. Boys (and the occasional adventurous girl) shout as the battle to be king of the swimming dock continues day after day and then the daily excited hubbub grows as the candy shop opens precisely at 2:00 to a crowd of boys and girls. Crossing the air as well are the occasional cheers and calls of the youth diving after a volleyball or Frisbee in the field—under clear skies or pouring rain regardless.

During lunchtimes skillets around camp sizzle as food is made and at night those same campfires are alive with the talk and laughter of campers, sitting around the red glow of the campfire with smores and candy and blankets. The snap and hiss of the campfires and the talk, and even occasional singing, can go on long into the night. Family camp is never silent and it even has an echoing roar to it, mostly during dinners beneath the circus tent near the lodge. Yet, as it has been remarked, “It’s a happy roar.”

There are times when camp is quieter though. This year Rev. Kevin DeYoung presented daily morning lectures for the teens and adults regarding “God’s Will for our Lives.” There was laughter and discussion during these presentations, but more importantly God’s Word and His wisdom was faithfully presented and received during that time. With so many other places to be and sounds to hear, Family Camp has always been a special blessing, presenting members of the church with the time, quiet, and fellowship to truly listen to a message and collectively take it in.

As a former regular of Harvest OPC and a current member of Cedar OPC I, with my family, have been to every one of these Family Camps and the impact and fellowship created and nourished during those weeks has been wonderful. There is nothing quite like spending a full week with one’s brothers and sisters in the Church, hearing not only the laughter and happy shouting of church members, or the heavenly echo of the hymn sing over the lake—but the crickets in the grass, and the owls at night, and the jumps of the fish on the lake…. To be in God’s Creation and nature and to be in fellowship with the body of Christ is sublime blessing from our Lord and I and many others hope and pray that, Lord willing, OPC Family Camp will continue for many years to come. (Psalm 5:11)

The author is a member of Cedar Presbyterian Church and attends Alma College in central Michigan..