St. Michael’s Homebush 2014 Parish Camp – “Walking With Christ”

From Friday 14th February to Sunday 16th February 2014, St. Michael's Serbian Orthodox Church held its 2014 parish camp in a beautiful bushland location at a campsite in Galston Gorge. Approximately 40 adults and children attended the camp and participated in a variety of spiritual, educational and recreational activities.The theme of the camp was "Walking With Christ".

Fr. John Vesic and Dn. Christopher Henderson served Vespers and Divine Liturgy each day in the spacious Valleyview conference room. Four church services were held over the course of the weekend.

Educational activities occurred each morning. On Saturday, Fr. John Vesic led two Bible Study sessions based on the early chapters of St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. On Sunday, Presbytera Helen Vesic provided guidance in the chanting of Holy Scripture and then led a valuable discussion about appropriatebehaviour in church. In parallel sessions, held in the smaller Ridgeside meeting room, Natalie Vesic showedthe youth how to make prayer ropes, using small beads, crosses and other materials.

Recreational activities were held in the afternoons. Indoor hockey and indoor rock climbing were supervised by staff in the gymnasium, but table tennis, basketball and swimming were also available. Other campers participated in a relaxing discussion in the comfortable lounge area attached to the dining hall. On Saturday night, several parishioners demonstrated their instrumental, vocal and comedic abilities at the Parish Talent Night.

Camp co-ordinator, Marija Dojcinovic, deserves a special mention for making the Parish Camp such a great success. Thanks should also be extended to the hardworking staff and to the many parishioners who helped to serve the meals. We look forward to the next Parish Camp in 2015!

St. Michael's Homebush is an inclusive, multi-ethnic Orthodox parish within the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand. All services, music, sermons and church school classes are conducted in English. The parish and its activities are overseen by (Father) John Vesic and his wife (Presbytera) Helen Vesic, both of whom are graduates from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

Report written by Ian Michie – Education Coordiantor at St. Michael's Serbian Orthodox Church Homebush

Source: Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand