Photos from NYE |
KNOXVILLE, TN (07/28/2008) -- Over 3,000 young people, group leaders, and presenters have brought their passion for the world and their hope for the future to the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville for the United Church of Christ's National Youth Event. The event, which ends today, is held every four years.
The UCC posted a three minute video over the weekend to its YouTube channel (see the video below), emphasizing the exuberance of the event and also the real commitment youth bring to their faith and the work of following Christ.
The participants also received a stark reminder of the world's harshness, as a Knoxville Unitarian Universalist congregation suffered an attack by a gunman on July 27. Two people died in the shooting. As NYE closed its worship on Sunday night, they prayed this prayer written by Megan Diesselhorst of Little River UCC in Annandale, VA:
O God of Peace and Love,
You have been with us on this journey of growth, discovery, and reflection. We are amazed at the signs that you have given to us to show us the way to a better life of love, creation, and harmony. We confess that we all have faults, differences, and doubts. As your children we ask for your forgiveness and guidance to heal our brokenness. We are entering into a period of mourning for the victims of the shootings this morning at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. We ask for your comfort and the strength of your love for the victims, the shooter, and their loved ones. As a generation that has been confronted by 9/11, the shootings at others schools and colleges, as well as war, we trust in your power and wisdom to lead us to create a world of peace and wholeness. We leave here inspired, and ready to love. In your name we pray. Amen.
