Doing mission at “Camp Hope” – Moravian Church In America

No one is too young to do mission, especially as part of a team. That is what campers will be learning and living at the Eastern District’s outdoor ministry site, Hope Conference & Renewal Center, this summer.

Campers will be helping to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, and participate in other ministry projects while at camp, as part of this year’s camp theme, coMISSION, or “doing mission together.”

The theme was introduced at the 2018 Camp Season Kick-Off Dinner on Sunday, February 9, at East Hills Moravian Church. The evening featured a ham and fixin’s dinner, camp songs and music led by a live band of distinguished musicians, a photo booth, and a silent auction. In addition, participants could purchase camp gear, items from the Hope Quilters, and Avon products, with all proceeds going to “Camp Hope.” Around 100 people enjoyed the event.

Each camp this summer will be practicing coMISSION in different ways, with each camp doing several mission projects. All campers are being asked to bring three items of their own outgrown clothing when they come to camp. The clothing will go to Mountainview Moravian Church in Hellertown, Pa., for its  August distribution to children and families who need assistance.

Each camp will also help to feed the hungry with a session of packing high-nutrition meals into sealed bags. The resulting food could be shared with congregations for their own local food pantries, or sent to Puerto Rico to help with continued food shortages there. The camps hope to pack and distribute 40,000 meals this summer.

Some camps will be preparing and delivering meals to some camp neighbors who are ill, making items to be taken to a local assisted living facility, and creating Blessing Bags to be distributed. Campers are also available to help with congregational mission projects that need items created or assembled.

This year’s Musical Theater Camp will produce and perform an original musical, ACTS!

Written by the camp’s dean, Sarah Hriniak, and featuring music written and arranged by a number of contemporary Moravian musicians, the play begins with Easter and follows the adventures of the disciples through the Book of Acts. World premiere performances will be on Friday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. Performances will take place on the lawn of Hassler Hall and are open to the public. Bring your own lawn chairs or blanket, sunscreen and bug spray.

Hope Conference Center now offers online registration, making it possible for campers and parents to register, fill out documents, and pay with a credit card, all online. Go to the “youth camps” or “specialty camps and retreats” pages at camphope.org, and click on the “Register Here” button. Volunteer staff can also apply and fill out documents online by going to the “volunteers” page of the camp website.

Center Director Susan Dreydoppel, Caretaker Harry Howard, and the summer staff members welcome campers and staff to coMISSION at “Camp Hope” this summer. For more information, contact the camp at (908) 459-4435, [email protected], or camphope.org.

Susan M. Dreydoppel has been the Director of Hope Conference & Renewal Center since 2017, and has worked there since 2011. She is a member of Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, Pa. Photos courtesy of Hope Center.