Dear Saint Michael’s All Angels and all I’ve met and yet to meet in the surrounding community,

Hello from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania! The past week and a half have been a whirlwind of returning to my life as a college student and leadership educator, including moving back onto campus, saying goodbye to family and friends, and saying hello to my nine-to-five once more. In the time I’ve had to myself I can’t help but reflect on the experience I had at Saint Michael’s this summer. My first days in the office and as a lector, meeting plenty of friendly faces and being introduced into the Saint Michael’s family, as well as my last day serving with the youth in Lincoln City. I set out to do a lot with this internship. Personally, I set out to make lasting connections to those of all ages in a completely new environment to me, expand my worldview, and say yes to everything I could. In the internship, I set out to be a pair of hands on almost every task that came my way. While some have not yet come to fruition (such as a helpful tutorial video for the online donations… sorry about that), many did, some things I couldn’t have managed to imagine were possible.

The first “impossible” was Pride. Spending time with each person on the team, helping to set it up and create new ideas, down to marching alongside all of you. The churches I was raised in would never have prioritized making someone like me feel safe by marching in front of thousands of people, would never have passed out beads or blessings. Seeing the overwhelming joy of those in our little family and those of the surrounding Portland community as they realize there is a place for them at Saint Michael’s is one I hope to carry with me as I continue to explore different parishes and ideas over the rest of my life.

The second was the Bend retreat hosted by Susie Strommer and led by Scott+, Ruby, Lenia, and myself. Spending time with the youth team to schedule different activities and get to know you games, food and snack shop, plan out car rides, and pick out donuts really only scratches the surface of the work that each leader spent on the retreat. Every single thing was done with an overwhelming amount of love and genuineness, from both leaders and kids alike. I work with kids for a living, and I don’t think I’ve met a kinder or more reflective group of youth than I did here at Saint Michael’s, and that only flourished on the Bend trip.

To the youth I got to spend even a minute getting to know, whether that was in the car ride, on the river, or over Bananagrams: you are all so incredibly unique- in your interests, personalities, and thoughts. Seeing you learn to accommodate one another and grow in your love for each other and your communities is something I hope that people my age can learn from. Leaders can take a lot of credit for retreats like Bend, but we cannot take any credit for what you brought to the table. Your energy, your kindness, your Duran Duran.

The third and “final” of many subverted expectations was the Hope and Fire Retreat, hosted by Chris Craun+ and supported by myself. After struggling with transportation and minivans, we took some of the youth from the Bend retreat to Saint James/Santiago Church in Lincoln City, meeting with two youth from other parishes upon arrival. It was an absolute pleasure to fill our free time with connections. Connections to another parish, to our youth and others, to Chris Craun+, who I had met only once previously. It seemed, that for the youth, 24 hours on a trip shortly before school started back up allowed for a sort of sense of urgency in connecting and reflecting, with leaders and across county lines. There was no question of exclusion, only welcoming. When the youth learned they would impact the service, they welcomed the opportunity to write out the prayers of the people, practice reading, and contribute to Sunday’s sermon. Just as I accidentally (but in retrospect, thankfully), welcomed the opportunity to preach it.

You may notice that this letter has always circled back to a theme of love, genuineness, and welcoming. At pride, on the retreats, in the day to day. My sermon covered the same theme. Love is what unites all of us, and is able to connect us. It is with love -for the youth, for the leaders, for the many, many faces I met in Portland this summer- that this letter comes to you. It is with love that I was welcomed, and it is with love that I departed. I am astounded by the way you welcomed a college student from the East Coast who’s only prior church experience included LED screens and electric guitars with open arms, questions, and kindness. Continue to develop your love and kindness, and thank you for everything: this internship and the community it gave me this summer.

Sincerely,

Chloe

(Former) Saint Michael’s Summer Intern