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The First ICUU Summer Camp in Germany: A Success!

About 20 of us, coming from countries all over Europe, enjoyed ourselves immensely at the week long summer retreat held by ICUU at the German Unitarian Center in Klingberg this August. The Unitarian Center is a beautiful and spacious place, located near the woods, and by the sea in the Northern part of Germany not far from Lubeck.

Rare have been the occasions when I have witnessed such a friendly atmosphere, where it was clear that all - children and adults - were delighted to be where they were, and doing what they did. Manfred and Antje Paul together with Gevene and John Hertz are to be thanked for having made this wonderful summer camp possible. Astonishingly, with Gevene and Antje's help, we even made our own weekly program. Everyone participated and contributed in some way.

For worship, we all took turns leading the daily opening and closing services. Despite a busy schedule, Martha and John Hicks came and blessed us with their presence, music for the services and their good humor. And Cornelia showed us that we could have a closing service without saying a word.

To keep fit in spirit and body, Wiebke taught us Chi Gong and dances from countries around the world. Michelle helped us build our own personal theology in a series o  work shops spread throughout the week. Many of us came away with the satisfaction of having at last tackled our life long homework that we had been putting off for so many years. During these sessions, we were able to develop a framework for building our own theologies more meaningfully.

Bernard, Juergen, Steve, Elke and Torben kept us alert with their incisive and penetrating comments throughout the discussions. Celie showed us how to understand and accept our dreams individually and even as a group. John Hertz linked faith to science sparking lively discussion and much thought. The three children - Hailey, Sarah and Samuel were a delight and even taught us a song in canon form.

John Eichrodt and Manfred facilitated exploration into the pitfalls, coping strategies, and advantages of retirement. (See Manfred's contribution elsewhere) And we spent a whole morning with Mary Daly's Beyond God the Father revisiting the peregrinations of feminist theology since Mary Daly wrote her book 25 years ago.

And then of course, there was music, guitar, flutes, recorders, songs and the afternoon walks, visits, and swimming in the lake and sea nearby. All of these helped to set the tone for the kind of true fellowship that can only grow in such a wonderful place with enough quality time to share well.

This was the first such summer camp, and we all warmly invite you - Children, families, and adults - to our next summer camp which will be held  again in August 2006 (Aug14 - 20) at the Unitarian Center in Klingberg, Germany.

Also, you may wish to note that you can now individually become a friend of ICUU (write to Antje at: mja.paul@t-online.de) and attend the ICUU Congress in Barcelona in November commemorating its 10th anniversary.  

In faith,

John Eichrodt