Yukon Island Youth Retreat
Each summer, members of our Youth Group travel to Yukon Island, a trip of about 200 road miles south of Anchorage to Homer and then about another six miles by boat across Kachemak Bay, for a weekend full of excitement, spiritual discovery, and natural beauty.
Youth visiting Yukon Island have taken turns leading worship, including Morning Prayer and evening Compline; and built sacred spaces such as a labyrinth on the beach, which provided a prayerful space from which to see the world in new ways.
In previous years they have also constructed a Sanctuary and an Altar for the celebration of the Eucharist, reminding us all that the Liturgy of the Word could be heard by the work of their hands and within the earth.
In each of these moments, the youth revered and enhanced the sacredness of the experiences. Sometimes they enabled solitude and reflection. Other times they encouraged engagement and affirmation. But in all moments, the youth demonstrated their leadership in beautiful and powerful ways.
Gretchen Bersch and her sister, Melissa, have opened their home to these youth retreats for years, preparing meals, sharing the history of Yukon Island, and enabling everyone to savor their time on this pilgrimage. They give us much to be grateful for.
