Lost and Found, the Virginia Synod youth event for 7th and 8th graders was held November 20-21 hosted virtually across Zoom throughout the weekend. This year nearly 50 youth and adult participants gathered in their homes or in congregational pods to witness and live out the theme “Flashlights” based on an exploration into Psalm 30:5 and looking for the light right next to us.
This year’s event turned into a great opportunity for faith-strengthening, and community building, with a return of some familiar faces in the form of the planning group for the weekend. This year’s planning group was made up of the same youth that led and guided the 2019 Lost and Found event. Mackenzie Anderson (Trinity, Newport News), Lukas Fick (College, Salem), Riley Houtz (Christ, Roanoke), Sarah Lambert (Christ the King, Richmond), and Ryan Mertz (Epiphany, Richmond) all returned to work with Pastor Dave Delaney to plan nearly every element of the weekend. The theme constructed the weekend event that acknowledged the current hardship of the pandemic but also directed everyone toward a sense of hope based on God’s presence and promises. This focus set and guided the entire weekend, from the theme, t-shirt designs, as well as the creative skits the group performed for those in attendance.
During the weekend, participants enjoyed the planning group’s skit videos. The planning group reprised their roles from last year’s Lost and Found as the cast of a TV sitcom called “Bunkmates.”During this year, the sitcom cast is all adjusting to the impact of filming their series remotely and trying to problem solve amid quarantine conditions. Over the course of the weekend skits, the group rallied together and moved from disorientation and discouragement to hopefulness amid God’s guiding light.
Following large group gatherings, the participants at Lost and Found got the chance to break off into small groups, arranged by age group. In these small groups, participants were able to reflect on the week-long theme and verse and relate it back to their own faith life through conversation, games, and activities.
This year’s Lost and Found took shape in a new way and was still filled with laughter, fun, worship, and deep conversation that encouraged participants to reflect on their faith lives. If you had youth, adult leaders, or a pastor present during this year’s Lost and Found, ask them about their week! They’re sure to have many stories to share about their time spent together virtually.
