We nearly didn’t make it! We had four young people attending the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth Gathering (CLAY) from the Diocese of Central Newfoundland, and it really came down to the wire on whether the trip would happen. Thankfully, a flight attendant strike was resolved just in the nick of time, and we were able to depart as scheduled from Gander very early Thursday morning.
Arriving in Saskatoon some nine hours later, we found ourselves still in the early part of the day and made our way to the event sites: the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and Knox United Church (with some time at Zion Lutheran Church to the south). The first day was a whirlwind of orientations, displays, worship gatherings, and an opening event involving a frantic run to locate all the important points of interest we would be visiting throughout the weekend (an event that our group, Home Team 126, won).
The days that followed were filled with interesting experiences, learning, and new friends. Most of Friday consisted of a visit to Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a deeply moving place where we learned much about the culture of Northern Plains Indigenous Peoples, particularly their connection to the bison, which they have been endeavouring to reintroduce to the area. Presentations were given showing tools, clothing, and other handmade items used in the lives of the early Indigenous people, and we were treated to a performance of amazing singing and dancing.
Later Friday we returned to Zion Lutheran Church for supper, a large group gathering, an evening of various fun activities (from sports to board games), and ending the night with a prayer walk back to St. John the Evangelist Cathedral.
Throughout Saturday we enjoyed further large group gatherings, workshops that we chose ahead of time (three of our group did theatre, while the other did labyrinth praying), a long discussion about the work of the Church, and fun time at a nearby park where the bishops in attendance held a carnival of games. Saturday ended with our team receiving the “pizza party” prize which we won from the opening event. Our team joyously shared this with several new friends.
Unfortunately, that was the end of CLAY for our team. Our flight was rescheduled and was leaving too early on Sunday for us to participate in any of the closing events or the Eucharist service. We said goodbyes and headed home, exhausted but happy.
Over 300 youth attended CLAY 2025, arriving in Saskatoon from one end of Canada to the other. It was a gathering filled with music, fun, learning, and new friendships. Perhaps the highlight of the event was former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, Jordan Cantwell, who spoke several times during the large group meetings. Her reflections on her formation to ministry really expressed the theme of the event, “Rooted and Rising.” She encouraged the young people to continue to grow in their relationship and service to God, noting that there is a place for each and every one of them. One of the most important lessons expressed during CLAY was that the young people were not simply the future of the Church, but its present: having a role to play right now in faith and service, and with things to teach and to learn.
Our Home Team truly enjoyed our time at CLAY, and are very thankful to our diocese for providing us the opportunity and funding to attend. We pray that the lessons we learned there will grow and bear fruit, and that we can help others also become “Rooted and Rising.”
The next CLAY gathering will be in Nanaimo, BC in August of 2027.
