When is the next Happening?
Happening #9 will be held April 23-25, 2027
at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center.
Youth who have previously served at a Happening weekend are invited to apply as staff for Happening #9 at the link below.
Happening: A Christian Experience
Happening is a Christian experience presented by teenagers, for teenagers with the help of clergy and lay adult leadership. The Happening program is meant to be one of the instruments within the Anglican Tradition of renewing the Christian church in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the church may more readily respond to its call to spread the Kingdom of God throughout the world. It seeks to achieve this purpose by bringing young persons and adults to fuller personal knowledge of and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and to a deeper level of commitment and apostleship.
Happening is one of those things that must be experienced to be fully understood. During the three-day weekend, the 9-12th grade participants spend time seriously considering the person and teaching of Jesus Christ in a relaxed, fun, informal and loving atmosphere. They are provided with opportunities to share, discuss, learn and live with fellow Christians in an environment of acceptance and understanding.
What Happens…at Happening?
A Happening weekend begins on Friday afternoon with registration, dinner and orientation. That evening the theme of the weekend is developed through a series of keynote addresses presented by both youth on staff and priests for the weekend. “Please Listen to What I’m Not Saying” and “Reality” are the first two talks. They invite the Happeners to begin to take off their “masks” and to open themselves to the Spiritual Reality of Christ, a reality that is permanent, reliable and sure, a firm foundation on which to build a secure life.
Spiritual Reality is found through Faith in Jesus Christ, lived in a relationship of Prayer and nourished by the Church. The theme closes with the “Apostolate” talk, a call to act as Christian in the World.
Throughout the weekend, Happeners work and play, sing, share, pray and worship. They are introduced to the sacramental life of The Episcopal Church. The weekend ends with Eucharist on Sunday afternoon.
