Mission Yearbook: Dreaming through the darkness is the message for Triennium attendees

“I was born a dreamer,” said the Rev. Dr. Peggy Jean (“PJ”) Craig, who preached on the third night at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium worship service.

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The Rev. Dr. PJ Craig preaches during worship at Presbyterian Youth Triennium. (Photo by Rich Copley)

Craig shared a photo of her high school superlative title, “Biggest Dreamer,” with the crowd of young people gathered at the Louisville International Convention Center in the midst of LED-lit nightscapes.

“When I heard about this year’s theme for Triennium, ‘As If We Were Dreaming,’ I got super excited,” said Craig, because, she explained, “I actually have some skills and expertise in this area.”

However, when she learned her particular night’s theme was “facing the nightmares,” she recoiled. “I don’t want to talk about nightmares. This is my nightmare, talking about nightmares.”

But “it’s in the midst of nightmares in real life that God is present,” said Craig. Craig invoked the God who gave dreams, visions and hope to Joseph in the Book of Genesis and wondered if Joseph would have been voted “biggest dreamer” by his peers. Maybe that was why his brothers were jealous of him — because he dared to dream. When he told them about his dreams, the brothers were threatened, because they were the kind of dreams that could come true. Joseph’s brothers set out to punish him.

Craig, who grew up in a multiracial family in rural Alabama, currently pastors Covenant Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tennessee, serving immigrant and Latinx neighbors. As a community builder and passionate advocate for justice, Craig said she has “always been drawn to the margins,” where she’s helped many people face the nightmares of systemic injustice and seek their own wholeness.

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Under the direction of Phillip Morgan, the Triennium Choir sing during worship. (Photo by Rich Copley)

“The dreams that get you killed, kicked or locked out and dismissed are the ones that are possible,” said Craig: “You can kill a person, but a dream, especially if it’s from God, you cannot annihilate.”

She compared this kind of dream to Communion. “Broken into all those little pieces, where it spreads and grows, passed around and practiced when it can no longer stay in one body or one mouth, the dream becomes a dream for many bodies and many mouths, which is terrifying to people who for their whole lives have benefited by keeping things controlled and status quo.”

In Memphis, where Craig lives, she can walk to the Lorraine Hotel, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. She described the plaque underneath the balcony where King was shot that quotes the King James Version of Genesis: “They said to one another, ‘Behold, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him, and we shall see what becomes of his dreams.’”

Craig described how Joseph’s and King’s dreams were deeply threatening, because they meant “that we have to change the way we live.” It was not just Joseph’s dream that set out to change how his brothers in Egypt lived, but his actions towards them.

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Youth participate in Communion at Presbyterian Youth Triennium. (Photo by Rich Copley)

Craig warned not to oversimplify the ending of the famous verse, “what you intended for evil, God intended for good.” She explained how Joseph does not gloss over the trauma or explain it as a means to a necessary end. Instead, Joseph names the trauma that his brothers caused, refuses to transmit more pain and suffering, and brings restoration to his family. Craig draws a connection to the restoration that Joseph is able to bring to his family to the restoration possible at the Communion table.

“I don’t know what kind of nightmares you are facing right now,” she said before adding, “I don’t know if you’ve been betrayed, hurt or abandoned or if you’ve done that to others.”

“I don’t know if you’ve been dismissed, degraded or made to feel less than by family, friends or the church, and if so, I am so, so sorry on behalf of the church,” said Craig, pointing behind her to the Communion table. “This is not the church’s table. This is God’s table, and it is God’s dream to restore, to reconcile, to remember us in a way that we thought not possible.”

“Keep dreaming, dreamers! Dream on and then trust God to do what God always does: remember us into something we could not have dreamed up on our own.”

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Julie Mullins, Acquisitions Editor, Publishing & Editorial, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
David Myers,  Director, IT Finance & Administration, Information Technology, The Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Protect us, O God, and give us compassion to help one another when life becomes overwhelming Inspire us to always look to you for grace, hope, and love, and may we always share these gifts with those around us. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Advent Unwrapped: Everybody Is a Star🌟💫

Everybody Is a Star

I am certain that I have shared this with you before, because “Everybody Is a Star” is one of my favorite songs. It was originally released as the B-side track for the single “Thank You (Falenttinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” another song that I adore. Together, the two tracks embody acceptance, love, and grace on one magical vinyl disc. A sacred reminder that a better world is possible. Imagine if every single person, each life, was celebrated like a brilliant star? Imagine if every single person knew what it felt like to be truly loved, cherished, and delighted in? Imagine if we were all golden (to quote HUNTR/X)? Imagine if every single person shone so bright that it made the sun (which is also a star) radiate? Frankly I get misty eyed thinking about it because it is so far from our current reality. I think about all of those sappy commercials and movies that hit me in the feels this time of year, and I realise that part of the reason they are so special is because acts of kindness and generosity are not always expected. These sentimental movies deepen my longing for the world of God’s dreams where generosity, kindness, and love are common place. It also deepens my gratitude for Jesus. A child made of starlight, who became our morning star. Even before he could talk or hold up his head, he healed and preformed miracles. Even millennia after his birth this bright star reminds us that a better world is possible. For this I say, Merry Christmas and Thanks be to God. Remember in God’s story, we each have a part! For Everyone Looking to celebrate Christmas at Home? Here are some suggestions from Susan Lukey. Got questions about Christmas? Check out our compilation of blog posts from Rev. Stephen Milton, which includes questions like, Why do we wrap Christmas presents? Don’t forget to care for your mental health and the mental wellness of others during this season.  Still working through your Christmas list? Our Buy Less Christmas Shopping Guide might help.  Looking for background conversation while wrapping presents? Tune into our 2025 Advent Unwrapped YouTube play list.  And don’t forget about our Music for Advent playlist! Looking for somethings to do with the young and the young at heart during Christmas vacation? Check out some of our past resources: Craft videos and our activity sheets  Games to play during advent  Advent Unwrapped Colouring Story Book  Household Scavenger Hunt  From the entire Advent Unwrapped team, thank you for being a part of this Advent journey. As we move into this Christmas season, May the Holy One, Give us the courage to welcome Christ into every part of our lives, so that, like Mary, we will hope for a better world, like Elizabeth, the Shepherds, and the Holy Family, we will be brave and bold in our living, like the Innkeeper and animals, we will be welcoming of others, and like the Magi, we will present our best selves. May we always be ready to welcome, Emmanuel, Christ with us. Amen. Yours in Christ, Alydia   Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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Mission Yearbook: A DJ, hip hop and the Reformation take center stage at Triennium

Bill Buchanan of Asheville, North Carolina, goes by DJ5 when he’s spinning records at wedding receptions and other gatherings. His day job is executive director of Youth Mission Co, which plans and leads justice-centered and biblically based mission trips for youth and young adults.

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Youth listen in while Bill Buchanan delivers observations on “Hip Hop: The Music of Reformation” during Presbyterian Youth Triennium. (Photo by Rich Copley)

In the “Hip Hop: The Music of Reformation” class he offered at Presbyterian Youth Triennium, Buchanan offered each attendee a pair of headsets so they could easily hear him and his musical selections.

“You may ask yourself, why is a middle-aged white guy up here talking about hip hop?” Buchanan said. He put in a lot of research, and “I’m here sharing what I have learned out of appreciation. The music does not originate from people who look like me. It comes from the musical tradition of African Americans in this country.”

“I offer this out of great appreciation, not any sense of appropriation,” Buchanan said. “I think there is genius in the creation of all this music.” He noted that African American friends looked at his material to give him guidance and feedback “to tell this story well.”

Hip hop was born on Aug. 11, 1973, in the Bronx, Buchanan said. The DJ Kool Herc threw a back-to-school party at a community center, where he played old soul and funk records, focusing on the breakdowns by picking up the tone arm to repeat the breaks. His friend Coke LaRoc served as MC, making announcements and shoutouts and hyping the crowd.

Buchanan shared “Apache” by The Incredible Bongo Band, calling it “quintessential old school 

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Bill Buchanan traced hip hop music back to its roots during the class he offered at Presbyterian Youth Triennium. (Photo by Rich Copley)

stuff.” He also discussed Grand Master Flash’s improvements on some of Kool Herc’s methods, playing a track called “Superappin” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. “It was revolutionary, y’all,” Buchanan said.

For examples of sampling, the introduction of the TR-808 Drum Machine and scratching, Buchanan played Run-DMC’s “My Adidas” and Public Enemy’s “Prophets of Rage.”

Buchanan placed jazz between the 1900s and 1940s. He made a point to discuss ways that African musicians played European instruments differently, were not bound to notation, and were free to express themselves. Jazz has values that include extemporaneous soloing, which are shared equally. “Jazz was showing America what democracy was before American understood what democracy was,” said the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III.

The headphones that each participant received had both blue and red channels. The blue had samples of whatever genre Buchanan was exploring; the red channel showed where the sampling came from in another genre. It was a rich experience.

For the funk genre, Buchanan discussed the musicality — seventh chords, extreme syncopation, hyperactive bass lines, psychedelic influences, affected vocals, groove-based and danceable. The example came from James Brown: “It’s Too Funky in Here.”

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Participants were offered headphones upon entering the classroom. (Photo by Rich Copley)

“Musically and lyrically, something is unresolved here,” Buchanan said. “The genius is it can say that while giving this irresistible groove, you just want to get up and dance to it.”

The genius of hip hop is this, he said:

• It’s blues, urban Black youth telling difficult truths.
• It’s jazz, adapting the turntable as a musical instrument. Freestyle rapping is extemporaneous soloing with authenticity.
• It’s soul, sampling soul records and the breadth of life experience.
• It’s funk, telling you that things are not all right, but with an irresistible beat.

He concluded by explaining how hip hop the music of the Reformation is, or “why hip hop is like being Presbyterian”:

• It was born out of the protest of disco narrative. Presbyterianism was born out of a protest over Roman Catholic theology and practices.
• Hip hop takes music down to the essentials, including beat and lyric. Presbyterian theology “is about taking out the extras of beliefs, rituals, etc.”
• Hip hop puts music back in the hands of the people. For Presbyterians and other Reformed traditions, it’s about putting the Bible back into the hands of the people. “Technology is key to both,” Buchanan said.
• Hip hop samples from its musical history to say something today. Presbyterians “sample the Bible and the Book of Confessions to speak about the present situation.”

“I think hip hop is a lot like being Presbyterian,” he said, “and I hope you feel the same way.”

Videographer Randy Hobson contributed to this story.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service, ncy (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Roberto Morales, Research Analyst, Research Services, Administrative Service Group
Ronnika Muhammad , Payroll Specialist, Human Resources, Administrative Services Group  

Let us pray:

Loving God, we are grateful for all we have and are blessed by those with whom we share. Open wide our hearts and minds so we may discern how to ensure that all of your people live without hunger. Amen.

Mission Impact Report 2024 for the American Baptist Churches USA

Mission Impact Report 2024 American Baptist Churches USA is excited to share our latest Mission Impact Report! This report showcases the measurable outcomes and inspiring stories that reflect how your support is making a real difference. Inside, you’ll find highlights of the progress we’ve achieved together, the communities we’ve served, and the impact that continues to grow. The full report is now available on our website. Take a moment to explore the details and see how we’re advancing our mission. Click here to view and download the Mission Impact Report. Mission Impact Report FOLLOW US

American Baptist Churches USA | 1015 W. 9th Ave. | King of Prussia, PA 19406 US

Mission Yearbook: Galactic games and galaxy of stars shine at Triennium

A playful atmosphere permeated the Kentucky International Convention Center as participants in the second night of the Presbyterian Youth Triennium enjoyed recreational activities and other entertainment, ranging from a human version of a galactic video game to musical artists showing off their performance skills.

The festivities were part of Starry Night, a fun-filled block that preceded evening worship at the first Triennium to be held in six years.

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Where else but Presbyterian Youth Triennium will you find a soccer game played between youth clothed in rocket costumes? (Photo by Rich Copley)

“Whenever you can present the opportunity for youth to closer connect with God in such an area like this where you have over 2,000 people their age singing and worshiping together, it is absolutely incredible,” said Joel Morien, a director of Christian education who’s part of a group from Winnebago Presbytery in northeastern Wisconsin. “It’s something you have to experience. This is going to change lives and it’s going to bring people closer to their faith.”

Starry Night began with Galactic Battles, which consisted of various games scattered across two floors of the convention center, followed by a talent exhibition called “The Galaxy of Stars.”

A luminescent blue background, starry lights overhead and various blips and props helped to turn one hall into a Human Galaga venue with teams competing to cross the room in pods with numbers hanging off of them while harmless projectiles were flung at them.

“It’s hard to mimic video games, so this is a good adaptation,” said Nhani, 13, a southern Californian who was fresh from playing the game. “Triennium is a really cool experience.”

Throngs of high schoolers and their adult leaders crowded into the hall to try the game or to simply get a look at what was going on. Among them was Hannah, 18, of Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

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The steelpan band from Susamachar Presbyterian Church led youth and into worship on the Presbyterian Youth Triennium’s second day. (Photo by Rich Copley)

“I don't get the chance to play it too often, so I was like, why not?” she said. “I feel like I'm kind of here to try new things.”

Hannah also commented on memorable experiences from the previous night, including worship with the Rev. CeCe Armstrong, Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024), and a silent disco that was “really fun,” she said.

Nearby, youths lined a hallway to watch an offbeat version of soccer with players dressed in cardboard boxes fashioned into rockets.

Aaron, who attends the Presbyterian Church of Novato in California, said the recreational activities are a good way to channel kids’ energy.

“It’s all fun and games and no one’s getting hurt,” the youth said. Through the rockets, “people are showing creativity.”

Onlookers included Jennifer Davis, a volunteer from the Presbytery of the Redwoods, who said Triennium is a good experience for youths because it gives them an opportunity to see people living out their faith.

Also, they get to see that “there are other teenagers that are Christian too that are normal and cool and loving and kind — all the things,” she said.

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Dancers added greatly to the Triennium experience. (Photo by Rich Copley)

Galactic Battles quickly transitioned into the Galaxy of Stars, which featured a talented mix of musical performers, such as the youth steelpan band from Susamachar Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Trinidad and Tobago.

The crowd got a chance to salsa dance during a segment by the delegation of Puerto Rico and to experience voguing and ballroom culture through a bold and sassy performance by the LGBTQIA+ affirming Haus of Us.

“It was good. I liked it,” said Jenna, 18, of Mt. Paran Presbyterian Church in Maryland, who said she appreciated the opportunity to come together in the different spaces.

Earlier, Nhani said she’s kind of sad that she’ll only be able to attend Triennium once since there are generally three years between gatherings.

“Triennium has been a really fun experience,” she said. “I’ve definitely met a lot of people. It’s very social and I’ve had to connect with a lot of people to get their pins so that I have souvenirs.”

Morien of First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay, Wisconsin, said being able to interact with people from across the country is important.

“My kids from Wisconsin can see what a Presbyterian is like from California or from Maine or from Texas, see how they worship, see how we are all the same and yet different in our own way. It’s amazing.”

Darla Carter, Communications Strategist (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Chesimon Moore, Accounting Analyst, Controllers, The Presbyterian Foundation
Joseph Moore, Ministry Relations Officer, Development Office, The Presbyterian Foundation      

Let us pray:

Holy God, we pray for those you have called to be leaders. Equip them with energy. Fill them with courage. Empower them with love — that the church may truly become a community of faith and hope and love and witness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.