The Provincial Youth Pilgrimage to Iona in October 2023 is open for bookings. Here, Provincial Youth Co-ordinator Claire Benton-Evans asks if there is a young person connected to your church who would benefit from the experience of pilgrimage and retreat in a beautiful place?

When I tell someone that I work with young people in the church, their assumption can be that this mostly involves organising fun activities and wacky games, writes Claire, pictured right. Well, it’s true that Indoor Jousts and Human Hungry, Hungry Hippos have an important part to play (we’ve done both!) but such fun and fellowship are not the whole story of being a young Christian: young people also have a hunger for deeper meaning in their lives; they need time to simply ‘be’ and a safe space to explore what really matters to them.

This is why the Provincial Youth Pilgrimage in October 2023 is so important. It offers young people aged 12-18 and 18-25(plus) the opportunity to spend time with God and each other on the island of Iona, guided by Provincial Youth leaders. They will have a chance to experience for themselves the ancient practices of pilgrimage and retreat, in a beautiful place that connects them with the history of Christianity in Scotland. Do you know a young person connected to your church who might benefit from this experience?

Please encourage applications, even if a young person doesn’t know exactly what their availability might be. Those in the 18-25 age bracket may be unsure about their university or work commitments, but they can apply anyway: there is no firm commitment on either side until pilgrims are selected after the deadline of 11 August.

Full information and booking details can be found for pilgrims aged 12-18 here and pilgrims aged 18-25(ish) here. If you have any questions, please contact the Provincial Youth Convener, Rev Tembu Rongong: rector@trinityelgin.org

[Main picture of Iona courtesy of The Very Rev Sarah Murray]