EDLYA’s year in review

Participants in one of EDLYA’s retreats.

EAST REGION – The East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA) are a group that hosts four retreats a year at various churches in Lutheran Church–Canada’s East Region to encourage fellowship, new relationships, and growth in Christ.

The winter retreat was hosted by Good Shepherd in Amherstburg, Ontario with speaker Rev. Kirk Radford, who presented sessions on worship. The group was excited and surprised to find air mattresses provided when they arrived. The congregation also treated the group to a potluck.

In May, EDLYA had a spring retreat. This year it was a joint youth and young adult retreat with many new faces. It was one of EDLYA’s biggest retreats yet, with nearly forty attendees. The youth team put in a great deal of work creating exciting programming like homemade escape rooms, scavenger hunts, and group charades. It was a great chance for fellowship and worship. Rev. Dr. James Keller was the presenter and led an interactive session on the Bible and health. EDLYA looks forward to hosting more joint events in the future.

The summer retreat took place on the August long weekend, at Grace Lutheran Church in Kincardine, Ontario. The group camped on the property, enjoying swimming and a bonfire, and were treated to a community pig roast. Rev. Robert Clifford was the speaker, presenting on the Reformation.

The fall retreat was the first weekend in November and took place at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Catharines, Ontario. Dr. Leah Koetting Block spoke about the Christian response to physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, and the sessions were shared with Lutherans for Life Canada. EDLYA also had an annual general meeting and made plans for the year ahead.

EDLYA has enjoyed a year full of blessings, with exciting opportunities, new visitors, and much support. With some of the highest numbers ever, the executive looks forward to a year of continued growth.

Thanks to all the people who supported the activities this year, including the congregations who hosted, the Lutheran’s Layman’s League and Lisa Jackson, Lutherans for Life Canada, those involved with the youth, and a special thanks to the executive board for all their work. EDLYA is thankful for and asks for continued prayers from the church.

The next retreat will be January 24-26, 2020 in Mississauga, for young adults age 18-35. More information is available at www.edlya.ca or through edlya101@gmail.com.

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Erika Schroth

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