Episcopal Public Affairs Office
Celebrating the gift of the Spirit on Pentecost to guide us “in the deeper ways of God’s love,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invited Episcopalians to pray for the hundreds of young people who will gather July 4-8 at the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in College Park, Md. Some event sessions will be livestreamed for public viewing.
“We are in such a time as that, when the spirit that Jesus promised will lead us and guide us in the deeper ways of God’s love, and God’s way of life, not only for us, but for the entire human family, until the way of life as Jesus taught us becomes our way of life,” Curry said. “It is the way of love, and the Bible says, ‘God is love.’ And that makes beloved community possible.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, EYE is the church’s second-largest event after General Convention, drawing nearly 1,500 young people ages 15-19 from every province. Typically held every three years, this will be the first gathering since 2017, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s dual-language theme for EYE—developed by the youth planning team, which seeks to emphasize welcome and invitation to all young people throughout the church—is “Regreso a Casa: A New Age of Faith.”
“Regreso a casa—returning home,” Curry said. “Returning home: faith in a new age, a new age of faith. The Spirit will guide us all. I am so looking forward to being with you.”
EYE programs focus on helping young people develop leadership skills, spiritual practices, and early stages of vocational discernment. In addition to meeting and socializing with other Episcopalians from around the world, EYE participants will spend time in worship, large-group presentations, small-group discussions, and workshops on a variety of topics. Learn more and view schedule.
View Curry’s video message to EYE participants and read a transcript below:
Below is a transcript of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s videotaped Pentecost message to EYE attendees.
Regreso a casa, returning home. That is the theme of the upcoming EYE gathering of young people from throughout The Episcopal Church. I am so looking forward to being with you. Returning home: Faith in a new age, a new age of faith. That is the subtheme for this gathering.
I’m mindful that many years ago a woman named Phyllis Tickle—who was a dear friend of mine—died and entered eternal life with our Lord. Before she died, she finished one of her last books. And in that book she said that we in our time will find ourselves living in a time when we must rely on the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised us to lead us and guide us along the way.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said to his disciples, at one point in John’s Gospel he says, “There are many other things that I could have told you, but you can’t handle them right now. This much I will tell you: When I depart from you, I will send the Holy Spirit, and that spirit will lead you into all truth.”
We are in such a time as that, when the spirit that Jesus promised will lead us and guide us in the deeper ways of God’s love, and God’s way of life, not only for us, but for the entire human family, until the way of life as Jesus taught us becomes our way of life. Because it is the way of love. And the Bible says “God is love.” And that makes the beloved community possible.
So come and join us for our gathering. I can’t wait to be there with you.
Regreso a casa, returning home. An age of faith, the Spirit will guide us all.
God love you, God bless you, and see you in July.
