#fall con

in one weekend, i made at least 4 new friends with whom i did not know before which is not that easy for me. and then i got to know a lot of other people a little better. it's not like i was hanging out with one person the whole time bc i could just hang out with anyone. i felt more confident and responsible and i loved the theme.

we talked about empathy and gratitude and not judging people. everyone has their own struggles and battles and you can't know who they are from one look.

Join us for raucous laughter followed by peaceful conversations! Together we can find a balance between high-energy joy and low-energy serenity. Enjoy workshops, contemporary worship, social justice, and good food with old & new friends. So find a carpool, make sure to bring comfy and cozy overnight gear, and the snacks you can’t live without. This event is open to individuals ages 18-35. Meals are provided, and we love to accommodate our vegetarian and vegan friends! Participants may sleep at the church or make arrangements for overnight lodging. Registration fees are on a sliding scale from $40-90.

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My Table at Fall Con and some sketch cards that I did while I was there.

But this year, God did big things in all of us.

He taught me that my apathy about life and about the things he’s doing is a problem, and that I need to really engage and be fully present for everything that’s going on in my life. From classes to relationships to my walk with him, I need to be fully alive and participating in his work. The speaker, Kevin Blue (an Oxy alumnus!), told us that our job right now where God has placed us (AKA college) is to be a student, and that we shouldn’t take that responsibility lightly. That was convicting for me, definitely.

Another thing he showed me was just true joy in him and in community with my brothers and sisters in Christ, something I’d forgotten in my apathy. There were so many joyful moments this weekend! The band was having an extra time of worship Saturday night, and they played the song Undignified, which brings me back to my camp days. Dancing and jumping with a bunch of Oxy and Claremont students was so great. We were literally jumping in the joy of God.

Another moment I loved was after the worship sesh, when I went down to the campfire. Ten or so Oxy students were linked arms in a circle, and I joined them. We were literally just being ourselves, which included swaying and chanting when glow sticks fell out of Annika's hair onto the ground. We harmonized this "merh" noise that we all make because of David, and we called it his symphony and he was really proud of us, haha. I just felt so comfortable and free in the presence of the amazing people God has blessed me with here. They are the reason I am here most days, and I don't know what I'd do without them. They're honestly the most important thing I have here.

But God didn't just do stuff in me! Caleb, a friend of Raymond's who was in my small group, became a follower of Jesus this weekend and we're all so happy for him! God brought him home. God asked Jane to come to him every day and that he would reveal his plan for her in their time together. Nancy learned to be brave, and to give a part of herself every day. CJ learned to be awkward!