Youth Camp 2026
Monday, June 29 – Saturday, July 4
Ferncliff Camp, Little Rock, Arkansas
benedictio: a good word
We often think of a benediction as the final moment of a worship service — a blessing as we depart. But the term comes from the Latin benedictio, meaning “a good word.” At its core, a benediction is about speaking goodness over what comes next. In Genesis, a steady refrain echoes through the creation story: “and it was good.” Those words ground us in the powerful truth that goodness lies at the heart of everything God made.
And yet, so much of our attention today settles on what is wrong — what is broken, corrupted or evil. Perhaps we need to be reminded that goodness is the original word spoken over creation. Brokenness is not the starting point; it is a distortion of what was first made good. Maybe we simply need to hear that good word again.
At camp this summer, we want to reimagine the benediction. What if it’s not just a conclusion, but a beginning — a good word that sends us out to live and see differently and to carry that goodness with us into whatever comes next?
Camp Pastor: Georgia McKee
We are excited that Georgia McKee will be our camp pastor this year. Georgia is no stranger to Wilshire; she recently completed her pastoral residency with us and now serves as Associate Pastor at Glencoe Union Church near Chicago. Georgia is married to Sophia, and they have two dogs, Goose and Dolly.