Welcome to our monthly community gathering organized by our young adults and open to everyone. These informal events create space for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, share stories, and build meaningful relationships outside of Sunday service. Each month brings something new and dates will vary.

ACF Snapshot: Alpacas, Friendship and Sacred Rest: The Young Adult City Escape

Last weekend, a group of young adults from the Anglican Church Freiburg travelled to Birkendorf for a refreshing Alpaca Weekend, generously hosted by the Carhart family. Set amid the natural beauty of the Black Forest, the retreat offered a welcome opportunity to step away from demanding routines, daily commitments and digital overloads. Time spent in nature, community and spiritual reflection gave the young adults space to breathe, rest and rediscover the joy of being together.

The weekend included shared reflection on the deeper meaning of life, the responsibilities entrusted to each person and God’s beautiful purposes for their future. Cooking, eating, walking, talking and laughing together helped to strengthen friendships and deepen their sense of belonging. The gentle presence of the alpacas added a special warmth to the experience. Petting and spending time with these calm and sensitive animals can be therapeutic, bringing comfort, reducing anxiety and creating moments of quiet joy.

Through every shared activity, the young adults continued their journey of “unboxing” the gifts, possibilities and potential that God has placed within each of them. In a modern world where young people frequently experience pressure, loneliness and isolation, such spaces of togetherness are particularly important. They offer opportunities to form meaningful relationships, explore faith, ask deeper questions and discover a supportive community in which each person can flourish.

The Young Adult City Escape forms part of a developing series of events for those aged 18 to 30, an age group that has already been identified as a significant mission opportunity for the Church in Freiburg. Official city statistics confirm that the student-age population is especially prominent in Freiburg, with those in their twenties among the city’s most strongly represented age groups. This initiative seeks to create welcoming and creative spaces where young adults can encounter friendship, belonging, spiritual growth and the fullness of life that God desires for them.

ACF Snapshot: Unboxed City ‘Escape’

October 2025

This past weekend, the young adults of ACF embarked on a refreshing retreat dubbed “City Escape” in the town of Birkendorf. From Friday night to Sunday morning (October 10th-12th), the Unboxed event was designed to encourage physical and spiritual growth while building a stronger community.

The event kicked off on Friday with a warm welcome night. After sharing a meal, we gathered for heartfelt conversations and a time of praise and worship, setting the tone for the weekend.

Saturday began with a full day of activities designed to energize us. We engaged in an exciting balloon bursting game, a physical warmup, and a playful storytelling session to prepare for the morning ahead.

Our time of singing and worship paved the way for a powerful teaching from Rev. Vinod.
He led an insightful discussion on the weekend’s theme from Philippians 2:14-15: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” (NIV)
He admonished us to stand out in our generation as children of God, shining His light in all we do.

Later, Dr. Pacis inspired us with a presentation titled “My Story,” recounting how God has used her to touch lives both in Freiburg and abroad. Her testimony served as a charge for each of us to dare to use our own unique gifts and talents for God’s glory.

After an afternoon walk through the forest to reflect and connect, we put the “Unboxed” spirit into action. Four groups were tasked with different video challenges, and after hours of ideation, recording, and editing, they successfully presented their results. This creative activity perfectly captured the project’s core mission: stepping outside our comfort zones.

The lessons learned and the experiences gathered this weekend will undoubtedly take us a long way in life.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Carhartts for so generously hosting us in their beautiful home. A huge thank you to all the young adults whose presence and participation made the event so vibrant. We are also incredibly grateful to the talented kitchen team who kept us fueled with tasty meals. Finally, thank you to Rev. Vinod and Molly for your continuous support and guidance.