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What People Are Saying...
Memories from the Arts and Sabbath Retreat, October 14-18, 2007…
It has been a few years now, and I haven’t kept in touch. But I have this opportunity now to THANK YOU all, as the 2007 retreat marked a beginning of a journey for me that I’m still enjoying everyday, and you were all part of it. I’m back behind the pottery wheel, re-learning what I did for only that one week we were in Montreat together, and it has been wonderful. I’m actually participating in a contest with a combination of the Crucifix that I did back in 2007 (shown in the picture), and another piece that is waiting in line for the kiln. Check out www.thedavidaward.com.
Anyways, I just thought I would share with you, and hope that a few days together a few years ago, made a difference in your lives, like it did on mine.
Blessings,
Maria Posada
We had a busy four days…
The Glen Rock Apartment was the perfect space for our smaller group this year! Thank you for being so flexible in rearranging our contract.
We had a busy four days – worked at the Black Mountain Community Garden, the Primary School Garden Field Day, and Welcome Table, and attended the Black Mountain Community Health Initiative meeting. We also visited the Winter Green program.
Looks like spring has started to blossom in Black Mountain and Louisville! About time!
Sincerely,
K. Shaver
University of Louisville
We felt truly at home…
Thank you all so much for providing such a wonderful experience for our 2009 fall retreat. We couldn’t have asked for better accommodations, meals, hospitality, and atmosphere. We felt truly at home, though we were 5 hours away, and we are very grateful for your help. We wish you Christ’s blessings, and look forward to seeing you again soon!
—Youth Group from First Presbyterian Church, Lumberton, NC
Big Thank You…
I want to thank everyone who made the CE Conference and the Sacraments and Worship Certification Course possible. I really loved being at Montreat: the Winsborough Inn was lovely; the meals at the Assembly Inn were great and the facilities for the conference and the class were just right. I loved listening to the rain at night, seeing the clouds lift and the seeing the sun shining off the water of Lake Susan. All the worship and class leaders were enthusiastic and spirit-filled, so I learned a lot and had good fellowship as well. The folks at the Book Store bent over backwards to finally get my books to me, and though I only had a short time to spend, the people at the pottery studio were wonderful to help me make my first thrown pot. They wrapped up my little clay “bean pot” to take home and a local Craft center fired it for me and friends there even let me use their paint to decorate and glaze it. What a wonderful, little, tangible bit of evidence I have to remember my time at Montreat in 2009.
— a participant at the 2009 Christian Education Conference
Thank you…
Thank you for this conference. My spirit is renewed. My heart is full. And I feel free from the burdens that have restrained me. I know I am a better pastor, friend, servant, leader, colleague, and child of God. Thank you!
— a participant at the 2009 Associate Pastor’s Conference
Being at Montreat for our Planning Retreat was a wonderful – and very, very productive experience…
Many thanks from all of us. Being at Montreat for our Planning Retreat was a wonderful – and very, very productive experience for all of us. We enjoyed the weekend so much…the good food, beautiful surroundings and a very helpful staff made our stay a pleasant one. We will certainly keep Montreat in mind for future events like this one. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
— the Foothills Conservancy
Everyone we encountered was extremely kind and helpful.
We had a splendid retreat. You have a wonderfully-run facility with an outstanding staff. Ms. Judy Smith was amazingly patient and helped us so much with all the last-minute details. Everyone we encountered was extremely kind and helpful.
After weeks and weeks of constant persuasion, I finally decided to go…
Over this past year, I was strongly encouraged to go to the Montreat Youth Conference, a gathering of churches located in Montreat, North Carolina. Montreat is a small town nestled in the middle of a gorgeous mountain range. I was told numerous times about how much fun the trip was, but I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to go. Summer seemed so far away, what if I accidentally made other plans? I was so used to waiting till the last minute to act that doing something on time seemed too early. After weeks and weeks of constant persuasion, I finally decided to go. I was sure the youth leaders had told me everything there was to hear about the retreat, but after having been there, I do believe they left out a few key points. They didn’t talk about the nights spent staying up until three a.m., talking, laughing, and occasionally sneaking down to the kitchen to have some of Kyle’s graduation cake. I never heard about going to church every morning and actually dancing in the pews, something that soon became a conventional part of my routine. Nothing was ever said about staying in a real HOUSE or eating ice cream on a patio overlooking the dam to Lake Susan. Maybe I wasn’t listening carefully, but did anyone ever say anything about meeting thirty new best friends in Small Group?
I’ll stop there, I don’t want to give everything away. I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who consistently asked me to come. Your tactics are very efficient and I greatly appreciate your persistence!
—Sally Branscomb, first-time to Montreat
I encourage all upcoming high schoolers to go to Montreat at least once…
Hello, I’m Kyle McDonald. I just graduated from Northview High and will be attending UGA in the fall. I’ve been to Montreat four years in a row, and I’ve loved every minute. It’s just a great place to go to get away from your normal routine, meet new people, and make unforgettable memories. All in all, I encourage all upcoming high schoolers to go to Montreat at least once, hopefully every year you can. Yea, it’s that cool.
—Kyle McDonald, 4th Time to Montreat
Montreat will always be, in my heart, a sanctum, a utopia, and an inspiration.
As a “Montreat newbie,” the secluded little mountain town may appear to exist merely as a desired getaway from the arduous pressure of summer reading and the constant anxieties of society. It may seem like the perfect opportunity to meet new friends, bond with old, and build an oasis of priceless memories with both. A lot of people see the week as a chance to strengthen their faith and relationship with God, while others wish to discover a deeper purpose to their life, future, and even psyche. And, of course, there are the ones who go for the cheerwine, inside jokes, and the jovial and laughable aspect of it all. But to me, an experienced “Montreater” I know that you can’t classify a Montreat Youth Conference with a single purpose. The experience can’t even be described properly on paper or spoken verbally. It will always be so very much more than all those positive cliches written above. It’s a week in seclusion from the world, but at the same time, it’s a week that you feel the most scholarly and educated about everything that’s going on outside Montreat. A week that makes you thirst for power to change wicked things, bring happiness to the sad, help others in need, show as many selfless acts of love as humanly possible, and live like Christ wishes us to live.
The Montreat Gate may be an entity of bricks and some paint on a sign, but to me, it holds a more symbolic meaning. It’s the path to the ideal life that we always hope for, the “spirit of Christmas” way of living that we too often reserve for the last month of the year.
Montreat will always be, in my heart, a sanctum, a utopia, and an inspiration.
—Michael Prochaska, 4th Time to Montreat
There’s nothing that compares to a week at Montreat!
There are places that are pretty and some that are neat
But there’s no place we go that is just like Montreat.
When we drive through the gates and we look around,
the creeks, woods and trees are on special ground.
We love to go to the youth conference all week,
stay in a big house and have plenty to eat.
We wake up in the morning to the smell of juice and coffee,
and biscuits with butter and jelly and sausage.
We have our breakfast and get dressed for the day,
then walk to Anderson Auditorium where with others we pray.
Attending keynote with all the adults and youth,
we do energizers, sing music and Derek tells us the truth.
We each attend our small groups twice a day,
where we learn more about opening doors a new way.
In recreation we danced, skipped rope and played,
we heard singers and had a variety show one day.
We walked back and forth from the house to the meetings,
all the time giving our new friends greetings.
At night we’d have music, then John White would speak,
and afterward we’d leave Anderson and walk across the street.
For in the Huckleberry the ice cream would be,
let’s see tonight, is it cookies and cream or raspberry for me?
Then at eleven, right at curfew time,
home came the youth, all in a line.
For our back home devotional time would draw near,
we’d talk about the day and all the things we’d learned here.
Then came the biggest challenge of all,
a game of Rummikub right down the hall.
Sometimes there were pranks to talk about and prepare,
I just hope we don’t get caught going in there!
Then as the nightime silence would fall,
over the bedrooms and into the halls,
All youth and adults would be sleeping away,
with visions in their heads of tomorrow’s new Montreat day!
We had the best food from cooks Travis and Clark,
And leaders Sarah, Ann, Darlene and Laurie did their part,
But the biggest thanks of all each day,
for being in charge and control goes to, who else, CLAY!
He loves Montreat, he loves the kids,
And we’re all really glad that’s who he is.
We’ve taken a week, and learned some more,
it’s our hope we have opened and gone through new doors.
At the very least all twenty-three of us agree,
there’s nothing that compares to a week at Montreat!
—by Ann Henley, Youth Leader
Taking a youth to Montreat will change their life!
Being from a small church, our youth have been active in many aspects of our church life for years. They are vital members of the choir, ushers, and helping out in worship. Thanks to all of the staff at Montreat. Years ago, one of our North Alabama Presbytery pastors told me this – “Taking a youth to Montreat will change their life!” Our little church has been blessed by coming to youth conferences, Wee Kirk, and other events. I can not wait to come back next summer.
Your sister in Christ,
Marsha Bullock
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Payne, Alabama
A Splendid Six Days!
Holy Ground, Inc. and EPTP (Enneagram Professional Training Program) just completed our fourth fall conference at Montreat. It was a splendid six days. I am moved to write to you because of the gracious hospitality we received from the Montreat staff… Those of us associated with both organizations agreed that our time at Montreat this fall was exceptional. We were attended to with such a cooperative spirit, and the staff went beyond the usual workday responsibilities to make us comfortable… Please pass along our deep gratitude to those whose kind spirit touched us this past week. We look forward to our time with you in the fall of 2008.
Montreat is now part of our family!
When I was growing up, there was always a legacy of how great the Montreat Youth Conferences were! My older brother went and I always waited for the day when I was old enough to go. I, too, had a great experience at Montreat. This really came full circle for me after graduating from Presbyterian College in 2005 and taking the Director of Christian Education spot at South Aiken Presbyterian Church in Aiken, SC. When I arrived at SAPC, none of the youth had ever been to Montreat or even heard of it! One of my goals in the past 2 years has been to get these young people “into the Montreat Family.” In 2006, two of our 9 th grade girls and myself tagged along with the First Pres-Aiken crowd. First Pres shared their Montreat Traditions with us and really jazzed our small contingent up about going! And finally, in 2007, we took a group of 9 youth to Week 2 MYC! They had such a great time and grew so much closer together. And as we left, they were still singing “Share the Well” and “Just a Face in the Crowd“… and this is when the countdown began! One of our HS boys keeps a countdown on his Facebook page, updating the world on how many days there are until we go back to Montreat. I’ve seen folks comment on his wall and say things like “You really love that Montreat place.” I’m glad to report that not only does South Aiken Pres feel part of the Montreat Family, I think Montreat is now part of our family! Thank you so much for providing the space for SAPC’s young people to grow in faith!
Beth Thaxton
South Aiken Presbyterian Church
Aiken, SC
Response from the 2007 Women’s Connection
“The Women’s [Connection] at Montreat was a wonderful experience for me. I met such wonderful, open people, and soaked up the time with God and the beautiful surroundings. I look forward to being with you next August.”
—Richmond, VA
“I think that was the best women’s conference I’ve ever attended. Even with differences in theology, etc., we all came together to worship and to grow. It meant a lot to me to be a part.”
—Black Mountain, NC
Good Food Highlights Visit
“The luncheon was superb, the service excellent, and the dining room beautiful. Thank you so much. Lunch was the highlight of the trip.”
—Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Montreat’s new web site…
“Elegant!”
“Exciting.”
“…easy to navigate, colorful, and full of information … most of all it is NOT boring … I can feel the excitement of Montreat jumping [out] at me…”
“WOW!”
Those are just a few of the comments the marketing department has received following the launch of the all-new www.montreat.org! Thank you!
A Very Special and Timeless Treasure…
Dear Montreat,
Just a word of thanks and praise to each and every person—and each and every place—that makes Montreat such a very special, and timeless, treasure to me.
A place of sacred repose, of quiet, peace, and beauty, undisturbed history, joy, praise and celebration, contemplation and prayer, this is Montreat to me. From the gracious, strong arms of Assembly Inn to the shaded porch of Way Out, along the creek banks to the top of Lookout Mountain, Montreat’s foothold in the Blue Ridge remains secure in the hearts and souls of those who love her. I will always return to Montreat, as long as I am able, if only to rekindle my memories and catch a breath of the cold mountain air dancing off the laurel.
Thank you for this very special place.
Mark B. Horner
Greenville, SC
Crossing Boundaries
“The youth of Lloyd Presbyterian church bought this banner from the set of the 2006 Montreat Youth Conferences at the auction at the last youth conference. Lloyd is a multicultural church in the inner city of Winston-Salem, NC. We displayed the banner in worship when the youth presented their conference experiences and songs. The congregation loved it. Crosssing Boundaries fits our church’s mission.”
- Peace in Christ, Laura Spangler, Pastor
It’s a state of mind
Montreat is really not a place; it’s more like a state of mind. The Montreat experience is one like no other. You learn how to be open with new people and create long-lasting friendships. After being at the Youth Conference for five years, you come to love and enjoy this unique experience. It is extremely difficult to describe Montreat, because in my opinion there’s no other place like it in the world. I am sad to have to leave Montreat, after spending five wonderful years up here. I am glad however that the younger people of our youth group will be able to keep the Montreat tradition going strong. A word to the others who will be returning: just make the most out of every time you have the opportunity to experience this magnificent place.
- Press from Hartsville, SC
We are all called
Montreat has taught me to express my individuality, and likewise accept others when they express who they truly are. We are all called to be children of God, and Montreat is the best place to learn how to do that.
- Anonymous from Hartsville, SC
We had a wonderful weekend
Dear George,
I would like to inform you that our All Church Fall Retreat Weekend at Montreat was a great success! Your staff at the Inn and beyond was absolutely fabulous to work with, and I thank you and them. First Presbyterian Church [Greensboro, NC] has been coming to Montreat each year for our Fall Retreat Weekend, but the energy, attitude and willingness to help this past weekend was above and beyond what we had ever experienced in the past. Grier and I were talking about how it all felt “different” this year. Whatever you are doing to make it feel “different,” it is surely paying off…
Sincerely,
Rich Richards
Director of Recreation and Creative Arts Ministries
I turned out alright
“I was one of the youngest of that group (entering freshman in high school). I was quiet and shy most of the week, but I opened up our last day (in the prayer porch)… that week was transformational to my life. I returned to the Montreat Youth Conferences the next 4 straight years… Sometime in my early years of high school, I felt called to ministry. I went to college and on to Princeton Seminary… I got my M.Div in ’02… Last week, I returned to Montreat as a small group leader… I left that week wondering if I made a difference in their (the young people’s) lives and I wonder what will happen to them all… I just wanted to say thank-you and to let you know, 14 years later, that I turned out alright.”
- From Ryan, 14 years after his first visit to a Youth Conference at Montreat Conference Center
You even ordered that beautiful snow for us!
“We want to thank you for the wonderful retreat this past weekend! The service, facility, set-up and overall atmosphere were many levels higher than in the past. Everyone at the retreat noticed and appreciated it. Everyone on staff was extremely hospitable, willing to make any changes requested and were always available when needed. You even ordered that beautiful snow for us! Please thank everyone who worked hard before, during and after!
We are looking forward to seeing you in the fall for our all church retreat!”
- From the Women’s Retreat Committee at First Presbyterian Church Winston-Salem, NC
We had the best experience at Montreat EVER this time
“Thank you! We had the best experience at Montreat EVER this time – incredible organization, tremendous support, people seeking out our needs when we were delayed in requesting them – thanks to all the staff…”
- New Hope Presbytery, September, 2006
