This Week in Montreat - June 23, 2024 | Montreat Conference Center

The Importance of Community in Independent Play 06/21/2024

Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center, writes a weekly message to Montreat. An excerpt of this weeks message is below. To read his full message, click the "Read More" button below the excerpt.

Last summer, noting studies reporting rising rates of unhappiness and mental illness among American teens – and seeing evidence of that trend here – the program staff at Montreat Conference Center scheduled some events for parents in our community. A year later, public consciousness and debate on the causes of the trend and possible solutions are continuing, if not increasing, and so the programs are being offered once again. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt raises a prominent voice of concern. In his new book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, Haidt
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We are delighted to continue our Summer Worship Series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual artists, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited.

All summer worship services take place in Anderson Auditorium at 10:30 am.

Preaching Sunday, June 23, 2024

Rev. Laura Smith Conrad attended Presbyterian College and Columbia Theological Seminary. She joined Fort Hill Church in June of 2009 as their 11th installed Pastor. Laura’s primary roles include weekly worship and preaching, leading the staff and Session, and coaching and equipping the ministries of the church to be fruitful and healthy. This week, her sermon is titled "A 'Just as I Am' Jesus" and draws from Mark 4:35 - 41.

Learn More About Summer Worship

Weekly Rundown
Sunday, June 23
10:30 am	Summer Worship Service with Rev. Laura Smith Conrad, Anderson Auditorium
11:45 am	Sunday Buffet, Galax Dining Room
7:00 pm	Hymn Sing, Assembly Inn Lobby
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Worship Service, Anderson Auditorium
Monday, June 24
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Organ Recital, Anderson Auditorium
Tuesday, June 25
9:00 am	Public Hike (half day), More information below
1:00 pm	Public Hike (half day), More information below
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Talent Show, Anderson Auditorium
Wednesday, June 26
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Hymn Festival, Anderson Auditorium
Thursday, June 27
9:00 am	Public Hike (full day), More information below
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Chamber Concert, Anderson Auditorium
Friday, June 28
7:30 pm	Worship & Music Closing Concert, Anderson Auditorium
7:30 pm	Friday Night at the Barn, The Barn
Saturday, June 29
7:00 am	Second Loaf, More information below
Sunday, June 30
10:30 am	Summer Worship Service with Rev. Dr. David A. Renwick, Anderson Auditorium
11:45 am	Sunday Buffet, Galax Dining Room
7:00 pm	Hymn Sing, Assembly Inn Lobby

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Community Announcements

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Stay Up to Date

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This Summer in Montreat

This Summer in Montreat (TSIM) is a publication of Montreat Conference Center gathering all of the hours, contact details, and opportunities for guest in the summer months.

View TSIM

Wilderness Hiking Program

The Ranger staff will offer public hikes during the summer conference season. All hikes are free and open to the public. You must be 13 or older to attend a hike without an adult guardian. Hikes will leave at 9:00 am, unless otherwise, noted from the Montreat Nature Center, located at 301 Lookout Road. All hikes this summer are subject to change based on weather.

Tuesday, June 25

9:00 am, Half Day – Sanctuary Loop
Easy hike | Leisurely pace

1:00 pm, Half Day – Rainbow Road
Easy hike | Moderate pace

Thursday, June 27

Full Day – East Ridge Ramble
Moderate hike with a few strenuous sections | 6 miles total | 1700’ gain

More About Summer Hikes

More About Montreat's Wilderness

Crafts and Pottery

The Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery are a collaborative ministry of Montreat Conference Center. Craft and pottery classes are open to people 12 years and older. Class offerings vary from week to week. In addition to classes, we offer independent wheel throwing and handbuilding.

Sign up for classes begins online each Friday morning at 9:00 am. The class registration link will be at the top of the Crafts & Pottery page. If you need further assistance, please email montreatpottery@gmail.com.

Pottery Hours (Upstairs)
Monday	9:00 am-12:00 pm 2:00-5:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am-12:00 pm 2:00-5:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am-12:00 pm
Thursday	2:30-5:30 pm *Pottery Glazing*
Friday	Normally closed
Saturday	8:00-11:00 am *Pottery Pickup*
Craft Hours (Downstairs)
Monday–Thursday	2:00-5:00 pm

View Crafts & Pottery Page

View Class Schedule

Presbyterian Heritage Center

318 Georgia Terrace. 828.669.6556. Free admission.

This center offers multiple museum displays, special events, art galleries, and a reference library. Free WiFi and air-conditioning. Summer exhibits include: Missions in a Changing World; Minting a Tradition: Communion Tokens; Trains, Timber & Tourists: The Story of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad; Early Montreat; Chronicle, Culture & Context: Archaeology & the Old Testament; Who Are Presbyterians?; Montreat Scottish Society, and much more!

Heritage Center Hours
Tuesday–Friday	10:00 am-4:00 pm
Saturday	12:00-4:00 pm
Sunday–Monday	closed
Free Admittance

Visit PHC

Pool Announcements

The Montreat Pool will open to the public on July 1.

Clubs Crafts Request

Club crafts is searching for an old (but working) box fan for spin art later in the summer, tin cans, and shells of any size. Items can be dropped off in or outside the bottom floor of the Currie Craft Center. Contact: Cory Earp at 828.499.3754.

Tennis & Pickleball

Tennis Courts are available to the public on Monday - Friday 10:00 am-2:00 pm and 3:00-4:30 pm, $3/person/hour.

Pickleball is offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:15 am-12:30 pm, $3/session.

Montreat Adult Summer Club

Please join us at the annual Montreat Adult Summer Club Picnic on Wednesday, August 2, at 6:00 pm in Gaither Fellowship Hall. Please bring your favorite covered dish to add to the fun and wonderful food. Enjoy seeing old Montreat friends and meeting new ones! Walter Somerville will entertain us with lighthearted stories and interesting facts about our beloved Guinea fowl. Everyone is welcome! Bring your guests and friends!

Arts, Music, and Theology

Arts, Music, and Theology is a mission and ministry of Montreat Conference Center. Its purpose is to provide the community with educational nourishment via various lectures and lecturers during our summer season. Themes of the lectures span disciplines.

Please note: The first lecture is July 2.

More About Arts, Music, and Theology

Friday Night at the Barn

Summer dances will take place on Friday nights through August 2.

Date: Friday, June 28
Time: 7:30-10:00 pm
Place: The Barn

Big circle mountain dancing is a special Montreat tradition! It's a fun-filled night of dances called by the Bannerman family and music from the Stoney Creek Boys. All are welcome, and admission is free.

The Huckleberry

Known to many Montreat visitors as “The Huck,” our recently renovated café is located on the third floor of Moore Center and serves breakfast, coffee, ice cream, hamburgers, and other quick eats. With great views of the Lake Susan dam both inside the café or from a rocking chair on the porch, The Huckleberry is a great place to relax and reconnect with friends.

Huckleberry Summer Hours \| June 3–August 3
Monday–Friday	8:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday	8:00 am-3:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Second Loaf

Second Loaf continues its long history of collecting food donations for the food insecure in our community beginning Saturday, June 8 and ending Saturday, August 3 (except July 6), in the parking lot area in front of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Second Loaf can only take unopened shelf-ready foods. Frozen, fresh, and prepared foods cannot be accepted. We are grateful for the generous response of groups who drop off their "second loaves" on their way home!

Second Loaf Hours
Saturdays	7:00-11:00 am

Interested in renting your home to Youth Groups in 2025?

Each year we have youth groups looking for suitable housing for their Montreat Youth Conference experience and we are beginning to update our Private Housing List. Are you interested in renting your house to youth groups in 2025? If so, please fill out the form below, even if you are on our current list. This will allow us to have the most up-to-date information for our list.

If you have questions, please email us at privatehousing@montreat.org.

Private Housing List

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM)

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) invites you, as always, to daily worship services (11:00 am) and evening events (7:30 pm), Monday through Friday, June 24-28. Opening worship is on Sunday evening, June 23, at 7:30 pm. You are also invited to join us for Morning and Evening Prayer. Click here for more details.

The Montreat Store

The Montreat Store is an awesome mix of boutique, gift shop, and general store. From snacks to t-shirts to toiletries to books to pottery, The Montreat Store has it all!

The Montreat Store Hours
Monday–Friday	10:00 am-6:00 pm
Saturday	10:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Contact: 828.669.5298
Located: 2nd floor, Moore Center

Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages is a global maker‑to‑market movement that breaks the cycle of generational poverty and ignites social change in the developing world.

Ten Thousand Villages Hours
Monday–Wednesday	10:00 am-5:00 pm
Thursday–Saturday	10:00 am-6:00 pm
Sunday	9:00 am-4:00 pm

Contact: 828.669.1406
Located: 3rd floor, Moore Center

Ten Thousand Villages Website

Galax Sunday Buffet

The Galax Dining room is open for Sunday lunch June 2–August 4. Non-refundable tickets may be purchased at the Assembly Inn front desk and used on any Sunday. You can call the front desk at 828.669.2911 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Adults	Ages 5–11	Under 5
$17.00	$8.50	FREE

The menu for Sunday, June 23 is:

Orange Marmalade Glazed Baked Ham
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce
Cornbread Dressing with Gravy
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Steamed Vegetable Medley
Southern Style Turnip Greens
Rolls, Butter
Fruit, Salad Bar, Assorted Desserts

Development Summer Events

To support these activities and all aspects of Montreat's ministry visit montreat.org/support.

Welcome Center at the Gatehouse

The Montreat Gate House will be open June 3–August 2. Those interested in volunteering at the Welcome Center should contact Martha Todd Sloan, director of donor engagement at marthas@montreat.org or 828.419.9883.

Gatehouse Welcome Center Hours
Monday–Friday	10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Support Montreat

From Big Circle Mountain Dances and Energizers to rock hopping and hiking, gifts to the Montreat Fund support the summer memories we hold most dear here in Montreat!

Support Montreat!