Friends, Greetings from Montreat! I’m writing this morning to provide you updates on happenings this spring and on preparations for another busy summer in the valley. The MRA Board of Directors/Trustees met in March to consider matters both routine and forward-thinking. The Board heard the staff’s report on the fiscal year 2018-2019, which concluded on April 30th. Once the books are finalized we expect to have achieved a small operating surplus thanks to strong performance from the summer of 2018 against budgeted expectations. The Board also passed a $7.9 million budget for 2019-2020, in which staff is forecasting slight …
Robert Lake Park – May 2019 Update
Dear friends of Robert Lake Park, With great excitement, I write to share that the construction phase of the Robert Lake Park restoration has begun. On April 29, we received final approval and permitting from the Corps of Engineers, and our contractor began work the same day. We are grateful for the hard work of the many engineers, government officials, Montreat staff and donors who have helped us reach this point. The entirety of the park will be closed until mid-June, but the plans that have been developed should provide a more secure and flood-resistant park for years to come. …
A Montreat Summer Tradition
With summer over, you might be missing one of the most integral parts of a Montreat summer: barn dances. In 1969, Glenn Bannerman spent his first summer as director of recreation here at Montreat Conference Center. With him, he brought his love for recreation… Read more.
Love Led Me to Montreat
For two amazing weeks, I had the joy of serving as a small group leader for Montreat Youth Conference 2019: Let Love Lead… My biggest regret? Why did I wait so long?!?… Read more.
Rev. Dr. Steve P. Eason: August 4, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 8/4/2019 was Rev. Dr. Steve P. Eason. More information about Rev. Eason can be found at our press release: https://montreat.org/the-rev-dr-steve-eason-to-preach-on-august-4.
The Rev. Dr. Steve Eason to Preach on August 4
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series concludes on August 4 with the Rev. Dr. Steve P. Eason as guest preacher. Dr. Eason recently concluded a call as interim pastor of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN. His longest tenure as pastor and head of staff was at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, …
Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill: July 28, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 7/28/2019 was Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill. For more information about Rev. Ridgill, visit our press release: https://montreat.org/the-rev-dr-alice-ridgill-to-preach-on-july-28.
This is Like, a Bob Ross Painting
“This is like, a Bob Ross painting,” says SK through deep breaths. A group of us are on Lookout Rock in Montreat for sunrise, and it’s becoming more worth the 5:30 a.m. departure as… Read more.
Rev. Dr. Peter Enns: July 21, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 7/21/2019 was Rev. Dr. Peter Enns. You can learn more about the speaker at https://montreat.org/dr-peter-enns-to-preach-at-montreat-conference-center-on-july-21.
The Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill to Preach on July 28
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on July 28 with the Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill as guest preacher. Dr. Ridgill is founder and pastor of New Faith Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, SC. Prior to this she served as pastor of the former Washington Street Presbyterian Church in Abbeville, SC, as adjunct professor of …
Dr. Peter Enns to Preach at Montreat Conference Center on July 21
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on July 21 with Dr. Peter Enns as guest preacher. Dr. Enns is Abram S. Clemans professor of Biblical studies at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. He has taught at numerous other schools, including Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and Temple University. Dr. Enns speaks …
Rev. Michael R. Bailey: July 14, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 7/14/2019 was Rev. Michael R. Bailey.
Rev. Dr. Patrick Johnson: July 7, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 7/7/2019 was Rev. Denise Anderson, former co-moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). You can learn more about this preacher from our press release at montreat.org/the-rev-dr-patrick-johnson-to-preach-at-montreat-conference-center-on-july-7.
The Rev. Dr. Patrick Johnson to Preach at Montreat Conference Center on July 7
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on July 7 with the Rev. Dr. Patrick Johnson as guest preacher. Dr. Johnson is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in neighboring Asheville, NC. Prior to his call to Asheville, he served as pastor of Frenchtown Presbyterian Church in Frenchtown, NJ, and as adjunct faculty at Princeton …
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson: June 30, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 6/30/2019 was Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). You can learn more about this preacher from our press release at montreat.org/the-rev-dr-j-herbert-nelson-to-preach-at-montreat-conference-center-on-june-30.
Rev. Denise Anderson: June 16, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 6/16/2019 was Rev. Denise Anderson, former co-moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). You can learn more about this preacher from our press release at montreat.org/the-rev-denise-anderson-to-preach-at-montreat-conference-center-on-june-16.
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson to Preach at Montreat Conference Center on June 30
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on June 30 with the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson as guest preacher. Dr. Nelson serves as stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Prior to becoming stated clerk, he served as director of the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C. …
Rev. Tom Are: June 23, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 6/23/2019 was Rev. Tom Are. You can learn more about the speaker from our press release at https://montreat.org/the-rev-tom-are-to-preach-at-montreat-conference-center-on-june-23.
The Rev. Tom Are to Preach at Montreat Conference Center on June 23
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on June 23 with the Rev. Tom Are as guest preacher. Rev. Are is pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS. A sixth generation Presbyterian minister, he previously served churches in Charleston and Columbia, SC, as well as Jacksonville, FL. Rev. Are’s sermon is titled …
Rev. Dr. Damon P. Williams: June 9, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 6/9/2019 was Rev. Dr. Damon P. Williams. You can learn more about this preacher from our press release at montreat.org/the-rev-dr-damon-p-williams-to-preach-in-montreat-on-sunday-june-9-2019.
The Rev. Denise Anderson to Preach at Montreat Conference Center on June 16
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on June 16 with the Rev. Denise Anderson as guest preacher. Rev. Anderson is the coordinator for Racial and Intercultural Justice with the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and served as co-moderator of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She is a graduate of the Virginia …
Park Update from the President
FROM THE PRESIDENT I’ve got a children’s story for you. Sometime in June, weather permitting, we expect to reopen Robert Lake Park to the young at heart, closing a year-long tale that began with flood waters from Tropical Storm Diego in May 2018. The story includes chapters that are inspiring, others confounding, and still others that are just exasperating. We have “all the king’s horses” in the roles of government representatives and engineers. There are scary parts, like a year of record rain that washes away some good progress, and cost estimates, and multiple delays. (Here’s a terrifying phrase: “You …
The Rev. Dr. Damon P. Williams to Preach in Montreat on Sunday, June 9, 2019
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series continues on June 9 with the Rev. Dr. Damon P. Williams as guest preacher. Dr. Williams is senior pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, and previously served in several ministerial roles at Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, MI. He is a graduate of Georgia …
Rev. Dr. Sharol Hayner: June 2, 2019
Every Sunday during the summer months, Montreat Conference Center, along with Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds services for the Lord’s Day featuring guest preachers from around the country. The guest preacher for Montreat Conference Center’s Summer Worship Series on 6/2/2019 was Rev. Dr. Sharol Hayner. You can learn more about this preacher from our press release at montreat.org/montreat-conference-announces-summer-worship-series-lineup-for-2019.
Beyond Lookout
Looking for an alternative hike to Lookout? Here are three trails worth trying if you’re looking for a new hiking experience.
Montreat Conference Announces Summer Worship Series Lineup for 2019
One of the highlights of Montreat Conference Center’s year-round programming is the summer worship series in which leading preachers from across the country join with visual art professionals and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited. The 2019 Sunday series begins on June 2 with the Rev. Dr. Sharol Hayner as guest preacher. Dr. Hayner is an ordained Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister, and is a worshiping member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, WI. She previously served as associate pastor for discipleship at Peachtree Presbyterian Church and parish associate …
Thank you, the MYAEs
The rhododendrons have bloomed, preparations for summer are in full swing and the MYAEs have completed their time with Montreat. From their orientation to their final potluck party, the MYAEs want to share…