A quick walk around Montreat during the first week of November can leave me in awe if I’m in the right frame of mind, and this year, that’s been particularly true.
This fall, God has presented a palette of colors that seems to have no boundaries. A bit later than usual, and perhaps with pent-up determination, the trees commenced with their autumn transition, showing off their shades of shades of gold and red, orange and green without ceremony, as if to say so matter-of-factly, “This is what we do.”
It isn’t uncommon to see locals and visitors alike snapping photos around the lake, heading off toward a trail, or wandering into The Huckleberry to get their bearings and fuel up for their next foray back out into nature. There seems to be a new sight awaiting discovery just about every day, since the surrounding trees are careful to syncopate their most vivid displays of color across the hours and days.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that the conference center stays especially busy this time of year. October was full, and I’m especially excited about the range of programs we have upcoming. Those looking for their own self-guided Sabbath options, for example, can participate in a Fall Sabbath Getaway, while participants aged 50 and up will engage body and mind with our November and December Road Scholar programs. Along with these two opportunities, church retreats, community breakfasts, and morning worship at Montreat Presbyterian Church are among the many other draws that will bring an estimated 2,700 people to 46 events to our campus in November.
Those numbers don’t include a huge Thanksgiving dinner on the holiday itself, hosted by the conference center in the Katherine McKay Belk Dining Room, a “standing room only” event that is now an annual tradition for many Montreaters.
Looking out beyond to January, young adults can find meaningful ways to connect during College Conference @ Montreat or The Manna Retreat. If arts are your thing, our newest art program, Hand and Hearth, offers a small, intimate gathering designed for artists, makers, and creative souls who long for time to slow down, explore, experiment, and simply make. Those wanting a more hands-on experience can try baking, hiking, or fly fishing, among other things at Discovering Renewal or join us later in May for the Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference to blend play and worship in an intentional way.
And so, we are reminded by the seasons that creation is constantly changing, that renewal takes many forms, and that God continues to meet us in unexpected spaces and surprise us with new perspectives and opportunities for growth. During this season of gratitude and thanksgiving, we hope you’ll find a voice that calls you to experience the gift of Montreat in meaningful ways in the months ahead.
More to come,
Richard DuBose
President, Montreat Conference Center