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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This Sunday in Montreat
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.
Weekly Rundown |
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| 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, |
|
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, |
| Wednesday, June 26 | |
| 7:30 pm |
Worship & Music Hymn Festival, |
| Thursday, June 27 | |
| 9:00 am | Public Hike (full day), More information below |
| 7:30 pm |
Worship & Music Chamber Concert, |
| 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, |
Community Announcements
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Stay Up to Date
Montreat has an app! Use it to keep up to date with conferences and events, maps, and more. To download the app, download “Yapp” in the Google Play or Apple Store. Enter the Yapp ID “MONTREAT.” Enjoy!
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.
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
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.
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Pottery Hours (Upstairs) |
|
|---|---|
| Monday |
9:00 am-12:00 pm |
| Tuesday |
9:00 am-12:00 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 |
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 | |
Pool Announcements
Clubs Crafts Request
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.
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.
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
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!
Hymn Sings
It’s time for singing on Sunday nights at Montreat! Each Sunday evening from June 2 through August 4, you are invited to come to the Assembly Inn Lobby at 7:00 pm, our usual place, to gather.*
You will enjoy an hour of singing or listening to your favorite hymns, learn some new hymns, and learn a little about some of the hymns we sing on Sunday mornings. Come!
*Please note: Our July 14 Hymn Sing will be take place in the Presbyterian Heritage Center.
| Hymn Sing Lineup | |
|---|---|
| June 23 | Wayne Smith |
| June 30 | Susan Strickland |
| July 7 | Aaron Price |
| July 14* | Eric Wall |
| July 21 | Ted Stewart |
| July 28 | Eunice Wonderly Stackhouse |
| Aug 4 | Vivian Hare |