Assembly Inn Update: On Occupancy Rates and Why They Matter (Even If You Never Stay There) 07/12/2024
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.
This past spring, our senior leadership team was reviewing some key metrics at the close of our fiscal year. One of those metrics that we track annually is the occupancy rate at Assembly Inn. Emily Causey, our vice president for hospitality, reported that Inn occupancy for the year ending April 30th had reached a new high of 54%, a figure almost twice the rate reported a decade ago. This is an especially important metric in “breaking the cycle” referred to in last week’s post. What struck the team, however, was Emily’s observation that the Inn was approaching capacity with little
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Thanks to all who have filled out our community survey. If you have not filled it out, please feel free to participate. Have a great week!
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, July 14, 2024
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar has served as senior pastor of Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, AL, since July 2019. A native of Southwest Virginia, Rebekah is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, holds a MA in Christian education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, and completed her MDiv degree at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Her sermon pulls from Matthew 25:14-30, and is titled "The Joy of Your Master."
Weekly Rundown |
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| Sunday, July 14 | |
| 10:30 am | Summer Worship Service with Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar, Anderson Auditorium |
| 11:45 am | Sunday Buffet, Galax Dining Room |
| 6:30 pm |
Dessert and Hymn Sing, |
| Monday, July 15 | |
| 7:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
| Tuesday, July 16 | |
| 9:00 am | Public Hike (full day), More information below |
| 7:00 pm | Arts, Music, and Theology Lecture, Convocation Hall |
| 7:30 pm |
Youth Conference Worship, |
| Wednesday, July 17 | |
| 7:00 pm | Parenting Workshop, Thompson Brown Meeting Room |
| 7:30 pm |
Youth Conference Worship, |
| Thursday, July 18 | |
| 7:30 pm |
Youth Conference Worship, |
| Friday, July 19 |
|
| 7:30 pm | Friday Night at the Barn, The Barn |
| 8:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
| Saturday, July 20 |
|
| 7:00 am | Second Loaf, More information below |
| Sunday, July 21 |
|
| 10:30 am | Summer Worship Service with Rev. Dr. José Irizarry, 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
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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.
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, July 16
Full Day – Mount Mitchell
Moderate hike, but very long | 18 miles total | 4000’ gain
Reservation required to participate. Please visit the Montreat Nature Center for more information.
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 or call Ann Laird Jones at 662.347.3614.
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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) |
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| 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
| Pool Hours | |
|---|---|
| Open Daily | 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm |
Please note that deck chairs at the pool are limited. You are encouraged to bring your own portable/folding chairs when visiting the Montreat Pool.
Clubs Crafts Request
Participate in Our Spaces and Places Survey
Join Us for the Second in a Series of Free Mini-Workshops!
You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!
Here’s the scoop! You are invited to an old fashioned ice cream social at the Presbyterian Heritage Center on Saturday, July 20, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. All ages are welcome to enjoy the free, homemade, sweet, summer treat. It will be a great opportunity to visit with old Montreat friends and to meet new ones. It will also be a wonderful time to check out current exhibits at the PHC including the replica of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad. The ice cream and the fun are free! See you at the PHC!
Tennis & Pickleball
Tennis and Pickleball Courts are available to the public on Monday - Friday 10:00 am-2:00 pm and 3:00-6:00 pm, $3/person/hour.
Pickleball players gather in particular on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:15 am-12:30 pm, $3/session.
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.
“Words and Music: Poetry, Hymns, and the Holy”
led by Paul Hooker and Eric Wall
- Date: Tuesday, July 16
- Time: 7:00 - 8:15 pm
- Place: Convocation Hall
Friday Night at the Barn
Summer dances will take place on Friday nights through August 2.
- Date: Friday, July 19
- 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, 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 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, beginning at 11:45 am, 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, July 14 is:
Oven Roasted Turkey with Gravy
Tempura Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Parsleyed New Potatoes
Steamed Vegetable Medley
Honey Carrots with Thyme
Rolls and 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 | |
|---|---|
| July 14* | Eric Wall |
| July 21 | Ted Stewart |
| July 28 | Eunice Wonderly Stackhouse |
| Aug 4 | Vivian Hare |