This Week in Montreat – July 24, 2022

Crafts and Pottery

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

Sign up for classes begins online each Thursday evening at 6:00 pm. 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.

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 exhibit includes: Mount Mitchell Railroad; Diplomats, Missionaries & Montreat, repatriation during WWII; Native Americans & Presbyterian Missions; Early Montreat and much more!

Second Loaf

Second Loaf continues its long history of collecting food donations for the food insecure in our community on Saturdays, in the parking lot area in front of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Adjusting for COVID-related restrictions, Second Loaf can only take shelf ready non-perishables, cold or frozen food in their original unopened packaging (such as a whole, unopened package of hot dogs), personal care items and paper goods (opened or unopened), and fresh produce (fruits and vegetables). Individually wrapped snacks are especially welcome. We are grateful for the generous response of groups who drop off their "second loaves" on their way home.

Wilderness Hiking Program

The Ranger staff will offer public hikes each Tuesday and Thursday during the summer conference season with two special full day Saturday hikes. Skill demonstrations will be held on Thursdays. 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 just below the Lake Susan spillway. All hikes this summer are subject to change based on evolving health guidance and weather.

Tuesday, July 26

Rainbow Mountain (Half Day)

East Ridge Ramble (Full Day)

Thursday, July 28

Trestle Railroad Tour (Full Day)

Interested in renting your home to Youth Groups in 2023?

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 2023? 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.

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.

“Womanist Wit and Wisdom” led by Rev. Dr. Edna Jacobs Banes and Rev. Amantha Barbee accompanied by Eric Wall.

• Date: Tuesday, July 26
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Place: Convocation Hall

The Rev. Dr. Edna Jacobs Banes (right) is a native of Clinton, SC. Edna was a teacher in South Carolina, Germany (where she met her husband Warren), Nebraska, Florida, and Texas in her first career. A move to Alexandria, VA coincided with a call to ministry. She received an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary and a DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary. She served as associate pastor at Old Presbyterian Meeting House and then Dean of Students and Chaplain at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond and Charlotte before retiring to Montreat. She currently serves as pastoral associate at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church in Asheville. She and Warren have two adult children and four grandchildren. She enjoys walking/jogging, kayaking, reading, and discovering the holy in the ordinary.

The Rev. Amantha Barbee (left) is the senior pastor of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Amantha has served on the MRA board for nearly six years, sharing her gifts and talents for Preaching, Teaching, Music, Networking, Leadership, and Anti-bias training. She currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee. In addition to her service to the MRA, Amantha is Chairperson of the GA Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and Co-Chair of “Next Church.” She is a graduate of UNC, Union Presbyterian Seminary, and is currently pursuing a D. Min at Columbia Seminary.

“Participatory Aesthetics: Integrating Visuals into Church Communities Through Congregational Engagement” led by Catherine Kapikian and Grace Evans

• Date: Thursday, July 28
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Place: Convocation Hall

Big Circle Mountain Dances

Summer dances will take place on Friday nights through August 5.

• Date: Friday, July 29
• Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
• Place: Cornwell Tennis Courts

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.

Pickleball

Pickleball is offered on Monday and Friday mornings from 10:30 am–1:00 pm. The cost is $3 per session. Pickleball will conclude for the summer after the first week in August.

The Huckleberry Café

The newly renovated Huckleberry will be opening this summer! Details on our reopening date (once determined) will be included in This Week in Montreat. Stay tuned!