The Perfect Church 07/29/2022
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.
Back in the 1980s, right after I moved to Atlanta, I attended a lot of Braves games. The route between home to stadium was quick and passed by a Krispy Kreme calling out with “Hot Donuts Now.” The most notable landmark, however, sat at the corner of Gordon Street and McDaniel Street. Above its front door, in white lettering, read the sign: “The Perfect Church.” If I was traveling with a companion, The Perfect Church never escaped a mention. To my father, an active pastor over four decades, I’d sometimes point at the sign and suggest, “I’ll bet you always . . .
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 31
Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer is President of the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA). His sermon draws on Luke 12:13-21, and is titled "What Shall We Bequeath?"
Preaching Sunday, August 7
Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence is Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching of Columbia Theological Seminary. Her sermon draws on 1 Kings 17:8-16, and is titled "Picking up Sticks at the City Gate."
A Note About Masks
We are continuing to monitor the need for masks. To find mask requirements for specific events, please visit our Covid Health and Safety page.
Community Announcements
For updates to Montreat Community events, subscribe to Community Announcements
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.
Weekly Rundown |
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Sunday, July 31 | |
10:30 am | Summer Worship Service with Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer, Anderson Auditorium |
11:45 am | Sunday Buffet, Galax Dining Room |
7:00 pm | Hymn Sing led by Catherine Harkey and Eunice Stackhouse, Assembly Inn Lobby |
Monday, August 1 | |
7:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
Tuesday, August 2 | |
9:00 am |
Public Hikes (Half/Full Day) (more info below), Nature Center |
7:00 pm |
Arts, Music, and Theology Lecture Series: “Teaching Evolution, with Care” led by Dr. Miles Engell, |
7:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
Wednesday, August 3 | |
7:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
Thursday, August 4 | |
9:00 am | Public Hikes (Full Day) (more info below), Nature Center |
7:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
Friday, August 5 |
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7:00 pm | Big Circle Mountain Dance, Cornwell Tennis Courts |
8:30 pm | Youth Conference Worship, Anderson Auditorium |
Saturday, August 6 |
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7:00 am | Second Loaf (more info below) |
Sunday, August 7 |
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10:30 am | Summer Worship Service with Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence, Anderson Auditorium |
11:45 am | Sunday Buffet, Galax Dining Room |
7:00 pm | Hymn Sing led by Vivian Hare and Keith Grogg, Assembly Inn Lobby |
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.
Pottery Hours (Upstairs) |
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Monday–Tuesday | 9:00 am–12:00 pm 2:00–5:00 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 exhibit includes: Mount Mitchell Railroad; Diplomats, Missionaries & Montreat, repatriation during WWII; Native Americans & Presbyterian Missions; Early Montreat and much more!
Free Admittance | |
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Heritage Center Hours: | |
Monday | 1:00–4:00 pm |
Tuesday–Friday | 10:00 am–4:00 pm |
Saturday | 12:00–4:00 pm |
Sunday |
closed |
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, August 2
Lookout Loop (Half Day)
The "Top o' the Valley" Hike (Full Day)
Thursday, August 4
Pinnacle (Full Day)
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.
“Teaching Evolution, with Care” led by Dr. Miles Engell.
- Date: Tuesday, August 2
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Place: Convocation Hall
Big Circle Mountain Dances
Summer dances will take place on Friday nights through August 5.
- Date: Friday, August 5
- 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 Montreat's Community Announcements and on social media. Stay tuned!
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.
Second Loaf's last summer collection is Saturday, August 6.
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.
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!
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.
Monday–Friday | 10:00 am–6:00 pm |
Saturday | 10:00 am–5:00 pm |
Sunday | 12:00–5:00 pm |
Contact: 828.669.1406
Located: 3rd floor, Moore Center
Galax Sunday Buffet
The Galax Dining room is closed to the public for all meals except for Sunday lunch June 5–August 7. 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, August 7 is:
Beef Stifado
Parmesan Crusted Tiliapia
Basmati Rice Pilaf
Summer Squash Medley
Roasted Baby Carrots with Thyme
Dinner Rolls
Salad Bar
Fruit & 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 beginning Memorial Day through the conference season. The Gate House is staffed by volunteers in two hour shifts. Volunteers are needed to serve, either as a regular volunteer or a substitute. If you are interested, please let Jim Richardson know.
Phone: 828.669.4454
Phone: 864.986.9792
Email: jamestandsallyg@hotmail.com
Monday–Thursday | 10:00 am–4:00 pm |
Friday | 12:00–2:00 pm |
Support Montreat
Support Summer in Montreat and all aspects of Montreat's ministry!
Hymn Sings
Montreat Conference Center's in-person hymn-sings are back. After two pandemic summers of turn-on-a-dime live-streamed hymn-sings, we return for in-person gatherings. A stellar group of musicians, introduced by congenial community hosts, will lead the hymn-sings.
We will gather Sunday evenings, 7:00–8:00 pm, in the Assembly Inn Lobby. Masking protocols, per Montreat Conference Center, apply. Please come and bring your fellow singers!
Hymn Sing Lineup | |
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Date | Leader |
July 31 | Catherine Harkey |
August 7 | Vivian Hare and Keith Grogg |