The Montreat Conference Center Blog

Sunday Worship a Summer Highlight in Montreat

2012-05-15T14:48:00.002-04:00

Sundays at Montreat are a highlight of the summer season, a time when an entire great community of visitors, conferees, cottagers, vacationers, and conference leadership gather as one to offer praise and thanksgiving in a service of worship, liturgy, scripture, sacrament, and prayer. Proclaiming God’s word from the pulpit and through music, art, and Bible study for these services are some of the best preachers and educators in the church today, from as far away as Scotland, California and Kansas; as close by as Montreat and Black Mountain.

The series begins on June 3, with the Rev. John Bell from the Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland, preaching on the topic “Divine Contrariness.” Dr. Bell is a hymn-writer, a Church of Scotland minister, and a member of the Iona Community. Well-known throughout the world, Dr. Bell is a much sought after lecturer and preacher whose primary concern is the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level.

Serving as summer liturgy writer is Dr. Mel Bringle, Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies and chair of the Humanities Division at Brevard College in western North Carolina. She first remembers coming to Montreat when she was so little she had to crawl up the steps to Assembly Inn on her hands and knees. Since those days, she has been a Montreat regular, having led seminars in worship and music. As a noted hymn writer, she served on the Executive Committee of The Hymn Society in the US and Canada, and more recently as chair of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song. She grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC.

Eric Wall, who recently came on staff as Montreat Conference Center’s Conference Musician, will provide and lead worship through music each Sunday. In addition to his responsibilities at Montreat, Wall is director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville. Much appreciated for his vast realm of musical genres, his creative vision, and his gift for drawing congregations of all ages and backgrounds into the celebration of music, Wall’s leadership is a major part of the Sunday summer worship series.

The Rev. Dr. Ann Laird Jones, Director of Arts Ministry at Montreat Conference Center, will use her talents to include the arts each Sunday morning, translating the theme of the day in various forms of creative expression. She will be assisted by Lisle Gwynn, a Columbia Theological Seminary student and Montreat’s summer intern in arts and theology.

All Sunday worship services are held in the conference center’s Anderson Auditorium at 10:30 am, with child care available for children six months through completed Kindergarten at the Updike Child Care Center on Texas Road. A buffet at Assembly Inn’s Galax Dining Room is served each Sunday from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm, with menu information available in This Week in Montreat, the conference center’s weekly summer newsletter.

For additional information and a complete schedule, visit the Summer Worship page on Montreat.org.

Perfect time...perfect place. Have you planned your Montreat experience?

2012-05-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

Daily rates available for VOICE and The Women's Connection

VOICE, May 25-28, and The Women's Connection, May 29-June 1, are fast approaching. We hope you're planning on joining us for one or both of these excellent events. Acknowledging the full and busy schedules of so many, we want to be sure you know that daily rates are available for both events.

Register for either Saturday, May 26 or Sunday, May 27 for VOICE for just $50 per day (David LaMotte performance is not included in the $50 daily rate). This fee includes lunch at the Assembly Inn for whichever day you select.

The David LaMotte concert taking place Saturday, May 26 at 7:45 pm in Upper Anderson is now open to the public! If you are unable to register for VOICE, you can still enjoy David's performance. General admission is $15; children 5-11 are $7.50; children under 5 are free.

Register for either Wednesday, May 30 or Thursday, May 31 for The Women's Connection for just $100 per day. Or, if you want to attend just the daily Bible study on the 30th or 31st, register for just $25 per session. Include lunch for the day you're attending the Bible study for a total of $35.

Take advantage of these fabulous daily rates and purchase tickets for David LaMotte's performance by emailing Susan Akduman or calling her at 828.419.9829.

For families of all shapes and sizes: Parenting with Soul, July 3-7

Take the time to nurture your soul and learn ways to care for the souls of your children and health of your family. Intended for families of all configurations, with children of any age, we will explore what it means to create community and craft ritual as a family, hear experts from a variety of fields, share ways to cultivate wholeness and strength in our children and ourselves, play together, provide opportunities for solitude, discover the role and power of peacemaking in families, and ultimately learn how to find our best rhythm as parents and then get out of the way – supporting our children as they grow into the fullness of who they’re created to be!

Leadership includes David and Deanna LaMotte, Sarah Peters, Beth Gunn, Diana McCall, and Jey Hiott.

A great conference over the Fourth of July holiday, and a wonderful event to share with members of your extended family!

Learn more and register for Parenting with Soul.

Looking ahead: A Day with Phyllis Tickle, July 6

Phyllis Tickle

We 21st century Christians are living in a strange time, one that Bishop Mark Dyer has long since labeled as “A Giant Rummage Sale.” To understand what it means for us here and now, acclaimed author and lecturer Phyllis Tickle will lead us in looking first at where we are and, secondly, at how we got here. Explore what it all means for the institutional Church and for us as Christians to be passing through such tumultuous times, and discover that some very invigorating, energetic, and God-drenched possibilities are awaiting us in the near future.

Phyllis Tickle is the founding editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly, the international journal of the book industry, and is frequently quoted in print sources like USA TODAY, Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times as well as in electronic media like PBS, NPR, The Hallmark Channel, and innumerable blogs and web sites. Tickle is the author of over two dozen books including the notable and popular The Divine Hours series.

You can register for this one day event for just $39, and your fee includes lunch. Friends or family interested in registering and wanting to stay over? Comprehensive rates are available, and begin at just under $100 for one night's lodging/double occupancy.

Learn more and register for Phyllis Tickle.

Quarterly Report: April 2012

2012-04-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

Download the April 2012 Quarterly Report

Pete Peery

Important Things...

A lot of important things have been happening in Montreat during the winter and early spring, two of which have really captured my attention.

The first big thing is the Building on the Tradition Campaign. By action of the Board of Directors in its March meeting, that campaign is laser-focused for the next several months on the renovation of Assembly Inn. This renovation is key to Montreat’s continued success and future well-being. The cost will be $6 million. To date we have raised in gifts and pledges $2.7 million toward the renovation, and we want to begin the project this fall. Yet the Board, being fiscally responsible, does not want to authorize the commencement of the project until we have $5 million in gifts or pledges in hand. Our challenge for late spring and summer, therefore, is to secure $2.3 million more. I pray you will help us toward this goal.

The second big thing is a review of our Youth Conference Model. As it has been for close to thirty years now, Montreat continues in its commitment to making the six weeks of Youth Conferences we offer each summer the most excellent experiences available for young people in the church, especially the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). To that end, we have begun this comprehensive review of our way of doing Youth Conferencing. What is a Youth Conference intended to be? What are the desired outcomes for the young people who attend as well as for the congregations that entrust them to us? What strategies should be used in the conferences to achieve those outcomes?

Because the church has changed over the past three decades, as has the social context in which young people live, this model review is crucial. A stellar team engaged in this review met recently in Atlanta. Out of that meeting, clarity emerged about what the Youth Conference is and what makes it truly distinctive from the many other “summer options” church youth groups have. So what is the Montreat Youth Conference? Here is what the Model Review Team has said to us:

The Montreat Youth Conference is a Christian gathering for youth, reformed in theology and practice - It clears space for encountering God and discovering and deepening a vibrant and durable faith in Jesus Christ - This happens through biblical and theological exploration of a particular theme in worship and music, recreation, prayer, and conversations with mentors and friends across the church.

I am honored to be related to an institution that boldly offers this conference to the church. I hope you are as well.

Grace and peace,
Pete Peery

Reflections on Voice

2012-04-25T12:56:00.000-04:00

Voices are hard to hear, these days, mainly because there are so many of them resounding all at once. There are the voices of politicians, fitness experts, and economists. They are the voices of cooking gurus, American idols, and Daily Shows. They are the voices of our children, our therapists, and our bosses.

They come at us in person or by phone, through email or on Facebook, by texting or by Twitter. They ask us if we want to donate just a dollar, or get ten percent off today by signing up for another (no strings attached) credit card. They tell us what we are doing wrong that will kill us, and what we can do right that will help us live longer, and how what they told us last year about what will kill us or help us to live isn’t actually as important as what they are saying right now. All these voices, it seems, want something more from us - even those that claim to offer something more for us. And they all keep talking – with blaring voices or punching thumbs; into cell phones or via keypads. Faster, shorter, right to the point: we value economy of words not to create room for silent, sacred, reflective spaces, but to make room for more (faster, shorter, clearer) words.

The best of us are expert at negotiating all these voices. At responding to all (instantly, perfunctorily) or shutting them all out (obliviously, superiorly). At being ourselves pithy, or at resisting the 140-character limit and risking loquaciousness. Whatever our strategy, we work hard not to let all these voices get the better of us.

Can you find the space, in your life, truly to listen?

Finding voices is even harder than managing the cacophony. Do you hear me now? Can you hear me? Can you find the space, in your life, truly to listen? And what about your own voice? Do you know what you want to say, and are you finding a space to say it?

As Christians, we are called to listen to the voices of others. And we are also called ourselves to speak. To bear witness. To proclaim the Gospel in a world that groans for redemption (whether it can hear the voice of its own groaning or not).

Most importantly of all, we as Christians seek to hear the voice of God. What is God saying to us? What would God have us to do? What does God want us to say, when we are asked to give an account of the hope that is in us? (I Peter 3).

...together we will reclaim ways truly to speak.

These are some of the questions that will shape the Voice conference. Montreat will provide a clearing where we can sort out voices that have become muddled; where we can learn again to distinguish, and listen carefully to, those that matter most. Together we will remember how really to hear; together we will reclaim ways truly to speak. Together we will attend to that Voice that refuses to overpower the cacophony by virtue of its sheer power; that Voice that speaks in ways that differ, altogether, from the ways the voices of the world speak. That Voice will meet us, perhaps, not as a rumbling earthquake, or a mighty wind, or a crackling fire, but as a gentle whisper (see I Kings 19). However and wherever it speaks, it will surely shape us, strengthening our voices that we may proclaim the Good News anew.

Cynthia Rigby

Come to Voice to revive your own voice as we listen, together, for the transforming voice of God. Come with your gripes about the multiple voices that threaten to overwhelm us. Come with a desire to be rejuvenated in your conviction that God is speaking a new Word that can indeed be heard, voiced, and lived. Come, let us rediscover, together, those voices that heal and make whole.

Cynthia L. Rigby
W.C. Brown Professor of Theology
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Lift Your Eyes to the These Mountains: May 25 - 28

2012-04-24T14:48:00.001-04:00

Spring sunrise over Lake Susan

Last year as the end of a long spring semester approached, I was looking for a way to recharge myself and go into the summer with energy and a more positive outlook on life. I found the PERFECT opportunity in a short weekend conference in Montreat, NC. Montreat is a quiet, thin place and one where you can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors in peaceful, calm surroundings. The conference, this year entitled “VOICE” provides an opportunity to think about your life in a different way and how God might be speaking to you. CONSIDER IT! It’s a great price and you will meet all kinds of interesting people also searching for God’s word to them.

My words do come with a warning….after last year’s conference I took a long look at my life and perceived God calling me to do something different! So after twelve years at my wonderful alma mater, Mary Baldwin College, I made a leap to come to the Montreat Conference Center. When you lift your eyes to these mountains and listen to the rushing mountain waters you can be renewed, refreshed and maybe even reoriented to a new direction!

I hope you will consider joining me at VOICE…

Lynn Gilliland
Vice President for Development
Montreat Conference Center

Listening for a Spiritual Voice

2012-04-17T16:20:00.000-04:00

VOICE: May 25-28, 2012

A peace activist, a governor, a CEO, and a football coach walk into a room… Sound like the opening line of a corny joke? Not at all. That’s exactly what you can expect May 25-28, when Montreat Conference Center hosts “VOICE,” a new conference about listening for and responding to the Voice of God. Not just for the people who show up for church every Sunday, this is a conference for everyone – teachers and students, employers and employees, parents and children, pastors and congregations – who strain to hear and long to be guided as they deal with life’s challenges, changes, and opportunities.

This timely conference features the powerful “God stories” of four diverse speakers: David LaMotte, a popular musician and peace activist; Jim Martin, who served as Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1985 to 1993; Paul Leonard, head of Habitat for Humanity International during a tumultuous time in the non-profit homebuilder’s history; and John Shoop, a football coach whose credentials include the University of North Carolina, the Oakland Raiders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Chicago Bears. A thoughtfully comprehensive, theologically grounded response to each address will be made by noted theologian from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Cynthia Rigby. Additional leadership for “VOICE,” includes conference preacher Kristin Saldine from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary; conference liturgist Beth Daniel, co-pastor of Kairos Church in Atlanta, GA; conference musician Eric Wall; and conference artist Ann Laird Jones.

David LaMotte

When asked how they actively listened for and responded to God’s Voice in their lives, the conference speakers offered unique perspectives:

“In my experience,’ LaMotte explained, “God speaks most often in a ‘still, small voice,’ which means that it is an easy voice to drown out. Taking regular time to listen in silence is fundamental to discernment for me.”

Paul Leonard

“My intent,” contributed Leonard, “is to be listening 24/7 because I know His Voice can come to me through ordinary daily events – songs, children playing, friends, strangers – and in the tough decisions I face in the middle of the night.”

John Shoop

Shoop’s response reflected recent changes in his life. “I made a key decision this winter when I decided to take a year off from coaching…I prayed that I could and would listen to God’s voice…” Expressing his sense that God has spoken to him about next steps in his life, he continued, “I hear God’s voice calling me to be the husband I long to be and the father I have dreamt of being.”

James (Jim) Martin

Martin responded pragmatically, expressing his belief that both the Bible as God’s word and the “pull of conscience” help us hear God’s Voice. “I have not prayed for competitive victory,” the veteran politician stated, “but to be able to handle the outcome.”

Planners for the “VOICE” conference made some intentional decisions about scheduling. “We chose a holiday, the long Memorial Day weekend, because it afforded people time to travel and was an opportunity for them to enjoy not only the conference, but relaxation as well,” said Merri Alexander, Vice President for Montreat’s Center for Faith and Life. Noting that childcare was available, she continued, “We built in plenty of free time for both play and reflection. What better place to listen for God’s Voice in your own life than hiking a trail in the Montreat wilderness or basking in the sunshine beside a rushing mountain stream or simply taking it easy in a rocking chair overlooking Lake Susan?”

A theme-focused conference, “VOICE” invites participants to join with leaders – the activist, the CEO, the politician, and the football coach – who are, in many ways, much like each of us, to consider God’s call and what it means to answer it across the full spectrum of life. “The people who inspire me most,” observed LaMotte, “are people who will never be in the newspaper.”

Milal Missionary Choir to Perform at Montreat Conference Center

2012-03-30T08:53:00.001-04:00

Montreat hosts the Milal Missionary Choir, April 7, 2012

The Korean word “milal” translates into English as “small wheat seed,” and in the spirit of a verse from the New Testament book of John, the talented members of the Milal Missionary Choir are committed to being those small seeds that, through a ministry of music, will touch lives and bear great fruits. Montreat Conference Center is honored to host this group for a free concert Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 PM, in Anderson Auditorium.

Established in 1987 and headquartered in New York City, the Milal Missionary Choir is made up of eighteen unique choirs in locations around the world, including Korea, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Italy, and the United States. Since its inception, these groups have presented over 500 concerts throughout the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Thailand, France, Germany, Indonesia, and Italy.

Daniel Lee

The choir’s recent appearances in New York City include concerts at the Riverside Church, Weil Recital Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, and Horace Mann Auditorium at Columbia University. Additionally, the Milal Missionary Choir performs at hospitals, prisons, and churches, taking advantage of every opportunity to share both their music and their faith.

Under the direction of Daniel Lee, this internationally acclaimed choir will delight Montreat music-lovers with a repertoire that includes classical selections and sacred music that spans works from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries, including contemporary Christian music. Most of the choir members are students or graduates of prominent music schools and colleges in the New York area.

What is it about Montreat... part two

2012-03-27T10:18:00.000-04:00

What is it about Montreat that has...
Inspired me? Changed my life? Given me direction? Made me feel good?

At a recent meeting, Board members, friends, and staff were asked to quickly write down meaningful Montreat “snippets” from their lives. I wanted to share with you some of the special moments they shared with me:

“Time away as a family – from work, school, deadlines, and tight schedules – to come to ‘camp’ and enjoy a more present-oriented, divinely centered respite.”
“Sitting by the creek with college friends and children playing together, thinking ‘God has been so good to me.’ “
“A World Mission Conference conversation with a woman from Korea, a man from Ghana, and a teenager from Ireland – a moment of Christian community!”
“…the people, the hospitality, the environment (being one with nature), the type of programming offered…”
“…the provocative persons I have encountered in Montreat who have stretched my faith.”
“When my wife and I hiked with our three pre-teenage children…I knew we had given them a family vacation that only God could provide.”
“…a cardinal perched on the rail of our deck after a snow.”
“The contrasting experiences of solitude on a front porch on a cool autumn day…with the energy and passion of 1200 youth celebrating a community of faith in the summer.”
“Watching 1,000 young people dancing as they moved down the aisles of Anderson Auditorium to take communion.”
“…the protection of the cove and the warmth of Christian fellowship. Montreat can be a ‘mountain-top’ experience for a young person seeking to find their identity.”
“Four generations of our family gathering on the porch of our Montreat cottage at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July for the past ninety years!”
“…I fell in love with the streams and climbing the mountains; sometimes missing the sky, I would climb Lookout Mountain and gaze across the valley…heaven!”

Thank you to our Board for their candid, thoughtful reflections. And now that you’ve read them, perhaps you have special moments to share as well. We invite you thoughts…

What is it about Montreat that has...

2012-03-26T14:15:00.000-04:00

"...Lake Susan is peaceful."

“My childhood sense of church had soured me early. From the first day I stepped from a car onto Montreat soil, I felt something open my heart…”
“Drifting into deep sleep with the sound of cicadas and the stream floating in the open window …”
“…a place that I can feel closer to God. The valley is picturesque and Lake Susan is peaceful…”
“When I drive through the gate, there is an instant and profound sense of being in a different sort of place…”
“…a bagpiper standing in the mist beside Lake Susan playing ‘Amazing Grace’ as the sun came up.”
“Memories piled on memories, going back decades…”
“Ministers gathering to listen instead of speak…”
"…hearing faith discussed by theologians who spoke of the Bible in new and creative ways, and then sitting with new (conferee) friends on the porch, talking about what we heard…”

Check the Montreat Blog for more thoughts in the future. Thank you to our Board for their candid, thoughtful reflections. And now that you’ve read them, perhaps you have special moments to share as well. We invite you thoughts…

Cindy Rigby: The Significance of Montreat

2012-03-25T10:25:00.000-04:00

Imagine learning and expanding your thinking with such insightful and distinguished leaders as Professor Rigby. Learn more about Montreat adult programs or a schedule of upcoming conferences.

Master Planning Team members share their vision

2012-03-22T15:18:00.000-04:00

Montreat Adult Conference Information. For lay people and church professionals, there's a topic for you: Montreat Artists’ Series, Christian Life, and the Women’s Connection. COMING IN MAY is our signature conference, “VOICE,” for everyone seeking to hear God’s voice in the cacaphony of the 21st century. Check it out and register online.

Montreat Youth Conference Registration and Information. This year's theme: “Perfectly Imperfect.” The focus is on the God who accepts us just as we are. Check out the “Youth Conference: Day in the Life” video on that page! Choose from six enriching, safe, transformative weeks in Montreat this summer. Register online.

Worship & Music Conferences. Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) has its annual back-to-back, week-long conferences with specific tracks for adults, senior high, middlers, and children. Theme this year: “In God's Abundance, Living, Moving, Being.” Inspiring worship, choirs for children, youth, and adults, handbells, instrumental ensembles, organ classes and much, much more. Register online.

Conference fees cover only a portion of the cost of providing an unforgettable Montreat experience for you, your family, and the 50,000 folks who pass through the Montreat gate each year. The ongoing viability of our mission is also dependent on contributions from folks from all walks of life. Your gift makes a difference—no matter what the size. Donate online today!

Montreat in the Midst of a Changing Church

2012-03-20T16:19:00.000-04:00

The Rev. Dr. Theodore J. Wardlaw: Montreat Conference Center in the Midst of a Changing Church

Dr. Wardlaw has served Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary as its president for the past ten years. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Montreat Conference Center. His family has had a home in Montreat since he was a toddler. He shared this moving, inspiring, personal message with fellow Board members and the community Friday evening, March 16, 2012. Learn more about Montreat adult programs or a schedule of upcoming conferences.

Don't see the video above? Click here to view this page on the Montreat Blog.

Moore Center Renovations

2012-03-19T13:13:00.001-04:00

The Moore Center Building

There's a lot going on over at the Moore Center building these days. For those unfamiliar, it sits right on Lake Susan, next to the dam, and houses the Huckleberry, Ten Thousand Villages, and opening in May, the new Montreat Store.

Last fall, the Huckleberry was renovated to accompany its new year-round operation by Montreat College. There are lunch and dinner options, as well as a full coffee bar featuring Dynamite Roasting Company coffee.

The new Montreat Store on the second floor of the Moore Center is also under construction. All furniture and inventory has been removed and the space is being prepped for a new floor, fresh paint, and (yes!) air conditioning! Our retail team is already hard at work re-imagining how the new store will look and what it will hold.

In the meantime, the old General Store will be holding a series of sales throughout March. Come on in over the next two Saturdays, March 24th and 31st, for 70% off all books and gifts.

In recent weeks, Ten Thousand Villages has begun a renovation of its store, as well. It will be closed until April 2, 2012, and re-open with spring hours: Monday-Saturday 10-6; Sunday 1-4. The space is being expanded to include it's retail space previously located in the Huckleberry Cafe. The outside door to the porch is also being replaced.

The new addition to Ten Thousand Villages

VOICE: Looking Forward to the Conversation

2012-03-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

Many of us who are seeking to be faithful spend a fair amount of time talking about God. And some amount of time (though I would do well to spend more) talking to God. And not nearly enough time, at least in my case, actually listening for God’s leading in our lives. If we sincerely believe that there is a living, involved and present God, doesn’t it make sense to set aside time for trying to discern that God’s will for us? The Voice conference will be a time for us to do some of all three, and I am deeply honored to be invited to be a part of it.

In religious settings, conversations about vocation often seem to focus on vocation to the church, to be religious professionals of one kind or another. But can we be called to secular work? I believe that we can, though in order to live faithfully, that calling must be informed by our faith; not just the decision to pursue a given kind of work, but its daily living out. Some of the people I respect most on the planet are church professionals, including my father and one of my sisters. I believe that my other sister is equally called in her profession as a post-conviction death penalty defense lawyer, though, and I would like to believe that I am being vocationally faithful in my various secular professions as well.

David LaMotte
Peace Activist
VOICE Keynote Speaker

But what about vocation other than in the professional sense? And do we have one calling or many? And how do we distinguish between the still small voice of God pulling us in a given direction and our own egos, fears, etc.?

I would love to tell you that I will bring answers to those questions, but I will not. Instead, I will bring a few stories, songs, a poem or two and maybe some observations and frameworks for thinking about what it means to be called and the consequences of answering or disregarding our various vocations. I look forward to talking together, listening together and praying together.

See you there.

David LaMotte

David LaMotte is a peace activist, musician, and author. His new book, White Flour, tells the true story of a whimsical and effective response by counter-protesters to a white supremacists' march in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2007. The Coup Clutz Clowns, a group of local anti-racism activists, used humor and non-violence to reveal the silliness of the march, vanquishing hatred with laughter.

Learn more about White Flour on Kickstarter.

Experiencing Montreat

2012-02-28T10:49:00.001-05:00

These are unique stories and memories of times spent in Montreat, the individual threads in our shared tapesty. What will your Montreat story be?

Free Community Concert by the Musical Ambassadors of the Army

2012-02-24T10:58:00.002-05:00

From Boston to Bombay, Tokyo to Toronto, The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus has been thrilling audiences of all ages for more than six decades. Now, Montreat Conference Center and The Black Mountain News are please to co-sponsor this renowned group in a free concert Wednesday, March 28, 7:00 PM in the conference center’s Anderson Auditorium.

The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus

As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, this internationally-acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to enthusiastic audiences throughout the nation and abroad. Through these concerts, the Field Band fosters the support of the American people for members of the armed forces and supports diplomatic efforts around the world.

Since its formation in March 1946, the Field Band has appeared in all fifty states and in more than thirty countries on four continents. The organization’s four performing components, the Concert Band, the Soldiers’ Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors, and the Volunteers, each travel over 100 days annually. Tours include formal public concerts, school assemblies, educational outreach programs, festivals, and radio and television appearances.

Performance highlights include concerts and ceremonies in the United States and Europe commemorating the 50th anniversary of World War II, for the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin, at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, for Presidential Inaugural Parades, and at international jazz festivals in Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Joint concerts with many of the nation’s leading orchestras, including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, have received rave reviews.

The United States Army Field Band is considered by music critics to be one of the most versatile and inspiring musical organizations in the world. Its members, selected by highly-competitive audition, represent some of the finest musical talent in America. More than six decades as the military’s most traveled musicians have earned them the title, “The Musical Ambassadors of the Army.”

Tickets for the March 28 concert are available for easy download and print out at www.montreat.org/armyband. They may also be picked up in person at the front desk of Montreat’s Assembly Inn or at the Black Mountain News offices. Additionally, tickets may be reserved for Assembly Inn pick up prior to the concert by calling 828.669.2911 or 800.572.2257, ext. 300. Tickets must be presented for admission and ticket-holders are asked to be in their seats fifteen minutes prior to the concert. Parking will be limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

Quarterly Report: January 2012

2012-01-31T15:36:00.000-05:00

Download the January 2012 Quarterly Report

Pete Peery

Incubation

It is winter in Montreat. A mild one so far. But still winter. The trees are bare; the ridge lines visible. The muted grays and browns of bark and leaves and low-hanging mist abound. Yet under those leaves, in the vast wilderness surrounding us, much is going on. New life is perking. Incubation is happening.

That is true right now, as well, in the life of Montreat Conference Center. In this subdued season, young people are not walking three abreast down the middle of the road or jamming the walkway over the dam. Anderson Auditorium is quiet. The tennis courts are vacant. The pottery wheels are still. Yet, things are happening — in incubation. Let me name a few of them:

After going through a painful re-sizing of our retail operations, a new store is emerging. Under Kim Hayes’ oversight, Jaan Ferree and Jane Bannerman are hard at work crafting a very promising store that will occupy renovated space on the middle floor of Moore Center. As this store develops, a team of volunteers, along with our business consultant, will be sharing insight on the shape of the store and the selections available there for purchase.

Lynn Gilliland is preparing for her new calling as MRA’s next Vice President for Development. Lynn begins her work on February 10. Through April, she will work alongside Bill Straughan in leadership of our development work. Starting in May, Bill will stay with us, but serving as the major consultant in our Building on the Tradition Campaign. Lynn, who already knows us well, is already striving to know us even more fully. Her diligence, skill, imagination, and love bear great promise for the growth of financial support for Montreat Conference Center.

In a related arena, the Building on the Tradition Campaign is entering a new phase. After giving a year of able and committed leadership to the Campaign, as he promised to do, Gilmour Lake is stepping back from the helm. Succeeding him is Bill Scheu, who has picked up the reins with vigor. The Campaign’s focus is being targeted in the next six months on securing pledges to get the renovations of the Assembly Inn on track. In addition, the Campaign is broadening its invitation for support beyond our closest and most faithful donors with a renewed outreach to congregations, seeking commitments from them to the Campaign.

Plans are being finalized for a major review of our Youth Conferencing model to ensure that this premier program of Montreat Conference Center remains of the highest quality in service to the church. A major consultation in this review process will occur in Atlanta in March.

The Master Planning Team for our adult conferences just concluded its winter meeting. Convening in the Belk Center at Left Bank, Skyping in a member not able to travel to the meeting, the team was empowered by the Spirit to truly think outside the box. As a result, very substantial conferences for church leaders and for lay people in the church are already on the “boards” for 2013 and even beyond for 2014.

Things do appear quiet and still here in Montreat. But a lot is incubating. Pray for the budding of what is happening to break forth into a wondrous, life-giving spring, not just for our conference center, but for the whole church of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace, Pete Peery

Reflections of a Ranger: New Year, Old Mountains

2012-01-18T22:01:00.005-05:00

With the arrival of a new year many of us have made New Year's Resolutions, and at this point in the new year many of us have already broken them. Fitness and weight-loss always seem to be popular resolutions and there are few better ways to achieve these goals than by doing more hiking.

I find that when I begin to hike more often I lose weight gradually without really noticing. Our mountains are ideal for the reluctant fitness enthusiast. While there are certainly places that provide a heart pumping challenge, most of our mountains are content stand by and watch us romp up and down their rolling ridges.

That is because our mountains are old. They are the venerated elders of the mountain family. I have heard several people swear that our area of Appalachia is the oldest place in the world, and I am not sure I can argue with that. Years before anyone you have ever heard of was born, the mountains were here and they were ancient. They have born witness to the comings and goings of countless New Years.

No matter what this new year brings, and even if you have already broken your resolutions, head out and greet the mountains. They will understand if you are a little out of shape as you explore the hollows and work your way up to the viewpoints. Walk with them awhile and you might find that your resolution to be in better shape is quietly keeping itself.

* * * * *

Jason Nanz comes to Montreat from Roanoke, VA. He is a 2006 graduate of Roanoke College, an Eagle Scout, long-time Montreat Ranger and a highly experienced outdoorsman. Jason runs Montreat's Wilderness School and can be reached at montreatwilderness@gmail.com

Conference Center Announces Retail Re-Visioning Team

2012-01-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

On Friday, January 6, hundreds stopped by to shop and say their goodbyes to two retail operations – Montreat Books and Gifts and the General Store – at Montreat Conference Center. The closings mark the next step in an extensive re-visioning process that will consolidate two stores into one. “Three factors – the changing book market, the erosion of denominational loyalty, and reduced foot traffic – have contributed to this decision,” explained conference center president Pete Peery. “The decision to close the much-loved book and gift shop and General Store was very difficult and caused deep pain in the community,” he continued. “Nevertheless, due to the market and financial realities, it was clearly time to re-think the ministry of retail at Montreat Conference Center.”

“The new leaner profile we’re moving to will in no way compromise the warm hospitality guests and customers enjoyed when they stopped in,” added Kim Hayes, Vice President for Marketing and Communication. “Retail at Montreat will continue to live into that tradition as we move forward.”

Jaan Ferree

Taking the lead in creating a new look for the solo shop is designer Jaan Ferree. Her Asheville-based company, Intentional Design, has completed a number of successful local projects, including renovation of the chapels at Mission Hospitals, downsizing and remodeling of offices for Event Pro Strategies, and renovation and design for Laughing Seed Café.

Jane Bannerman

Ferree, who also has extensive retail experience, will stay on when the redesigned shop opens as the new consulting manager, responsible for the on-going look and feel of the shop and the selection of its inventory. Joining her will be long-time manager of Montreat’s General Store, Jane Bannerman. As operations manager of the new shop, Bannerman will oversee day-to-day business.

“These are incredibly talented veteran retailers,” said Hayes, adding that each brings her own unique set of skills and experience to the new management team. “I look forward to working with them as we re-imagine this new retail operation at Montreat that, in addition to being a shopping destination, will also be an integral part of Montreat Conference Center’s mission and ministry.”

The new store will be located on the second floor of the Moore Center in the space previously occupied by Montreat Books and Gifts. After the redesign of this space, it is projected that the new store will be opened by May 1.

Montreat Calls New Director of Arts Ministry

2012-01-10T14:04:00.003-05:00

Join Us in Welcoming Ann Laird Jones

Ann Laird Jones

She’s known around Montreat as “the pottery lady” or “that nice craft teacher” – and now it’s official. The Rev. Dr Ann Laird Jones has been called as Director of Arts Ministry and the newest staff addition to The Center for Faith and Life at Montreat Conference Center.

“I feel like the shepherds maybe felt when they saw all those angels bouncing off the mountains with complete joy every time I think about the conversation we are exploring between arts and theology at Montreat,” says Jones in anticipation of her new role.

“This conversation has always been a part of who I am. I have worked in Montreat since 1966, when my father first began directing Board of National Ministries Conferences, and I made the coffee in the Auditorium. For the past eighteen years, I have followed in my mother’s footsteps as Director of the Arts Ministry Program at Montreat at the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery. Today, I am thrilled to continue a love affair with Montreat Conference Center as I answer what I believe to be a clear call to deepen the conversation between arts and theology as a part of the Center for Faith and Life. Through exploration of the arts, we envision new means of conferencing and worship in the Montreat community, theological institutions, presbyteries, congregations, and the wider church.”

Jones, an ordained Presbyterian minister serving as supply minister in a number of churches, also teaches high school art in Greenville, Mississippi. She has directed the summer art ministry at the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery at Montreat every summer since 1994.

Her background as a campus chaplain and interim youth director in a variety of churches and her success as an accomplished potter, musician, and teacher, seasoned with her incredible energy and charisma, have made her a popular Montreat leader. Both children and adults are drawn to her ability to make creativity contagious and to use art as a spiritual tool in understanding the world and their place in it.

Merri S. Alexander, Vice President for the Center for Faith and Life at Montreat Conference Center looks forward to working with and through Jones:

“We are pleased to have Ann Jones as our Director of Arts Ministry. Through her careful guidance we expect to incorporate more visual arts in our summer Sunday worship as well as the major adult conferences. She brings a wealth of experience in arts and theology to Montreat and models ways the visual arts can be easily incorporated in worship. Ann’s commitment to Montreat’s arts ministry is surely in her DNA. We expect to expand our Artists’ Series conference offerings in the spring and fall each year. We are also developing new programs for 2013 that will focus on Worship and the Arts to help pastors, worship leaders, and musicians prepare for the seasons of Advent and Lent.”

Dr. Jones says she is very excited about all the possibilities: “No place on earth feels closer than Montreat to being a ‘homeplace’ that I know inside and out. And, yet, as well as I know Montreat, this position opens a whole new side of Montreat for me, filled with new ideas, new people, brimming with excitement and creative possibilities as we explore the arts and worship together.”

Montreat Conference Center Announces New Board Chair

2011-12-05T14:42:00.001-05:00

Helen Krone

As newly elected chairperson of the Mountain Retreat Association’s Board of Directors/Trustees of Stock, Helen Buntin Krone says she is grateful to be part of a board that offers both heart and wisdom as, together, they seek to follow Christ in Montreat:

“I welcome the opportunity to serve. Montreat is a special place that offers retreat and spiritual renewal for all who come through the gate, whether it be for a conference, or as part of the college community, or as a resident. My hope is that we all work together, realizing that the sum is greater than its parts.”

Krone and her husband Roger live in Berwyn, PA, where she is an active member of the Wayne Presbyterian Church – serving as ruling elder and chairperson of adult education. She also serves on the advisory board of Foundation for Learning in Tredyffrin/Easttown. She and Roger have two college-aged children and an older son who resides in Washington, DC.

The Rev. Pete Peery, President of Montreat Conference Center, congratulates the board on such a wise choice: “Helen Krone has a long history with Montreat. She is an active elder in her local church and an advocate for education and the inner-city. She has a broad understanding of the mission of the church in the larger world, and she is calm under pressure. She is delightful.”

Having grown up in Ft. Worth, TX, Krone spent summers at Mo Ranch, then began coming to Montreat in the 1980’s, first as a Clubs counselor. In following years, she was a youth conference small group leader, and most recently an adult chaperone with Wayne Presbyterian’s youth group. Over all these years, Montreat became a favorite choice for vacations.

“There are not many places like Montreat left,” she says. “It is vital that it live on as a ministry of the PC(USA). My hope is that the Youth Conferences and College Conferences continue their strong presence, and that the Adult Conferences develop and grow.”

She points out that because Montreat no longer receives funding from General Assembly offices in Louisville, KY, it is crucial to stay fiscally sound by securing monetary support to renovate Assembly Inn and other facilities, and to protect the future through increasing the annual fund and endowments:

“The mountains and trails have a special place in my heart, and I would like to see outdoor recreation incorporated into the conferences more.”

Krone brings time-tested energy and vision to the challenges facing Montreat’s working board. She is aware that people have strong feelings and great passion for Montreat, and is convinced that working together to meet its challenges, “God is glorified.”

A Joint Statement from Town of Montreat Mayor and Mountain Retreat Association President

2011-12-01T08:38:00.001-05:00

Agreement in Principle Reached on Rights-of-Way through MRA Campus

On November 21,2011, Town of Montreat Mayor Letta Jean Taylor and Town Administrator Ron Nalley met with MRA President Pete Peery and outgoing MRA Board of Directors Chair Frank Spencer. The meeting was an attempt to resolve differences in interpretation of the rights-of-way as defined in the 1983 “Offer of Dedication”. The preservation of Montreat’s unique character and the benefit of the entire community was the joint goal.

The discussion was cordial, frank, and fruitful. The representatives of the Town and MRA were able to reach a resolution in principle related to rights-of-way through the MRA campus. Pending ratification by the Town Council and the MRA Board of Directors, this resolution promises to secure for the Town consistent and uniform rights-of-way throughout Montreat. These rights-of-way are essential for the Town in order that it may provide for public utilities, welfare, and safety. The resolution also secures for MRA substantial control over its existing structures and uses on its campus. This protection and control is essential for MRA’s continuing mission as a conference center serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), local constituents, and the larger church throughout this country.

With the achievement of this resolution, anticipating its ratification, the Town and MRA look forward to a growing cooperative relationship as both bodies seek the well-being of this special place set apart.

Pete Peery Letta Jean Taylor

President Mayor

Mountain Retreat Association Town of Montreat

Montreat Introduces New Development Vice President

2011-11-21T08:56:00.001-05:00

Lynn Gilliland

Following an extensive search, the Mountain Retreat Association is pleased to welcome Lynn Tuggle Gilliland as Montreat Conference Center’s new Vice President for Development. Gilliland will begin February 13, 2012. From that date until April 30, 2012, the MRA will have two Vice Presidents for Development in a period of transition as the current Development officer, Bill Straughan, moves toward retirement. Although Straughan officially retires April 30, 2012, he will remain involved as a consultant with the conference center’s on-going capital campaign.

“We couldn’t be more pleased about the decision to hire Lynn,” stated conference center president Pete Peery. “Not only does she have the professional skills and experience we were looking for; Lynn also shares our deep commitment to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is a long-time friend of Montreat. She understands its mission and is sensitive to the complexities involved in carrying that mission forward into the future.”

Gilliland currently serves as the Executive Director of First and Second Year Experience at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. Her long association with the college has also included a role as Executive Director of Alumnae/i Activities during which time she traveled extensively to meet and network with alumnae/i and friends of the college, building support for the institution.

“The knowledge Lynn has gained in development and fundraising through her role with alumnae/i at Mary Baldwin has done much to prepare her for this new venture,” commented Peery.

Gilliland agreed, adding, “I have been blessed with experiences in leadership, management, and communications which I pray will help me as I join the great team Pete Peery and the Board have put into place.”

Gilliland holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina, where she was a John Motley Morehead Fellow and MBA Student Association President. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics, summa cum laude, from Mary Baldwin College. Gilliland is also an active member and ruling elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton. She was ordained as a ruling elder in Greenwood, South Carolina, and served there on the Personnel Committee and as Chair of the Worship Committee. At Covenant Church in Staunton, she has served as Chair and a member of Stewardship and Finance. Over a period of ten years as a youth advisor in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in Greenwood, South Carolina, Gilliland also participated in several Montreat Youth Conferences. She currently serves on the Mountain Retreat Association‘s Investment Committee.

When asked about the new position, Gilliland was emphatic: “I truly believe with all my heart – and it is crystal clear to me – that God is calling me to this job. I have always had a passion for Montreat,” she continued, “and it has played a significant role in my life and that of my family. It is a gift for me to be able to give back by becoming part of the organization and its future.” Gilliland, reflecting on the promises one makes as a ruling elder in the PC(USA), went on to affirm her commitment to serve “…with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.”

Gilliland is married to her husband of 26 years, Bill Gilliland, and has two children, Mac, a senior at Davidson College and Matthew, a junior at The Asheville School.

A New Model for the Shops at Montreat

2011-11-11T15:12:00.001-05:00

In its long-range strategic plan, Montreat Books and Gifts and the General Store are referred to as "the front porch" of Montreat Conference Center. Thanks to a gracious, helpful staff and a tireless team of volunteers, our guests enjoy what President Pete Peery has called "stunning hospitality" when they stop in to shop, to get directions, to attend special events, or to simply say hello. Montreat's retail operation does much to help the MRA live into its mission and ministry.

As Montreat navigates a shaky national economy and a book market that is seeing more online purchases of physical and digital media, the time has come to re-imagine what the "front porch" of Montreat will look like in the future. To this end, the decision has been made to consolidate Montreat's retail operations, Montreat Books and Gifts and the General Store, into one shop. Both stores will remain open through January 6, 2012, at which time the Moore Center building will be re-fitted and re-imagined to accommodate this new step in the life of Montreat's retail operation.

The consolidation of both shops necessitates a radical reduction in inventory, which means you should be on the lookout for big sales of books, gifts, clothing, and more in the coming weeks and months. We'll keep you posted here on the Montreat Blog, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Note that these changes do not affect Ten Thousand Villages. For more information about this new model, read the e-newsletter.

Quarterly Report October 2011

2011-10-28T15:32:00.000-04:00

Download the October 2011 Quarterly Update

Pete Peery

A New and Promising Partnership
One of the most heartening recent developments here at Montreat Conference Center has been a new partnership that has emerged between Atlanta’s Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, a member institution of the Interdenominational Theological Center, and the Conference Center. This partnership had its origins in the Columbia Seminary Lecture series which Montreat hosts and which, last summer for the first time, included Johnson C. Smith Seminary as a sponsor...

Read more from Pete Peery, President of Montreat Conference Center, by downloading the Quarterly Report.