Montreat Conference Center is pleased to bring you This Week in Montreat, our summer publication which provides weekly updates and information about activities in the Montreat valley. This week, we are talking about how we can support Mo-Ranch, a recap of the Fourth of July celebration, and upcoming public hikes. Find these, along with other important announcements, below.

Responding to Our Brothers and Sisters in Crisis

by Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center

Last week, while looking over some reports on the summer’s progress, my mind fell upon a remark made to me in June by Montreater Frank Spencer, president of the Presbyterian Board of Pensions. Frank described Montreat Conference Center as not just a place, but as one of the largest, most extensive face-to-face ministries in the entire Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – perhaps the largest, Frank said, though he added that our friends down at Mo-Ranch, a 500-acre retreat, conference, and summer camp center located just outside Hunt, Texas, might justifiably claim the same distinction.  

Almost certainly, you have heard about the flash floods that hammered central Texas last weekend, particularly along the Guadalupe River. While rescue teams saved many, more than 120 people have reportedly died from the flooding with more still missing. The region is home to many camps and conference centers, Mo-Ranch among them. Fortunately, the ranch’s leadership had evacuated low-lying areas of the camp nearest the river by the time the flooding arrived to their campus...

My First Fourth of July in Montreat

Spending the Fourth of July in Montreat is hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand, but I was told ahead of time that it would be like nothing I had ever seen before. I quickly learned what they meant. This was my first Fourth of July in Montreat, and from the early morning hours to the final dance steps at sunset, the day was packed with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of community that I’ll carry with me long after the summer ends...

This Sunday in Montreat

We are delighted to welcome leading preachers from across the country as they join with visual artists, musicians, and volunteers in a service of worship open to the surrounding community. All are welcome and all are invited.

This Sunday, July 13, we will be joined by Rev. Kevin Long, pastor and head of staff at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. Services will begin in Anderson Auditorium at 10:30 am.

Immediately following the service, lunch will be served in the Galax dining room of Assembly Inn. Find the lunch menu and meal costs here.

• Thank you to all who joined us for the Fourth of July celebration! The Flickr photo album is now available to view. If you missed the parade, you can watch the livestream here!
• Join the Presbyterian Heritage Center's Weekly Writing Class - "Stories from the Storm." Please note that classes will now be taking place at 1:30 pm on Wednesdays through July 23.
• The community is invited to join Montreat Youth Conference for evening worship in Anderson Auditorium beginning at 7:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:30 pm on Friday. Learn more about Montreat Youth Conference by clicking here!
• Tickets for An Evening with Amy-Jill Levine will be available for purchase beginning on Tuesday, July 15, at 10:00 am. Click here for more information!

• Need to cool down on a hot summer day? Stop by The Huckleberry for a scoop of ice cream! Located on the top floor of the Moore Center, The Huckleberry is a great spot to grab lunch or a sweet treat while enjoying your time in Montreat. Click here to view their summer hours!
• Join the Montreat Wilderness Rangers on the East Ridge Ramble! This full day public hike will take place on Tuesday, July 15. For more information about public hikes this summer, click here!
• Our  Arts, Music, and Theology lecture series continues this week on Tuesday, July 15, at 7:00 pm in Convocation Hall. Laura Hollandsworth Jernigan will be leading a lecture titled: “The Promise” (© 2024 Laura Jernigan). To find more information about this series, click here!

• Next Wednesday afternoon we are focusing on crafts! Consider joining us to sharpen your writing skills, create a glass mosaic, or sew a quilted pot holder. Registration is currently open.
• Raku firing next week! We have rebuilt and successfully launched our new Raku kiln after the old one was destroyed during Hurricane Helene. Come, check out our second firing on Friday, July 18, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
• Thank you for coming out to support the craft center during our annual Fourth of July silent auction. It was our most successful event to date! We are deeply grateful for those who made purchases and for the many artisans who donated their original art. The funds raised will help to insure the continued success of Montreat’s arts ministry for years to come. Thank you!
• Welcome Susan B. Hunter, our artist-in-residence for the next week. Susan loves making all kinds of things - from ceramics to textiles to sourdough. Learn more about Susan and our other instructors by clicking here.
• Registration for all classes offered at the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery Studio can be completed online. To find a complete schedule of offerings, click here.

• The Montreat Fund makes it happen! The conference center relies on widespread support from individuals, churches, and businesses, to reach our Montreat Fund goal each year.
• Make a gift to the Montreat Fund today to join a group of supporters that hold Montreat close.

Montreat Conference Center, a ministry of the Mountain Retreat Association, is a national conference center located in Western North Carolina with roots in the PC(USA). More at www.montreat.org.