Chat with Cat: Get Out (in Montreat)! + Giveaway Winners

Tuesday, August 25, 2009  at 3:14 PM
Today is the first day of school for many children in the Asheville area and across the state. It's been exciting to see my friends who are teachers (and my friends who are parents) preparing for this week. And now the end of summer is here.

But don't forget all the wonderful opportunities available in Montreat during the remaining nine months of the year! We have all sorts of wonderful retreats and conferences planned for this fall, and we are well into booking events for next spring.

We are also starting a new program this fall, which will be offered primarily to local school groups. We don't have all the details yet, but this offering with focus on environmental, outdoor and leadership education. Teachers and administrators will have the option of signing up their classes for a field trip or maybe even an overnight retreat.

Montreat is an ideal place for kids to get out of the classroom and into creation, experiencing our wide variety of plant and animal life, as well as our 2,000+ acres of wilderness. Groups can hike, camp, identify, classify, wade and explore--all while learning about earth science, conservation and even leadership and teambuilding.

And leading this new project is Jason Nanz, who has worked at Montreat Conference Center as one of our summer rangers for the past five years and who has many more years of expertise as an outdoorsman. Be on the lookout for an official announcement and introduction to Jason soon!

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In other news, we now have the winners of our "Be a FAN of Montreat" Giveaway! (drumroll please...)

From our blog entries, the winner of an "I Heart Montreat" T-shirt and Montreat hat is an anonymous entrant who wrote:

"I can safely say, Montreat and I are woven into the same fabric. 20 consecutive youth conferences, 6 music conferences, two nieces who worked there this summer, one for the fourth time, my brothers and I sponsored a pew in Anderson during the Firm the Foundation campaign as a memorial to my parents, and finally Mom's and Dad's ashes are interred in the Memorial Garden. Merely driving through the stone gate feeds my soul. i.e., consider me a fan for life."

If you are this anonymous FAN, please email me (catw@montreat.org) ASAP to claim your prize!

From our Twitter entries, the winner of an "I Heart Montreat" T-shirt and Montreat mug is @danwboles, who wrote:

"@montreat #iheartmontreat the most because no matter why Im there/what I'm doing/who Im with: God is there, & Im at peace. Its my sanctuary."

Thank you so much to everyone who told us why they are a FAN of Montreat! And don't forget you can always send us feedback here on the blog, on Facebook or Twitter, or through email.

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.
Posted by Cat K. at 3:14 PM Labels: ,

Chat with Cat: Practice what you teach? Teach a retreat!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009  at 2:58 PM
When I got to the office today there were two emails waiting in my inbox. One was a weekly e-zine from a notable sales coach/speaker, and the other was the day's (actually yesterday's) blog post from bestselling marketer Seth Godin.

Seth's blog posts are always succinct and insightful, and in this particular post he was tackling the idea of education--of teaching. I won't go into the details of what he wrote, but you can check it out here.

These thoughts about teaching were probably at least in part responsible for what I was thinking about during my networking luncheon today, too. This particular group meets monthly, and we are all women looking to make contacts that will build our business. It's a very eclectic and welcoming group.

It occurred to me that every woman in that room had knowledge that she shares or could share with others--not just information about her product or business--but the kind of real-world expertise that people need and use.

This is the perfect basis for a retreat. A retreat or small conference is the perfect avenue through which to teach others and share your wisdom. So think about this: What do you know that you could share with others? Who do you know with knowledge that fits nicely with yours?

Could you teach a management retreat? A marriage retreat? A marketing seminar? A weekend yoga or meditation class? Of course you can! You know what you practice.

You don't have to do it alone--team up with other speakers and teachers, and find a venue that will work with you to meet your needs. And then, teach!

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Don't forget! Our "Be a FAN of Montreat" giveaway is still going on! Read last week's Chat with Cat post to enter today! Only six days left, and remember that you can enter twice to double your chances of winning!

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience, so leave a comment and tell her what you want to see on this blog!

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.
Posted by Cat K. at 2:58 PM Labels:

Art Quilt Celebrates the Beauty of Nature in Montreat

Monday, August 17, 2009  at 9:49 AM
In July 2008, Montreat Conference Center commissioned the Rev. Dr. Martha Jane Petersen, a retired Presbyterian minister, artist, writer, and retreat leader, to create an art quilt. The 5½ by 8 foot quilt, now on display in the upper lobby of the conference center’s Assembly Inn, was unveiled a year later, on July 30, 2009.

“In its earliest planning stages,” explained Petersen, “there was no defining theme for the quilt.” The conference center was looking for something that would capture the special and unique ministry of what many have called “a place set apart.” Petersen, armed with that information plus dimensions for the finished piece, began searching for ideas and gathering fabrics from shops and quilt shows in Marietta, GA; Wytheville, VA; Asheville, NC; and Black Mountain, NC. She studied designs in quilting books and talked to other quilters. She was about to leave for a major quilting show in Texas, when a close friend and neighbor, Roberta Martin, stopped her, “You don’t need to go [to Texas],” she advised. “That quilt’s already inside you.”

“I make quilts intuitively,” Petersen agreed, and so, through a process of trial and error, the artist began incorporating bits of upholstery from furnishings in the Assembly Inn lobby with rhododendron leaves, slivers of mica, and sticks that she gathered from the trails and streams surrounding the conference center. Finally, in the early spring of 2009, when she saw a birds’ nest design in a quilting book, she knew she had found her theme. “It spoke to me,” she said.

“A bigger challenge than designing proved to be putting the quilt together,” Petersen continued. With advice and support from numerous people, however, the quilt began to take shape. “I’m especially grateful to Marti Cummins, Norma Bradley, Ann Vincent, Jane Reeves, Mary Logan, Shirely Heim, and Roma Wimberley.” Petersen explained that, when she had difficulty stitching the pieces together, she went to trusted experts like Norma Bradley, who suggested using fusible web and “…straightened me out.” Petersen added, “It was a God-send.” Incorporated in the quilt are various natural images and objects along with symbols representing Montreat. In addition, Petersen used commercial and hand-painted or stamped cottons, ethnic fabrics, dryer sheets, and cheesecloth. The pieces are held together using machine and hand-stitching, hand-tying, adhering with fusible web, and glue.

Other pieces by the artist have been incorporated into worship, conferences, and meetings at the conference center. Petersen’s works were also featured in the 2008-09 Presbyterian Planning Calendar and in a 2008 Advent devotional published by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Although she has shown her art quilts in a number of shows, Petersen does not sell them. “They are part of my ministry to share the Gospel visually, not just verbally,” she said. “It is my hope,” she continued, “that viewers experience something of joy, wonder, and a connection with our Creator God.”

The three-panel art quilt entitled “Mountain Retreat,” now hangs above the landing leading to the upper lobby at Montreat Conference Center’s Assembly Inn.
Posted by Montreat Staff at 9:49 AM Labels:

Back Home Leader Chats: White Memorial Presbyterian (Part 2)

Friday, August 14, 2009  at 4:19 PM
Natalie Raygor is Director of Youth Ministries and Berry French is Pastoral Resident for Youth Ministry at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh North Carolina.

In this interview (part 2 of 2), we hear more about youth ministry program in a very large church (4,000 members) and how they select, recruit, and train the adult volunteers needed to support such a progam: "Lay-led, youth-driven, staff-supported."








Posted by Montreat Staff at 4:19 PM Labels:

Archbishop of Galilee to Speak at Montreat Conference Center

Tuesday, August 11, 2009  at 10:15 PM
Internationally acclaimed peace-maker, the Rev. Dr. Elias Chacour, will be the special guest of honor for dinner and a presentation Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 PM, in the Galax Dining Room at Montreat Conference Center’s Assembly Inn, Montreat, NC. “I am honored to invite the public to join me for this evening with Archbishop Chacour,” said conference center president Pete Peery. “Following dinner, the Archbishop will speak to us about his ministry through his schools as well as his unique perspective on the way of peace in his war-torn and conflicted part of the world.”

Chacour, a Palestinian Israeli citizen and Archbishop of Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times (1986, 1989, and 1994) and has been an international ambassador for Middle East peace through non-violence for more than 30 years. He is president and founder of Mar Elias Educational Institutions, a school for young people from a variety of faith traditions in Ibillin, a small Arab village in the Galilee region of Israel.

Born in Arab Palestine in 1939, Chacour became a deportee and refugee at the age of 8 when his entire village was evicted by Israeli authorities. He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1948. He, along with his Palestinian Christian family, was a member of the Melkite Catholic Church, an Eastern Byzantine Church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1965, Chacour was appointed priest of the village church, the Church of St. Joseph, in Ibillan. At the time, there were few educational opportunities for Palestinian youth beyond the eighth grade. Chacour responded to this need by creating Mar Elias Educational Institutions in the early 1980s.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in theology and Bible studies at Saint Sulpice and the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1968, Chacour became the first Arab to study Bible and Talmud at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He earned a doctorate in Ecumenical Theology at the University of Geneva in 1971 and has received a number of honorary degrees from several prestigious universities. The recipient of many international peace awards, Chacour is also the author of two books, Blood Brothers, which has been translated into more than 20 languages, and We Belong to the Land.

The cost of dinner with Archbishop Chacour is $15.00 for adults and $7.50 for students. Reservations may be made by contacting Judy Smith, judys[at]montreat.org or 828.669.2911, ext. 365. The Archbishop’s presentation following dinner is free of charge.
Posted by Montreat Staff at 10:15 PM Labels:

Chat with Cat: Be a FAN of Montreat + Giveaway

  at 11:10 AM
Some people love Montreat so much, that they are willing to get up on a stage and do this... (see photo)

How much do you love Montreat? Are you one of our FANs? (Hint: Two special FANs will be winning some free Montreat stuff!)

Being a FAN not only lets us know that you care, it also gives you a way to tell us what you think about us, and most importantly it is a way for you to help us further our ministry to everyone who comes through the gate.

Here are some ways you can be a FAN of Montreat:

F: Be a Follower -- Keep up with what's happening at the Conference Center all year-round. You might just learn about a conference or event you didn't know about before.
A: Be an Advocate -- If you love Montreat as much as we think you do, then you probably already talk about it. In fact, some of you probably have friends who wish you would stop talking about it, so here are some other things to consider.
  • Find new places to talk about Montreat. Maybe during a "Minute for Mission" at your church, or any time you need to give a speech at school or at a meeting.
  • Volunteer to become a Montreat Bridge. Get more information here.
  • If you ever hear someone say, "I'm looking for a place to have our retreat/conference/meeting/seminar/gathering..." don't forget to recommend Montreat, and send them to our event planning information.
N: Be a Neighbor -- Neighbors support those close to them with their time, their prayers and their work. Help us to make this "place set apart" special for all of God's people.
And here's a way you can become a FAN right now and have the chance to win some great Montreat stuff! There are two ways to enter before August 24th, and you can do both!
  1. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us how you are a FAN of Montreat and what you will do to spread the word. (Click the "Comments" at the end of this post, or just scroll down.) We will randomly choose one commenter to win Prize #1: an "I Heart Montreat" T-shirt and a Montreat hat!


  2. Follow @montreat on Twitter, and submit a Tweet with the phrase "@montreat, #iheartmontreat the most because..." We will randomly choose one FAN Tweeter to win Prize #2: an "I Heart Montreat" T-shirt and a Montreat mug!

Whatever you do, submit it by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, August 24th. We will select the winners on Tuesday Aug. 25th and reveal them in that day's "Chat with Cat" post. We will also directly contact the Twitter winner, but if you comment on the blog be sure to check back!

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.
Posted by Cat K. at 11:10 AM Labels:

Montreat Conference Center Summer Employees College-Bound

  at 9:20 AM

Montreat Conference Center is bidding a fond farewell to fifteen summer employees who will be leaving for college in the next several weeks. The group, part of the summer dining services team at Montreat Conference Center, is seen most often behind the counter flipping burgers and dipping ice cream at the Huckleberry, the conference center’s popular summer season snack bar.

“These are smart, terrific kids,” said Mary Boswell, Food Services Coordinator and manager at the Huckleberry. “They’re dependable. They work hard. And as much as we’re going to miss them, we’re really pleased to see them headed off for college.”

The group’s diverse destinations not only span the country; they literally span the globe, with one student, Stephen Brown (pictured at front), making preparations to leave for Holsby Brunn Bible School in Sweden. Also pictured (continuing front to back) are: Tyler Hester, University of North Carolina – Greensboro; Becker Raab, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Taylor Bunch, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; Lee Kennedy-Shaffer, Yale University; Samuel Evans, California State University; Christopher Patiño, Appalachian State University; Ben Evans, Davidson College; David Rayburn, University of North Carolina – Asheville; and Josslyn Boyarizo, Davidson College. Not pictured are: Kyle Sonnenberg, Taylor University; Dan Thielman, Duke University; Will Jeter, Auburn University; Dan Frist, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; and Joseph Murphy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Posted by Montreat Staff at 9:20 AM Labels:

Back Home Leader Chats: Scott Brown and Suzanne Watt

  at 8:50 AM
Scott Brown is Youth Director and Suzanne Watt is Associate Youth Director at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Find out about a popular early morning gathering of youth before they go to school at a local restaurant and hear more about the role youth play in an increasing emphasis in their congregation's outreach ministry.







Posted by Montreat Staff at 8:50 AM Labels:

Back Home Leader Chats: White Memorial Presbyterian (Part 1)

Monday, August 10, 2009  at 11:10 AM
Natalie Raygor is Director of Youth Ministries and Berry French is Pastoral Resident for Youth Ministry at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In this interview (part 1 of 2), we get an overview of what a youth ministry program at a large church (4,000 members) is like and hear about a popular Bible study that Natalie conducts for girls.







Posted by Montreat Staff at 11:10 AM Labels:

This Week in Montreat - Issue #11

Thursday, August 6, 2009  at 11:55 AM
Download this issue of This Week in Montreat (PDF)

History that Haunts

I traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama last week to speak to the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. My purpose was to invite members of that caucus to participate with us in Montreat, particularly at the Church Unbound Conference next summer. But it was also my purpose to encourage African-American Presbyterians to join us more vigorously in all our conferences and to consider having us host their special events.

Before my invitation could be heard, however, members of that group had to hear something else from me. They had to hear me acknowledge Montreat’s history of being inhospitable to African-Americans. They knew that history before I arrived. It is the history of how this institution for years barred African-
Americans from welcome here and then of how the MRA was so slow to change its segregationist policies — so much slower than the General Assembly of the old Southern Presbyterian Church. I know there is more to Montreat’s history than this dark side.

I know that it was here in those days of segregation that many courageous voices were lifted calling for this place to follow Jesus the Christ and welcome all of God’s children. But that painful history of shunning some of God’s people still haunts this place. And I am discovering that it is only as we acknowledge the reality of that history publicly without trying to sugarcoat it and as we openly and honestly express regret that it is a part of our story that people once hurt by us will trust our welcome.

Looking back, I wonder if it was fear that made Montreat cling so long to the way of segregation. And that being said, I wonder, too, if there are those today who, because of fears we have now, are being shunned and not fully welcomed into this place set apart. I pray for the courage we need to face our fears. I pray that those who come to Montreat after us will never be haunted by our lack of hospitality toward any of God’s children.

Grace and peace,
Pete

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Courtney Kovacs is the Creative Assistant at Montreat Conference Center. She works on This Week In Montreat and the Sunday Worship Bulletins. This is her second year on Summer Staff.

Courtney can be reached at creativeassistant@montreat.org.
Posted by Montreat Staff at 11:55 AM Labels:

Chat with Cat: Enriching employees (and communities) through retreats

Tuesday, August 4, 2009  at 1:07 PM
What would you like to get out of your employees that you are not seeing already? Do you wish you could have just a couple more hours with them, time to reignite the passions that they had when they started at your business?

You might find the answer during your next meeting.

A few months ago, not long after the fallout of AIG's controversial company outing, some companies were cancelling their off-site meetings, worried about bad press or struggling budgets. But as it turns out, meetings can actually be a step toward healthier workplaces and more vibrant communities.

TBA Global, a large national marketing company, published a white paper--"The Value of Meetings"--based on their research regarding the positive impact of responsible company events. Although the paper focuses mainly on larger corporate events, many of the points made translate well to small businesses and even nonprofits.

The group's studies revealed that 69% of people (here being American adults, 18+) believe that companies should invest more in community projects. Well guess what! Offsite meetings strengthen local communities by providing business to venues and vendors, who then in turn patronize other local businesses. And if that's not enough of an investment, you can always incorporate some service into your meeting. Some things, like collecting donations, doesn't even take time out of your event.

The paper also mentions the benefits of meetings on the most important people in your operation--your employees and coworkers. TBA Global refers to surveys showing that those companies with higher employee engagement have better growth ratings than those without. Employees themselves attribute improved communication to higher productivity and motivation. Read the full white paper here, and let me know what you think.

What could you and your coworkers accomplish with a day out of the office? How could an office retreat enrich your workplace and your community?

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.
Posted by Cat K. at 1:07 PM Labels:

Women’s Conference Keynoter Preaches Sunday at Montreat Conference Center

Monday, August 3, 2009  at 6:43 AM
Dr. Pamela Mitchell-Legg, keynote speaker for the 2009 “Women’s Connection” conference being held this week at Montreat Conference Center, will do double-duty, also serving as guest preacher on August 9, the final Sunday of the conference center’s acclaimed summer Sunday worship series. Dr. Mitchell-Legg is the Sarah Belk Gambrell Professor of Christian Education at Union-PSCE in Charlotte, NC, where her areas of scholarship include educational theory, the history of education, curriculum design, and contemporary media. Recent publications include the two-part article “Contemporary Films and Religious Exploration: An Opportunity for Religious Education” in the journal Religious Education. Known for her extraordinary and enthusiastic teaching, Dr. Mitchell-Legg engages students across the generations through her dynamic and passion-filled involvement with the text. Her sermon, entitled “Where We Are Now,” comes from readings in the Gospel of Mark and the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

Worship begins at 11:00 AM in Anderson Auditorium, with child care available for children six months through completed kindergarten at the Updike Child Care Center on Texas Road. Following worship, a lunch buffet will be served at the Galax Dining Room in Assembly Inn, 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM.

Montreat Conference Center would like to thank the 2009 summer worship team: the Rev. Dr. John Kuykendall, Theologian-in-Residence; Josh Robinson, Liturgy Writer; Porter Stokes and Ron Davis, Music Directors; and Andrew Morehead, Worship Coordinator, for a summer of hard work and dedication. Thank you also to the volunteers who assisted in the worship services and to the 2009-2010 Summer Worship Task Force: Jim Layman, Peggy Scheu, Anne Rogers, George Ramsey, Margaret Rada, Lauren Mathews, Bill Straughan, Pete Peery, and Merri Bass.
Posted by Montreat Staff at 6:43 AM Labels: ,