Erics Montreat Experience

Summer 2009

I did many things at Montreat this year. I had a great experience

overall. Each day began with energizers and then keynote. To be
perfectly honest, jumping around and dancing in the pews does not
energize me. It makes me feel like an idiot. Walking along the creek
at Montreat is something that energizes me.

The keynote speaker was great this year. After keynote every
morning we went to small group and talked about the previous
nights worship and other things. This year small group wasnt
cliquish. It was more like we were all friends.

After lunch each day we would go to small group again and then
every night we went to worship. The preacher this year was a great
speaker. He told some amusing stories about playing pranks on his
younger brother when he was young and how he tried to catch a pet
bird.

After evening worship and a recreation event, we went to our back

home groups where we talked about the day. One night we had a
philosophical discussion about whether or not hell exists and on
another night Josephine, Mahala and I stayed up late and talked
about our future weddings. Our discussions were very random
sometimes.

On Wednesday we had a free afternoon during which I went on a

hike with Michael. We then went shopping in Black Mountain with
Mahala and Josephine and then my mom joined us for pizza at My
Fathers Pizza.
In all of this was a great experience. I want to thank the
congregation for helping to make this happen.

MARY SUE AT MONTREAT

SUMMER 2009

Serenely, rocking back and forth on the porch of the Montreat Cottage, was
wonderful. In the quiet of this front porch oasis, delightful it was to watch
the teenage trio (Mahala~Josephine~Eric) arrive home, one-by-one from their
late afternoon small group. Daily, under a heavy downpour, one would arrive at
the front steps of the cottage, then another, then another. Stepping onto the
porch, soaked in summer rain, Mahala would say to me;
Wheres Josephine and Eric? I would answer, Not here yet.
And off she went again looking for the other two.

Shortly thereafter, wrapped in raindrops, Josephine would climb the steps of

the porch and ask; Wheres Mahala and Eric? I would answer, Not here.
Mahala is out looking for you.
And off she went again looking for the other two.

Several minutes later, saturated in mountain storm, Eric would step onto the
porch and ask; Wheres Mahala and Josephine? I would answer, Not here.
Theyre both out looking.
And off he went again looking for the other two.

And there I sat admiring the peace and patience with which they absorbed the
daily downpours, much like the resilient magnolia blossoms seen all about the
North Carolina forest.

So while the trio would walk the grounds in search for one another, I savored
the luxury of the quiet in which to recall their insightful words expressed
throughout the week, whether sung from the cottage kitchen, exclaimed in the
back home living room, whispered along the sidewalks of Montreat or shared in
the candlelight around Lake Susan:

I love hearing all these different perspectives. Mahala

Can we have another theological discussion tomorrow night? Josephine

I took a picture of flowers with the mountain in the background. Eric

I keep singing because Im so happy. Josephine

Here Mom, you and Mahala walk under the umbrella---Ill walk
in the rain. Eric

What a joy to watch over these three in their friendship-charged, open-

minded, open-hearted plunge into the waters of this blessed adventure!
Thank you, Central, for all of your support.

Montreat 2009 Michael Harper

It was a true blessing to be a part of this year's trip to a Montreat Youth

Conference. As the designated cook, I really enjoyed having our young

people bound into our home-away-from-home before each meal. They

typically arrived a bit wound up, needing to talk about what had happened to

them since we were last together. Sometimes they talked about a new friend

that they just met, sometimes they needed to share an emotional moment

that happened in their small group, and other times they just needed to

process what the keynoter said that morning. Regardless of the

conversation's topic, it was amazing to watch our young people connect with

the conference so much. It was a privilege to be with them as they were

exploring their faith and learning more about who God created them to be. In
addition to going to the keynote time, small group time, and nightly worship

services, they were always out meeting people, going to recreation events,

and, well, just being teenagers together.

At the beginning of the week, our group talked about the gift that all of

us had received: a week together at a Montreat Youth Conference. The

question became "What do we need to do to make the most out of this gift?"

I can assure you, the youth from Central Presbyterian Church made the

absolute best of it. They fully engaged the conference, experiencing lots of

crazy moments as well as many deeply spiritual moments. They came

together as a community of God to learn more about what it means to be

children of God. I was proud to be with them and I know that Central

Presbyterian Church is proud of them, too.