Senior High Ski Retreat  

Our 2009 Winter Youth Event for the Southern and Southeast Conferences of the United Church of Christ was held on Martin Luther King weekend. We again saw great participation from a wide range of churches from the two conferences. The leadership team, led by two of our BRCC Board members, Rev. Kristen Vaughn and Heidi Schuler, developed a format that is contemporary, age appropriate and challenging. Serving also on the committee were Mike Vaughn, Jennifer Killingsworth, and Gregory Milton.

Participants arrived Friday evening. Rev. Da Vita D. McCallister, the Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries began our retreat Saturday with morning worship. Rev. Day, as she is fondly known, is on staff with the Connecticut UCC Conference.

On Sunday participants enjoyed skiing at Sugar Mountain, while some went tubing at Jonas Ridge. After Monday morning worship services, the groups all headed to their prospective homes. Churches attending were: First UCC-Salisbury, Bethany UCC- Thomasville GA, Central Congregational Church-Atlanta GA, Elon Community Church-NC, Holy Covenant UCC-Charlotte, Mt. Hope UCC-Whitsett, Parkway UCC-Winston Salem NC, Peace UCC-Greensboro, Pilgrim UCC-Durham, Pilgrimage UCC-Marietta GA, Shallow Well UCC-Sanford NC, and United UCC of Chapel Hill NC.

Special Days for Special People

Each June we are blessed to host a retreat for adults with special needs. This year we had 73 guests. We have been blessed to have Rev. Lynne Hinton, pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, lead our program for several years. She brings joy to our devotions and draws us closer to Him and one another. Our theme this year was "God Loveth a Cheerful Giver. We prepared care packages for Oasis, a local women's shelter. Each of the participants not only "cheerfully" prepared bags, but wanted to make this a tradition for our event.

Grace Carriage Co. Wagon Rides

We begin with Monday dinner and a sing along followed by ice cream sundaes. Tuesdays we have craft and recreation time. This year we had Horse Drawn Wagon rides available to them in the afternoon. On Tuesday nights we have our annual Talent show. I believe that American Idol could not have as much talent or joy in performing as our participants when they take center stage. The cheers and applause they share with one another ring in my heart throughout the year. On Wednesdays we all go to Tweetsie for the day. To top off the day, we have a Sock Hop that night. I wish I could express in words the complete satisfaction that we feel in sharing Special Days with such incredible folks.

Eric Greco as Elvis at our Talent Show.

It is for myself, staff and our volunteers, an event that we anticipate with great delight from year to year. We are so blessed that Lynne Hinton volunteers her time each year to lead this event. Click here for Lynne's thoughts on Special Days. Our other volunteers are my daughter and granddaughters - Kristie, Emma & Sophie Beach. We also had Bonnie & Will Wilson: Kristi and Kelsie Caudill: Karie Vaughn: Amie Sanders and Mary Beth Hickman. And for many years Karen Tate Gray has volunteered her time with great enthusiasm to lead our recreation program. We could not run this program without them. Thank you so much!

Martha Shore