NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage Newsletter

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage Newsletter"

Raymond Evans
5 years ago
Views:

1 Nov NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage Newsletter A Letter from the Rector Dear Friends, I must admit I never dreamed this day would come where I would be asked to lead a Pilgrimage weekend as rector. When the question did come, in the middle of the Indianapolis airport, I was filled with feelings of inadequacy and doubt as well as excitement. Through the encouragement of friends and prayer, those feelings have turned into joy and anticipation. God has assembled a great, faithful and hardworking team to help me in our quest to show another crop of pilgrims how to be leaders in their faith communities as well as to show them what Grace is and what Grace looks like, first hand. I am so thankful for each one of them and the important role that they will play leading up to the weekend, on the weekend itself and after the weekend. Shortly into this journey as rector I was blessed to discern that my scripture would be from John 3:30: He must increase but I must decrease. This is John the Baptist speaking to one of his own disciples who has asked what he is going to do about this new guy, Jesus that has also started baptizing Jews. I think this translates directly to our lives in any number of situations where we need to decrease so that the love and power of the creator of the universe can increase. What in your life do you need to let go of or stop doing so that God can have a greater role? The logo, which was painted by my mom Linda Hamilton, is in part inspired by the works of M.C. Escher a German artist and illustrator from the early 20 th century. As the doves, representing God s love and peace in our lives, spread out, they are ever increasing. The rainbow colors represent the inclusivity of God s people, red and yellow, black and white we are all precious in his sight. The whole scene is centered around the cross, the bedrock of our salvation. I encourage you to be involved in the weekend. In addition to being on team, there are many ways to be involved with a weekend. You can come to serenade and join the chorus of saints as they sing to the guests and the team. You can sign up for a spot on the prayer banner to bathe the guests and team in prayer as we progress through the weekend. You can come to send off or the closing ceremony and help the exhausted team members finish cleaning up the camp. You can transport a guest for a team member who is already at camp. There is no shortage of ways to help out on a Pilgrimage weekend. This weekend has had an interesting lead in as a team meeting was cancelled and preparations were brought to a halt for a week as we struggled with what to do following Hurricane Matthew and its swath of destruction which included parts of Camp Dixie. As always, God was graceful enough to show us the way and we decided to press on with the weekend as scheduled. The irony in all this is that about 3 weeks prior to the Hurricane during my rollo preparation, God led me away from my first choice for my professor song which was based on my scripture to select In the Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson. Given the difficulty of the approach, I eagerly anticipate what God has in store for us the first weekend in November. In the eye of the storm, he remains in control. In the middle of the war, he guards my soul. You alone are my anchor, when my sails are torn. Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm. Inside this issue A LETTER FROM RECTOR Page 1 NCPP #143 GUEST LIST Page 2 NCPP #143 TEAM LIST Page 3 WEEKEND HAPPENINGS Page 4 UPCOMING WEEKENDS Page 4 EASTERN COUNCIL Page 5, 6 ULTREYA Page 4 CAMP DIXIE MAP Page 7 Quick Glance NCPP #143 November 3-6, 2016, Camp Dixie Send-off: November 3 Drop-off 6:30 6:45 pm Serenade: November 5, 5:30 pm Closing & Rector Commissioning: November 6, 4 pm Ultreya: December 3, 5:30 pm Highland Presbyterian, Fayetteville, NC Grace and peace be yours, IN ABUNDANCE. Dan Hamilton

2 Page 2 Our Guests for NCPP #143 NAME CHURCH SPONSOR Vickie Poston River Community Church Judy Philbrook Anette Simmons Ellen Johnson Pennie Yepez Manna Church Stephanie Burford Michelle Davis The Village Chapel Lisa Fikac JoAnn Lee Greater Mt. Calvary Wendy Tredway Sarah Noble Les and Kim Noble Cindy Russell First UMC Wynde Webber Eleanor vontaborsky St. Marks Lutheran Sheryl Taylor Carolyn Hughes Parkton Presbyterian Rob and Linda Price Martha Owen Haymount United Methodist Leigh Anne McLean Thomas Ard First Presbyterian Sissy Grantham Chris Berg Epicenter Church Crystal Berg Lyle Brickhouse Faison Presbyterian Jeanette McNeill Mark Burford Manna Church Stephanie Burford Amy Corbett Oakland Presbyterian Andrew Ruth Terry Woods Manna Church Tommy Williamson John Davis Ernest Myatt Presbyterian Craig Chrismon Mike Elliott Epicenter Church Sean France

3 OUR TEAM FOR NCPP # 143 Rector Dan Hamilton Head Cha Janie Sutton Observing Rector Jennifer Matlack Trainers Debbie Brown and Sheri Cureton Pastors John Langham (head) Eva Ruth Jack Crain Music Les Noble (head) Larry Pittman Alicia Mansfield Rodney Oxendine Carlton Mansfield Jamie Britt Escort Robert Cureton (head) Shannon Hamilton Professors Ideals Cathy Swindell Laity Sawn France Piety Jim Nance Study Alan Critchett Action Carolyn Scott Leaders Linda Price Environment Mareva Taylor C. Community Guinn Nexsen Silent Mary Horne Silent - Danny Swindell Silent Greta Rhodes Silent Kati Ward Chapel John Whisler (head) Pam Ashley Lisa Buckner David Caplan David Lasater Outside John Brisson (head) Kim Lloyd Robin Hill Jeff Johnson Stuart Augustine Stephanie Burford Brian Gaskell Katherine Parnell Kathryn Crumpler Palanca Kelly Williamson (Head) Kathey Miller-Patten Wendy Tredway Barbara Barnas Judy Philbrook Rollo Room Chris Foley (Head) Chandler McLean Candy McCrea Steve Taylor James Sutherland Alice Burrows Brandon McElroy Jenny MacKethan Kitchen Debbie Shipp (head) Tommy Williamson Bob Hill Jud Morton Dan Gallagher Joseph Monroe Sarah Savarese Katelyn Crumpler E-cha Ed Gibson Mira Kenney Kim Noble (photo) 3

4 Serenade: November 5 Camp Dixie Upcoming Weekends #144 March 9-12, 2017 Camp Dixie Jennifer Matlack, Rector #145 March 23-26, 2017 Camp Harrison Gary Oakley, Rector #146 May 2017 Camp Hanes Vicki Horner, Rector #147 September 2017 Camp Harrison Rector TBA For many guests serenade is one of the events that will be cherish most after the weekend. Serenade is Saturday night at 5:30 pm. We will meet in the gym past the playground on the left from camp. We will eat; then practice with the band, serenade the guests and team, then leave for home. Remember to wear your crosses and name tags. Please remember that serenade is not the time for hugging, talking to, touching or showing special attention to individual guests or team. Let God s Loving Light Shine in our Eyes and Smiles! CLOSING SERVICE REMINDER: DATE: Sunday, November 6 TIME: 4PM Why come to the Closing Ceremony? 1. Welcome the new Pilgrims to the Fourth Day! 2. Support the team! 3. Witness the commissioning of our next rector and support Jennifer Matlack as she prepares for NCPP # Help pack up! Whether in the kitchen, the cabins, the chapel, or the rollo room, there s a place to lend an extra hand. 4

5 Stay Connected! How do I keep up with the NCPP happenings? Go to What information is on the website? Online directory of the entire NC 4th day including addresses and phone numbers Upcoming weekend dates, locations, and rectors Newsletters from most weekends Logos from most weekends Current guest and sponsor applications A link to the prayer banner website A NCPP brochure for potential guests And much more.. Please verify that YOUR contact information is still current in the online directory! Why? So your brothers, sisters, and future rectors can contact you! Also, make sure your reunion sisters and brothers received their newsletter. If not, ask them to update their address! Would You Like To Serve On A Pilgrimage Team? If you would like to serve on a team, download the team application form from the NCPP web site Fill it out and send it to the rector of the weekend. On the form, you can indicate your preference for your role on the team. However, depending on the needs of the team, preferences may not always be accommodated. It is not always possible for rectors to find a spot for everyone who wishes to serve on a weekend, but they are particularly interested in having new members of the 4th Day Community serve on teams. Remember you may also serve by sponsoring guests, being part of the prayer banner, providing meals for team meetings, supplying palanca for guests, participating in serenade, or helping with set-up and cleanup of camp. How can you plan on serving for an upcoming weekend? 5

6 Eastern Council Members Moderator Vice Moderator/Music Secretary Leaders Registrar 4th Day/ Reunion Group Newsletter/Outreach Palanca/ Prayer Banner Serenade Ultreya Operations Pastor Roger Worthington Pam Monroe Mira Kenney Lauren Blashford Pam Falter Steve & Mareva Taylor Jennifer Matlack Bill McMillan Bob Beachler Jud Morton Sawn France Rick McDuffie A Message from Our Council Moderator Hurricane Matthew brought a big test of our faith and trust in God and our fellow Christians. Several in our community have suffered damage from the flooding. There will be weeks and months of recovery. My heart has been wrenched and I have shed many tears as the stories and photos poured in on the News channels and Facebook. I am grateful that no one from our community was lost to the storm. Even our beloved Camp Dixie was damaged with the breach of the dam. Yet I think about one of our reunion questions and smile with joy from the responses. How have you experienced God in your life this week? God s strength, Christ s peace, and the Holy Spirit s enthusiastic fire have been displayed by all you in the aid given and prayers lifted. Every aspect that is taught on a Pilgrimage weekend has been demonstrated faithfully: Christian Community; Leadership; balance of the three legged stool of Piety, Study, and Action; Sacramental moments, Transformation of the Environment; and ample quantities of Grace Given and Received. The 4 th day community is alive and active in pushing back the challenges of this world and the evil forces. With regard to Camp Dixie, I have a special shout out to the Eastern Council, Dan, Janie, and team 143. This upcoming weekend is a reality because of so much enthusiasm and dedication. We had a brief period of prayer concern about whether the Camp could recover quickly or whether we should redirect our resources, time, and energy toward the recovery. Finally, I wish to say thank you for your support over the last several years as I served on the Eastern Council. We have made several improvements and have supported the weekends like welloiled machines. I know in the deepest part of my heart that you will support Pam Monroe and the next council in leading our community of service in his holy name. Peace, love, and joy, Roger Worthington Eastern Council Moderator

7 Where in the world is Camp Dixie? FROM POINTS NORTH: I-95 S to Hwy 87 S (Exit 46) Take Hwy 87 S towards Elizabethtown for miles Go approximately 1 mile past the Dupont Plant Entrance Turn right onto Bladen Union Church Road (the next paved right) Camp Dixie will be on your left FROM POINTS SOUTH: I-95 N to Hwy 20 E (St. Pauls Exit) Continue through St. Pauls, past the landfill and Rocco Farms Plant Cross a little bridge at Gallberry Swamp and then cross the county line Take the next left onto Pages Lake Road Continue for approximately 2 miles Camp Dixie will be on the right FROM POINTS WEST: Alternative route is to stay on 74E to 95N and follow direction from the south, above 74E to Hwy 71N 71N to 20E and continue through St. Pauls Cross a little bridge at Gallberry Swamp and then cross the county line Take the next left onto Pages Lake Road. Continue for approximately 2 miles. Camp Dixie will be on the right.

8 NCPP #143: Pictures as the team prepared for NCPP #143. Rector Dan Hamilton shares updates. (above) Sharing communion is one way team members prepare their hearts for service. (left)

Eastern NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage Newsletter

November 2017 Eastern NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage Newsletter A Letter from the Rector Dear Friends, In just a few weeks, the guests will arrive at Camp Dixie to be surrounded by Christ s love during NCPP