the fifth one about montreat (part 1): candlelight

Colleen, Jacob, Niki, and Joey

Wassupppp Congregs,

We’re just straight chillin’ in the Happy Hearth (our house) listening to Baby Jay play the guitar. Small groups met for the last time today, so most of our groups did an activity called affirmations. It was sad that we wouldn’t go to small groups anymore this year. We passed around the “journals” we have been using all week and wrote nice little things about each other. Except sometimes there were quiet kids in our groups who we didn’t know well enough to say nice things about, so it was like “you were nice” or “thanks for having red hair” or “you ain’t dumb” or “way to be quiet, you idiot” or “I HATE YOU.” Just kidding. Left-overs for dinner tonight were pretty good, again. Pretty soon we are heading down to worship, and everyone is pumped for tonight’s candlelight service around Lake Susan which is always a powerful experience. This week has gone by uber fast. It’s sad that the week is coming to an end and we have to come home tomorrow, but it will be nice to see all of you again! (smiles!!)

Loooooove,

Us

Bethany

Dear church goers,

I’m sitting next to Joey, he’s being a sillybutt. He doesn’t think sillybutt is a word but I’m going to use it. Today I saw mountains. I was with Sarah and Jeremy most of the day. I brought them home to meet the fam. Oh course it got embarrassing. Everyone was singing and when I had a chance to escape they lured me in with hugs and kidnapped me! Jacob’s going to beddyweddybye. Umm. Sarah is getting a little emotional up in here. So night. I love you.

Love, Bethany

the fourth one about montreat: friends

Niki Ringer

Montreat has to be the thing I look forward to during the summer. This is only my second year going, but after last year, I couldn’t wait to come back this year. I can’t come back next year because I just graduated high school, but if I could, I would in a heartbeat. Today was like any other day with Keynote and small groups this morning. I think today’s keynote was the best one so far. The talked about “doors” that need to be broken down in the church. The topic travelled into our small groups and mine (SG 35!) spent the entire time having a serious discussion about the topic. I enjoy this year’s small group much more than last year just for the fact the people are so much more talkative and involved. I can’t wait for this afternoon when we get to go back to small groups and go to worship and the variety show tonight. Montreat is definitely my favorite part of the summer.

Bethany Ringer

Dear congregation peoples,
My mommy loved my last blog. She was very proud. Things here are well. Our GOOTH family is remembering retelling silly-willy stories from the week. Like any good family stories, they embarrassed me but I still love them. Well, the way it all started was I was chilling with a boy who I won’t name or call a sweetyface, even though it’s true. They were hinting at the fact I called him a cutie pie in last night’s blog. I told them that “cutie pies” are friends, and not “romantic interests.” Oh well, I guess my new friends will have to love my youth family if they want to love me too. Meanwhile the God party isn’t stopping anytime soon. Well at least not in the next 24 hours. Okay. Goodnight Clemmons/Winston-Salem greater area. I love you
Love, Bethany

Mr Cooper wants to know how Jay got a blog and what he has to take to get rid of it……(haha)

the third one about montreat (part 1): free day and dance party

Hello folks…Montreat is continuing to go well. we had a rain-free free afternoon yesterday…last year it poured and poured…we had lots of fun yesterday in the dry weather! the theme has been getting better and better as the week goes on. the GOOTH are really connecting to the message, largely because a lot of it overlaps and connects to the experiences they had at NYC two weeks ago. it has really been special and transformative for them to hear the message in another context…thus reinforcing the message of love. Two more days!!!!

Bethany Ringer (10^th grader)

Dear mommy and church congregation,
Montreat has been wicked cool. We sing and laugh and cuddle! Tonight we went to a rave. (OK, it wasn’t a rave…but it was a glow-in-the-dark dance party with blacklights!) I got glow sticks and face paint. I have new friends Sarah and Jeremy. Sarah has pink hair and Jeremy wears girl jeans and is a cutiepie. Our church family is crazy like always. We sing the songs, and cuddle, and love each other up. It’s fun here. I love you mommy.
Peace out,
Bethany

Katie Morris (11^th grader)

Today was another wonderful day at Montreat! The sub-theme for today was “Open the Doors to Our Hearts.” In keynote the speakers and keynote team explored the story of when Jesus heals a paralyzed man. They focused on what the personalities of the man’s friends would have been – were they organizing & setting up things to help their friend, or were they the friends who are always there for one another? We continued that discussion in our small groups, and then it was our free afternoon! We had lunch and then a group of us went rock hopping in the creek. It was quite exciting. The other half of our group opted to stay at the house and nap or go around to the shops here at Montreat. After the strenuous rock hopping and restful naps we all went into Black Mountain. Colleen, Niki, Reva, Beth, Julia, Maggie and I went to a thrift store and then to a cute coffee shop called the Dripolator (aka the Drip). We all got our various coffee or smoothie drinks and then met up with some of the guys. At the end of our time in Black Mountain we picked up pizza for dinner. Back again at Montreat, we went to worship where the theme was love. Part of the back-home devotions talked about this further. Relationships are extremely important as well as loving one another. Our “re-creation” activity for tonight was a dance party with black lights, glow in the dark face paint, glow sticks, and strobe lights. I think we will all definitely sleep well tonight. : )
Love,
A Tired But Happy Montreat-er

Ronda Cooper (Adult)

Montreat is such a place of rejuvenation to begin with….add about 1000 youth and it is even more electric! Starting the morning activities with “energizers” is new…but, I actually like it. Ian told me that there are middle schoolers that are more uncoordinated that me. (Is that good?) Keynote, which for me is a cross between Sunday School, contemporary worship, and Bible study follows energizers and mixed into both of those is music. The music is by far one of my favorite things here. The music itself is both beautiful and fun praise music, but hearing such a large number of young people lifting voices in praise is very moving.

Small groups have smaller groups. How’s that for information? There are about 25 youth and back-home leaders in small groups, but none of the members of small group know each other from home. Our Youth know some of the small groups members they are with because they have met them in years past at Montreat. Every day has a sub-theme from the Keynote and Small Group time helps concentrate on that message and dissect it up a bit. Games and activities are very helpful and FUN! Small Group meets before and after lunch. After the evening meal, we walk to Anderson Auditorium for worship. Then back to our house for more “dissecting”.

I have witnessed pancakes being made, dishes being washed, and schedules being carried out by teenagers!! Believe it! There is, however, not much sleep to go around here…..no problem, we’ll sleep when we aren’t at Montreat…………
Looking forward to tomorrow
Ronda