turkeys!

Year End & In The Black

For anyone who has been following Cherokee Retreat Center over the last few years, you are well aware of the roller coaster we have been on. For a variety of reasons, our budget over the last several years has been changing dramatically. While overall these changes, which have been masterfully lead by our leadership (both volunteer and paid), have set CRC on a new path of fiscal responsibility and good stewardship, they have also meant a dramatic new understanding to what we have resources for and what we may not. As we began to live into 2009, we also began to feel as though the rug was quickly being pulled out from under us both financially and missionally. With resolve and direction, however, we charted a course to end the year in the "black," and I for one am ecstatic to say with confidence, that our plan has paid off. With only days left in 2009, CRC has enough reserves to cover the remainder of our expected expenditures......with a little bit to spare!

Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say REJOICE!

What this means, is that following year after year of large cutbacks in 2009 when we were required to make perhaps our most daunting cuts, we kept our bearings and have landed soundly on our feet. In an age when it is more and more important to demonstrate viability in so many different ways, what a statement this year's financial performance makes.

Thank you, to everyone who has had a hand in making THIS a reality!

Sincerely,
Kelly Howington
Director - Cherokee Retreat Center

Pumpkin Patch Success!

The tally is in and we can celebrate because our first ever CRC Pumpkin Patch fundraiser brought in $1,000! Just the other day the Heritage kids came over and delivered the check and I for one am eternally grateful. The ball is rolling, or the pumpkin rather. Now we have 11 months to plan the next round!

Presbytery Hanging Of The Greens

Check out the Presbytery Office Hanging of The Greens pics!

Christmas is coming!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherokeepresbytery/sets/72157622914193436/show/

Register Early = Last Year's Rate

The 2010 summer camp dates are now online and the system is ready for you to register. This year we hope that many of you take the opportunity to lock in at the 2009 rates by simply putting down your deposit BEFORE the end of this year. You can always change which week you are signed up for as we go along, but this price break will end when the ball drops on New Year's Eve!

Register Today & send your child or grandchild a Christmas gift that will last all year long!

the pumpkins have arrived!

045
Originally uploaded by Kelly_Howington

This afternoon, around 20 folks gathered at the Pre-owned Jeep Store on Hwy. 20, and got their Sunday workout unloading 753 beautiful orange pumpkins from the truck. Working in lines, we passed each pumpkin from person to person, down the line until it reached its destination. The younger kids chased each other in and around the pumpkins as the youth and adults worked, and there were some adults who didn't move pumpkins, but instead acted as our cheerleaders and moral support. And it struck me, as we were out there, that moments like this are really little slices of what church is supposed to be... everyone working together on a common project to their ability, supporting and encouraging one another, struggling some, but having lots of fun in the process. And the whipped cream on our little slice of church pie? The ice cream man showed up just as we were unloading the last few pumpkins! I think we made that man's day.

If you get a chance, please come out and join us at the pumpkin patch. We'd love for you to come help, or just come and buy your pumpkin and help support camp. Maybe if you're lucky, the ice cream man will stop by then, too. I recommend the cherry slushes.

Jean

God's Great Surprises

I knew it might not be the best of starts when I arrived at Camp Cherokee already close to "really, really tired." It had been quite a long week involving big projects at work and at home and, to be honest, I was wishing that our Suburban were headed for Disney World or the Grand Canyon.

To be frank, it's never been my nature to really be excited about work. Spa days? Absolutely! Ladies Night Out? Uh-huh. Movie Night with my family in my pjs? I am ALL ABOUT IT. Contrary to popular opinion, I don't get all that excited about work.

I've done this enough by now that it shouldn't surprise me. Without fail, God somehow manages to turn my ho-hum-it-sounded-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time attitude into one that always surprises me. Suddenly, as we round the corner of camp, dipping into another pot hole and spot the crew that's been expecting us, my spirit is lifted. And I am surprised. Again.

Last night, I was tucking two of our little ones into bed. As usual, I helped them with their nightime routines - including nightime prayers. As an afterthought, I offerred to pray with their two little roommates who eagerly accepted the invitation to privately praise God for our first day. Just the two of us. As I closed their bedroom door, one of those precious children jumped out of bed, hugged my neck, wept tears of appreciation and said: "no one's ever prayed with us before." And I am surprised. Again.

I have discovered that this is the beauty of mission work, for me. In a world that is so predictable... work, soccer, homework, work, laundry, pets, mail, work, cutting grass, work... there are few surprises anymore. But not this week. Not at Cherokee Retreat Center. Not with snow on the way. Or the amazing Joe Garrett, roofer, who's here to help. The expert carpenter father/son - Max and Jeff Vanderlip - team who have decided to take on every transition/threshold issue in the lodge! Or three teenagers (Jessica Gamble, Gino Arocena, Andrew from Heritage) who are learning how to lay ceramic tile, as I write. Or the fantastic team of Lily-Kate and Kelly - 10 and 13 year olds - who have literally scrubbed every piece of trim in Parker until it looks like it's all been freshly painted! Or even six year old James MacPherson who suprises me constantly with his passion (and precision) for paint. Or Richard "Rooster" Hunter who is now on his eighth hour of pressure washing even as the temperature drops steadily.

We are out here with our palm branches, FPC. We hope you will join us this week. You won't want to miss (I know I don't) what awesome surprises God has in store for tomorrow!

By-Becky Jordan

Planning worship

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Making more sandwichs

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Heritage making sandwichs

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Another Happy Youth Group!

 

From: Adrian Martin [mailto:amartin@athensfirstpres.com]
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 10:41 AM
To: Janwday@aol.com
Cc: director@cherokeeretreatcenter.com
Subject: RE: FPC ATHENS FINAL.PDF

 

It was a wonderful retreat!  We were so bless to be able to use the facility.  It was very clean, very large, and very comfortable.  The hospitality was awesome.  Anytime we needed anything, we got it really fast.  Our questions were answered quickly and our problems dealt with.  It was an awesome experience and I am glad we chose to be at Camp Cherokee.  We will definitely return sometime in the future.  Thanks for helping us get set up and taken care of, Jan.  You did a great service to us in all that you did to make this retreat happen!

 

Peace,

 

Adrian

 

 

Adrian Martin

Director of Youth Ministries

First Presbyterian Church

185 East Hancock Avenue

Athens, GA 30601

706-543-4338

www.athensfirstpres.com