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!

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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

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Making more sandwichs

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Heritage making sandwichs

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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

 

Camp Cherokee Valentine

Happy Valentines Day!

 

kh

Philip Fishing

The other day while the Friends of Camp Cherokee were meeting and teasing me about my birthday, my two sons were busy at work in my office. The task, to create a picture of something fun they remembered doing while at Camp Cherokee. Neither one of them have been campers but by the same token neither one of them are strangers to the program or staff either. Jean and I frequently say that neither Iain or Philip know a stranger and while that can be both good and bad, it is undoubtedly a result of their time at camp as children of the Director. Day to day encounters with the college staff leave both of them feeling like they are totally the center of the world and for a short time capable of commanding the attention of superior beings, full of laughter, energy, open arms and unbridled Christian love.

Jean & I work hard to make sure that Philip and Iain are not treated differently than the rest of the children who attend camp. While staff often gravitate to them because they are around every week, I deeply believe that the summer staff at Camp Cherokee work diligently to provide each camper with that unparalleled experience of feeling as though they are the center of THEIR role model’s attention. If we could all just feel that feeling again on a regular basis, just think if each of us could truly feel like they have a personal and central connection and focus with their maker! What a different world we would live in indeed. At any rate, each camper who comes to Camp Cherokee is immersed in an environment that fosters such relationships, and with that foundation we send our campers back out to be Christ’s “Fishers Of Men” in their own communities.

Camp that feels so far away...

This will be our third summer at Camp Cherokee; and I can't imagine feeling more safe or secure in our choice to send both the girls there.  Ashley and Katie both had incredible experiences there, and return each summer looking like they had truly experienced the Lord in addition to fellowship and fun.  Because of their two year age difference, the will be attending separate sessions this summer, and it is the number one activity they both choose to schedule their summer around. 
We all think so highly of the staff and counselors, I believe it is truly the greatest camping experience around....the girls feel like they are both far away from home, and I have the peace of mind in knowing that I can get to the quickly if they needed me.
Lisa-Marie Haygood
Ashley and Katie Bates' Mom
Sixes Presbyterian Church

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How Old Is Kelly?

Today is my birthday, and I am sitting in the office dumbfounded at the realization that I now have a son old enough to go to Camp Cherokee.  It seems like just yesterday, that little Kelly Howington nervously stepped onto the pavilion to check in for his first day of Camp at Camp Cherokee.  I can still taste Mrs. Sue’s chicken fingers, smell the “possum patties” and feel the warmth from the fire at the wood chapel while licking my fingers clean of the smore goo.  My faith journey really took off here at Camp Cherokee and I feel blessed each day that I am allowed to continue leading this ministry into what seems to be an ever more uncertain future. 

 

What I know is that once you have attended Camp Cherokee, even for a short while, you become family in the deepest sense of the word.  No matter how far you travel, how long you stay away, there is always a spiritual home here for you that invigorates the senses and quickly delivers you back to a simpler time in life when you could hear most clearly the voice of God in your life.  From the hugs, songs and silliness to the deep conversations about beliefs and the faith challenges brought on by an ever more materialistic and status oriented society, the changes that happen on these peaceful lake shores are truly fundamental a life altering. 

 

Regardless of how old I am, I am thankful for every day I have been blessed with the beauty that is Camp Cherokee and joyfully wonder about the future that is in store!  Our God is truly an AWESOME God!

 

How old am I today?  Old enough to look back and know without a doubt that through the challenges and questions, growth and changes God is indeed alive and at work in this world in new and miraculous ways!

 

Sincerely,

Kelly Howington

Director - Cherokee Retreat Center

 

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