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

 

877-647-8542 - Toll Free

678-848-5739 - Cell Phone

678-918-3387 - Fax

 

director@cherokeeretreatcenter.com - email

http://www.cherokeeretreatcenter.com- web

http://www.youtube.com/cherokeeretreat- Youtube

http://cherokeeretreatcenter.blogspot.com/- CRC Blog

 

Let's Keep Christmas

The following is an excerpt from a sermon preached by the gifted minister, Peter Marshall in 1949. The words speak to our hearts and minds this Advent season. MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear friends!


"Although your Christmas tree decorations will include many new gadgets, such as lights with bubbles in them . . . it's the old tree decorations that mean the most . . . the ones you save carefully from year to year . . . the crooked star that you've been so careful with. And you'll bring out the tiny manger, and the shed, and the little figures of the Holy Family . . . and lovingly arrange them on the mantel or in the middle of the dining room table. And getting the tree will be a family event, with great excitement for the children . . . And there will be a closet into which you will forbid your husband to look, and he will be moving through the house mysteriously with bundles under his coat, and you'll pretend not to notice . . . There will be a fragrance of cookies baking, spices, and fruitcake . . . and the warmth of the house shall be melodious with the lilting strains of 'Silent Night, Holy Night.' And you'll listen to the wonderful Christmas music on the radio. Some of the songs will be modern - good enough music perhaps - but it will be the old carols, the lovely old Christmas hymns, that will mean the most.And forests of fir trees will march right into our living rooms . . . There will be bells on our doors and holly wreaths in our windows . . . And we shall sweep the Noel skies for their brightest colors and festoon our homes with stars. There will be a chubby stocking hung by the fireplace . . . and with finger to lip you will whisper and ask me to tip-toe, for a little tousled head is asleep and must not be awakened. And finally Christmas morning will come. Don't worry -- you'll be ready for it -- You'll catch the spirit all right, or it will catch you, which is even better. And then you will remember what Christmas means - the beginning of Christianity . . . the Second Chance for the world . . . the hope for peace . . . and the only way. The promise that the angels sang is the most wonderful music the world has ever heard. 'Peace on earth and good will toward men.' It was not a pronouncement upon the state of the world then, nor is it a reading of the international barometer of present time . . . but it is a promise -- God's promise -- of what will come to pass.The years that are gone are graveyards in which all the persuasions of men have crumbled into dust. If history has any voice, it is to say that all these ways of men lead nowhere. There remains only one way -- The Way -- untried, untested, unexplored fully . . . the way of Him Who was born a Babe in Bethlehem. In a world that seems not only to be changing, but even to be dissolving, there are tens of millions of us who want Christmas to be the same . . . with the same old greeting 'Merry Christmas' and no other. We long for the abiding love among men of good will which the season brings . . . believing in this ancient miracle of Christmas with its softening, sweetening influence to tug at our heart strings once again. We want to hold on to the old customs and traditions because they strengthen our family ties, bind us to our friends, make us one with all mankind for whom the Child was born, and bring us back again to the God Who gave His only begotten son, that 'whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'
So we will not 'spend' Christmas . . .nor 'observe' Christmas.We will 'keep' Christmas -- keep it as it is . . .in all loveliness of its ancient traditions.May we keep it in our hearts,that we may be kept in its hope."

The Season Of Giving

I love Advent.  The anticipation, the family, the joyous celabration make even dreary rainy days and bad economic projections light up wih optimism and life.  Over the last several weeks, a great deal of work has been going on to reorganize the leadership of Cherokee Retreat Center while also working hard to secure the financial plan for the next 12 months.   We are by no means through the woods on this, lots more MUST be done, however, the giving of time and dollars has litterally moved me to tears of thanksgiving.   To date, we have had $10,000 committed in a matching arrangement, so for every dollar that you send in today there will be double that amount for us to use as we get into the new year.  That's $20,000 of the estimated additional $50,000 needed to keep us on track financially through next year.  What's more, in a time when everyone is stretched too thin and to far, we have also had an outpouring of volunteer leadership support.  Our last Division meeting welcomed a host of newcomers showing support and ready to serve.  The first meeting of the newly formed "Friends Of Camp Cherokee" group was graced with nearly 30 people of a WIDE range of ages and backgrounds.   Camp Cherokee/CRC has truly touched the lives of countless souls!

 

Now is the time for us to continue to give back to this ministry that has given so much to us all.  Our goals here are to continue to build the new Board of Directors and Friends Group, to raise the remainder of the funds needed for the 2009 budget year and to increase our campers attendance and rentals by a significant margin this year.  When we meet these goals, we will be able to look back at this past few weeks and celebrate in the goodness of our maker.  At every such turning poinnt in my own life, I have been graced with Just Enough to get to the next step in my ministry, but without Camp Cherokee I probably wouldn't have been able to recognize the resources that have been provided to me both practical and spiritual which have been so pivotal.  I have no doubt that God is at work here, educating, motivating and celebrating His success through our witness to Him! 

 

Sincerely,

Kelly Howington

Director - Cherokee Retreat Center

 

877-647-8542 - Toll Free

770-608-3564 - Cell Phone

678-918-3387 - Fax

 

director@cherokeeretreatcenter.com - email

http://www.cherokeeretreatcenter.com- web

http://www.youtube.com/cherokeeretreat- Youtube

http://cherokeeretreatcenter.blogspot.com/- CRC Blog

 

 

Camp Cherokee On The Chopping Block

It is with a troubled heart that I write you this message. Over the last two days, it has become increasingly clear to me that the future of Camp Cherokee is in grave danger due to what is now known to be a massive financial crisis at the Presbytery level. At the Presbytery meeting yesterday (which you may have attended) the report from the Budget and Finance Committee demonstrated that at this late point in the year we are now aware that the financial standing of Cherokee Presbytery is teetering on the verge of collapse. As an arm of this larger body Camp Cherokee will be forced to close its doors, if nothing is done about it quickly. The likelyhood that this longstanding ministry (which is unique in this Presbytery in both how many lives it has touched and how collobratively it has been brought about by the hard work, sweat and tears of so many dedicated participants and volunteers) would survive even a single summer of inoperation is extremely low. Despite the excellent progress we have made over the last four years to reduce our costs and to increase our income as well as drastically improve our program, site and facilities, unless we have widespread and prompt support, this gem faces being cast asside in order to make the entire Presbytery's financial ends meet.

You Can Download More Details About The Financial Crisis Cherokee Presbytery Is Facing Below:

Powerpoint: http://www.cherokeeretreatcenter.com/documents/Financial%20Crisis.ppt

PDF: http://www.cherokeeretreatcenter.com/documents/Financial%20Crisis.pdf

This is not a drill or merely a possibility, it is a harsh reality and ACTION MUST BE taken quickly if we are to continue this ministry and have any hopes of seeing our 100th anniversary. Ironically the Presbytery's financial report came just moments after widespread applause for our recent American Camping Association Accrediation success.

If you are asking yourself "How Can I Help?," first of all God belss you!

Secondly, because this issue is squarely a financial one, the bottom line is that we need your financial support now more than ever before. For the sake of the ministry that transformed my own life through Christian community, I implore you to pray hard tonight with your family and join my family in donating to the Camp Cherokee Development Fund as you are led to through prayerful consideration. Cherokee Presbytery alone has over 10,000 members. If each member were to give only $5 we would be in the clear for 2008. If each member were to give an additional $5, we believe we would be set for 2009. Per/person, that's less than a value meal at McDonalds!

Thirdly, the leadership of Cherokee Presbytery needs to hear from you (Contact Info. Below). More than ever before, your church pastor and every member of the Presbytery Council and Presbytery staff should know the stories of how Jesus Christ has changed your life or the lives of people you hold dear through the ministry at Camp Cherokee. I encourage you to email, write, phone call or even IM your own pastor and the members of the Cherokee Presbytery Council, in order to let them know just how valuable this "spiritual asset" is in your life.

Can you make a difference? YES YOU CAN! In fact the only way to make a difference is for each individual to take on a smaller part.

Finally, to ensure our longterm success, it is imperative that we move into a Board Of Directors design of leadership for Camp Cherokee. In order to do this we need to hear from passion filled, spirit led, energetic people who also have the know how, dedication and expertise to make a change and do it quickly and effectively. Gone are the days of sitting around a table meeting for hours with little real progress. What is needed is creative brainstoming, decisive action, and mutual accountability through love and relationship. If you would like to join the new Board of Directors, please let me know ASAP. We only have one shot at this and today is the day for change!

In closing I simply want to add that over the last few days and weeks, I have personally found myself experiencing an odd sense of calm. My heart is at peace despite the circumstances whirling around the future of Camp Cherokee because I know that God is at work in this transition. It reminds me of the story of the feeding of the 5000. On that day long ago, Jesus told the disciples (who had just urged Jesus to send the people home to eat) "YOU feed them." The disciples rummaged around and found only a handful of loaves and fish. The miracle happened, however, when they handed over what they did have to Him. When all was said and done, the people were fed, there were leftovers even! Keep that in mind as we all face the fear of "not enough." Through Jesus Christ, ALL things are possible....but first we must offer to Him our own brokeness and inadequacy.

Sincerely,

Kelly Howington

Director - Cherokee Retreat Center

877-647-8542 - Toll Free

770-608-3564 - Cell Phone

American Camp Association Accredited

This evening it was my pleasure to find out that from all our hard work this year and this summer, Cherokee Retreat Center/Camp Cherokee has indeed earned the ACA Accreditation. This is a big deal in the camping world as ACA is the only nationally accrediting body and the standards required of each camp are quite in-depth. I am proud of both our summer staff and the RMD members who contributed significantly to this accomplishment!

Let's Celebrate!

Where is God's Place in MySpace?

We get so caught up with school, sports, friends, parties, family and more, that we often forget about making space for God in the midst of our busy
lives. Some of us don’t even take the time to actually talk to our friends because all we have to do is read about what they are up to on their MySpace pages. How can we learn to build more personal relationships with our friends, and more importantly, how can we make space for God in our lives?

Come join us for the Middle School Retreat at Camp Cherokee the weekend of February 27-March 1, 2009 and invite a friend to SHARE THIS SPACE!

Register Online Today at www.cherokeeretreatcenter.com

Camp Cherokee Staff vs. Chipmunk

good times, rabid beasts!