I am the editor of our monthly church newsletter. Last month I had information about a Virginia-wide Diocesan Fall Camp and of course added it to the issue. We had heard that Shrine Mont, a place in the mountains, was supposed to be really nice especially at this time of the year with the leaves being so colorful.
Well, James and I have things going on and the deadline to register had passed. Way passed! As we happened to talk with our new very nice and capable church secretary and mentioned some regret that we were not going she said that she had gone for years and how great it was. She also said that surely there was still place. She contacted some people for us and yes, suddenly we found ourselves registered. And just a few days later ...
Monday October 25
We were supposed to arrive at 3 pm and because of today's GPS gadgets that was no problem. We got our information packages with room assignments etc. We were in the Maryland House across the street from the big lodge.
We found parking in the back too which was convenient since our room was in the back too, lovely with a little pond. Kathy (our secretary) had given me hints what to bring and I had listened. It was cold in the mountains. The German comforters were perfect!
At 5 o'clock every day was a half-happy-hour with nibbles and wine. We had name tags of course and people were not shy to talk to you ... first time? ... where are you from? ... it was nice.
Dinner every day was at 5:30 pm. The most difficult part of all of it on which floor one had to be. Dinner was cafeteria style and totaly o.k. You sat where you wanted and met other people and talked again.
At 6:30 pm was the first session in the ballroom. And we met musician Ed Kilbourne for the first time.
Ed seems to be part of this fall camp ever since it started 35 years ago. Sorry we have missed that. He is very spiritual, funny and actually made us sing along quite often ... including standing up and waving our arms or doing sign-language motions. It was great. He had also good and funny stories to tell.
Of course there was a welcome and announcements. We were told that of course there was an agenda and there were lists where we could sign up for workshops but it was most important that we did what what we felt we needed ... like going for a hike. There was a station in the lobby with tea and coffee, places were you could play cards or knit as several ladies did. I had brought some knitting too but never got around to it.
At 8 pm retired Bishop Martin Townsend did the compline.
Tuesday
7:30 am First thing on the agenda was the morning devotions with Ed. Great!
Sun-up at 7:55 am from the lodge balcony in Orkney Springs, Virginia.
8 am Breakfast
9 am Morning announcements and music and shortly after the keynote address #1 by Terry Hershey. Terry and Ed seem to be really good friends but Terry is not at the fall retreat every year. We were lucky. He was awsome too. He too made us laugh and teary-eyed a lot. Both gave us a lot to think about in these few days. At the end we bought 2 CDs from Ed and books from Terry, just so we can refresh what we have heard. There was so much to take in.
Terry called his theme for his sessions "Spiritual hydration". He encouraged us to take notes and also gave us things to discuss at our tables at times. I just looked at my notes. Lots to digest.
There was a break and then the first workshop started. I had signed up for "Embroidery on Paper".
Loretta had brought samples and supply.
It was quite interesting. Here is what I did:
After lunch we had another workshop. James and I had signed up for "Artful Appetizers". This is our table. There were many tables and each made different appetizers. We each got a homemade "cookbook" and followed with the kit we were given. The appetizers were offered at the half-happy-hour.
Monday night, Tuesday and Tuesday night was gloomy, cold and a very strong wind blowing. There was a lot of noise under the metal roof. So, playing cards in the lobby was a good thing. Can't exactly remember when we did that.
After dinner of course we had the nice music time with Ed and missionary/author Frances Fuller gave a talk. Oh my, this 92 year old lady looked and behaved 20 years younger. It was so interesting. The book she mostly spoke about was her latest "Helping Yourself Grow Old / Things I Said to Myself when I Was Almost 90". I am reading it now. It is easy reading but so full of wisdom.
Wednesday
We woke up to a glorious day. The agenda was the same as yesterday: 7:30 am, 8 am, 9 am
James had signed up for a morning workshop but I had not. I sat comfortably in the lobby and made large Chrismon Angels. After lunch James and I decided we NEEDED to go for a hike. I thought (wrongly) that the Shrine Mont was on top of the mountain. Of course we needed to see it (whatever it was) and headed out.
Pretty soon we were going uphill (quite steep sometimes) and there were Stations of the Cross. Strangly it seemed to start with station 2. I did my huffing and puffing. Uphill is more of a challenge for me, especially after a meal. But you know how patient James is with me and we enjoyed it so very much.
Last station. We must be almost on top.
Well, there was a tower with a large white cross on top. We met others there and of cause had nice chats. Somebody wanted to send me a group photo via email but it has not arrived.
We climbed up the stairs but there was not much view. The lovely trees were in the way but it still was very nice.
The cross was "overrun" with ladybugs. So, those dots are not dirt.
The group of people there when we arrived went back the same way we came. James and I didn't like the idea. There was so much loose gravel and on the steep parts (going up is no problem) nothing to hold on to. We got more conscientious after James broke his ankle on something just like it in Spain.
But others had arrived when we were there and they knew a different way down. It was lovely and interesting too.
That path ended just by the lodge ... and we had not seen the Shrine Mont. I wanted to just find something to sit down before hiking some more but a lady with a golf card just came by and knew where it was and wanted to bring us there. Great, I got my few minutes of sitting and was refreshed.
Well, Shrine Mont actually is the Cathedral of our Diocese of Virginia. Later we saw the bishops' house too (no photo).
The Cathedral is very unusual. I could imagine how special a service must be here.
Just behind me was this big rock. The plaque is The Shouting Player. We had met Sally there and another lady who explained how it is done. We felt the need to do the prayer. I read a line and the others repeated. Line by line. It felt good.
When we left to continue walking ...
... we found the "missing" Station of the Cross # 1 and past it we came to the others where we had been before.
And there is also a Labyrinth. Another great thing to help you meditate. Sally and James did it.
At 5 pm the evening started like the day before. And it was very nice again. By now some of the others were more familiar like old friends.
Thursday
Another sun-up after the devotion time and a photo of us with fall colors.
After breakfast, music, the 3rd keynote and a break we had the closing Eucharist led by the retired bishop. It was very meaningful.
Of course I had to take a look afterwards at the parament. The lady who had made it was just standing there and explained to me how she/they had done it. A new-to-me technique.
After lunch and packing we had to have a picture of the St Martin's Church participants.
We hope very much that we will be a bigger group from our church next year. And I also must say that we felt that GOD wanted us there. James and I needed these days and the messages. It is amazing how the Lord works. About that in a later blog.
