February in Montreat

Montreat Conference Center is pleased to bring you our monthly newsletter February in Montreat. Please find updates from our president, highlights on programmatic offerings, and ways that you can engage with Montreat below. Specifically, in this issue we are talking about new dates for The Manna Retreat, a special event with Dr. William Yoo, and God’s steady faithfulness.

Trusting in God’s Faithfulness by Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center Greetings from Montreat! As we begin 2026 and approach midwinter, this is to share news on several fronts.   First, I want to call your attention to Montreat Conference Center’s newly published 2025 Annual Report, now available on our website. The report offers a thoughtful review of a year marked by significant transition, deepened mission, and renewed engagement across the many generations who participate here. Within its (virtual) pages you will find stories of faithful programs and tangible progress in service to the vision that guides our work… READ THE FULL ARTICLE PROGRAMS & EVENTS Due to recent inclement weather, The Manna Retreat has been rescheduled for February 20-22, 2026. While we regret that this event was unable to take place as scheduled, the good news is that there is still time to register if you are interested in attending! Visit our website to learn more or sign up. You are invited to join us this summer for Worship & Music Conference, an event hosted in partnership with the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM). Leadership for this year’s conference includes David Hufford, Ariel Merivil, Brian Blount, Mel Bringle, and Katie Aumann, along with many others! Explore the full leadership roster, class options, and more by clicking here. Looking for a place to host your next event? Consider Montreat! We host a variety of groups from mid-August to mid-May, ranging from small gatherings to larger events. Our meeting spaces designed to accommodate all sizes and need and we also offer comfortable lodging options. Take this opportunity to connect with your faith and your community in the sacred setting of Montreat! Learn more. We share updates related to offerings for youth & young adults, adult conferences, and retreats in a series of topical email newsletters each month. Sign up to receive one, two, or all three directly in your inbox by clicking here. EXPERIENCE MONTREAT John Philip Newell and Cami Twilling will once again join us this fall for our annual Earth & Soul Retreat. This year’s event is titled “The Great Search 1” and is the first of a new three-part series in which participants will explore the search for expanded vision, the search for intimacy with Earth, and the search for spiritual presence. Registration is open! Click here to learn more. Mark your calendars! Dr. William Yoo, Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary and Mountain Retreat Association board member, will offer a free lecture in Montreat on Wednesday, March 18. Titled “The Church Cannot be Silent, but What Should It Say?”, Dr. Yoo’s lecture will address American Christianity and present possibilities on how to honor God, love neighbor, and speak the truth while still having faith in America. In-person and livestream options are available. Learn more. Construction of a new bridge will soon begin on Harry Bryan Trail! This bridge was completely destroyed during Hurricane Helene and is the last major repair that needs to be made to our trail system following the storm. We’ll share more details soon, but, in the meantime, we ask that you please continue to refrain from hiking on this trail until all repairs are complete. To explore all of our open hiking trails, please visit our website. We share updates for locals, news about the Montreat Wilderness, and information pertaining to spiritual exploration in three monthly email newsletters specific to each topic. Select which ones you would like to receive in your inbox by clicking here. Welcoming Our New Vice President of Development The Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) is excited to welcome its new Vice President of Development, Rev. Marti Hazelrigg! Marti began work in Montreat on January 20. Please be sure to drop by and say hello! You can read more about Marti and what she brings to this role using the link below. READ THE PRESS RELEASE Engage Your Creativity in Montreat! Whether you’re joining in song in Anderson Auditorium or throwing a pot at the Sally Jones Pottery, there are so many ways to nourish your creative spirit while visiting Montreat! Use the link below to explore all of our upcoming events and see how you can get in touch with your artistic side while you’re here. VIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS Montreat Conference Center, a ministry of the Mountain Retreat Association, is a national conference center located in Western North Carolina with roots in the PC(USA). Learn more at www.montreat.org.

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byFaith Magazine - PCUSA Church Completes Transition to the PCA

PCUSA Church Completes Transition to the PCA By Erin Jones October is a milestone month for First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City, New Jersey. READ NOW

Examining the Religious Quest of Modernity By Kenny Silva Early modernity lost the Creator by looking for him in the creation and trying to control him with magic, even under the guise of “modern” Newtonian mechanics. READ NOW The Policing Pastor By Meagan Gillmore Police work drove Jared Dean to discern a call to ministry — a call that began growing in the Marines and bloomed during a crisis of faith with the police force. READ NOW The Volume of Overtures: A Statistical History By Andy Jones We examined the number of overtures sent to the General Assembly each year from 2000 to 2025. Here are some observations. READ NOW General Assembly Seminar Proposals Due January 31 By Megan Fowler While the General Assembly gathers to deliberate on denominational business, the annual gathering also offers vital opportunities for fellowship, worship, and learning. READ NOW

AROUND THE WEB Reformed Presbyterians Excommunicate White Supremacist Minister One of the oldest denominations in the United States has deposed and excommunicated a 42-year-old minister for his white supremacist views.   Disciplines Don’t Save. Christ Does. Michael Horton exhorts Christians to not confuse discipleship with the gospel.   4 Reasons to Love God’s Aseity Divine aseity affirms that God is from himself (it derives from the Latin: the prefix a means “from,” and se means “self”). Paul Helm (1940–2025), Philosopher of the Doctrines of Grace   Paul Helm, who died on December 29 at home in Gloucestershire at age 85, was the leading philosophical defender of Calvinism in the United Kingdom over the past 50 years. FOLLOW  |  DONATE  |  DAILY DEVOTIONAL