Montreat Conference Center - Have You Considered Becoming a Montreat Patron?

What is a Montreat Patron? As the end of the year approaches, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to highlight the various ways that Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations thanks to a vibrant culture of philanthropy. Regardless of how you engage with Montreat, you have likely experienced the direct impact of these gifts, as roughly 13% of the conference center’s annual budget is comprised of individual donations to our annual unrestricted fund, The Montreat Fund, which supports a variety of programs and scholarships and helps to maintain various facilities throughout our campus. In today’s update, we’d like to share a little bit more about the Montreat Fund and tell you about those who support it — the Montreat Patrons… READ THE FULL ARTICLE BECOME A MONTREAT PATRON FEATURED EVENTS The Manna Retreat January 23–25, 2026 If you know someone between the ages of 22 and 32 who is longing to reconnect with the church, please tell them about The Manna Retreat, our yearly gathering for young adults. During this three-day event, participants nourish their faith as they participate in worship, small groups, and community-building activities. REGISTER NOW Discovering Renewal April 7–10, 2026 We are excited to announce that Victoria Loorz, founder of the Center for Wild Spirituality, will join us during Discovering Renewal this spring! Victoria will guide morning devotions and aid participants as they seek renewal through intentional practice. LEARN MORE Fall Craft Week September 27–October 2, 2026 Classes are quickly filling up for our 2026 Fall Craft Week! Whether you are a skilled craftsperson or a beginner, this retreat offers you a chance to hone your skills while sharing in the company of other creatives. Consider attending on your own, with a friend, or as part of a group. You won’t regret it! EXPLORE CLASS OPTIONS It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas! Montreat Conference Center staff gather early each December to decorate the Assembly Inn and other spaces around campus for the Christmas season. Here are a few pictures from this year’s Decorating Day! Explore All of Our Upcoming Events! Discover all the ways you can connect, create, and grow at Montreat Conference Center’s upcoming conferences and events. View our full event calendar using the link below. VIEW OUR EVENT CALENDAR One of Montreat Conference Center’s core values, “engaging grace” refers to our belief that God extends grace to each of us through Jesus Christ and that, by doing so, we are called to extend that grace and healing to all who gather here across lines of belief, difference, and perspective. You can learn more about Montreat’s mission and values by clicking here.

View email in browser Montreat Conference Center · PO Box 969 · Montreat, NC 28757-0017 · USA

RNS Weekly Digest: ICE Nativity scenes: Churches reimagine Christmas story amid deportations

ICE Nativity scenes: Churches reimagine Christmas story amid deportations

At first glance, the Nativity scene outside Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, has all the traditional hallmarks: Figures resembling Mary and Joseph stand near a baby Jesus, who rests in a manger. But this year, the details are decidedly different. For starters, Mary and Joseph are wearing gas masks. Jesus, who typically is depicted lying in hay, is instead nestled in a reflective blanket often used by immigrants in detention, with his hands bound with zip ties. And behind the family stands three Roman centurions wearing vests with a very modern label: ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Rev. Michael Woolf, senior minister at the church, said the Nativity was meant to reference the recent influx of ICE into Chicago and the surrounding area as part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing mass deportation effort. The pastor noted Department of Homeland Security agents have tear-gassed protesters in the area and that locals reported seeing children among those detained with zip ties by federal agents during a recent high-profile immigration raid in a nearby apartment building. DHS has denied the latter claim, although evidence of similar actions has been reported elsewhere.  Religion & Politics Priest says sisters slated for deportation are Christians who could face persecution from Iran Decline of religion remains stalled, says new Pew report. But there's no revival yet. Faith groups join other death penalty opponents in new campaign Photos of the Week: Immaculate Conception, Christmas preparations A pilgrim crawls to the Sanctuary of Lo Vasquez during an annual celebration marking the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, in Valparaiso, Chile, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) In Opinion Was a University of Oklahoma student unjustly flunked because of anti-Christian bias? Somalis are not 'garbage.' They are a gift that all Americans should treasure. The Coast Guard's fumble on Nazi emblem shows the symbol needs understanding And finally, Inside the push to bring mental health care into American mosques Sabrina Ali grew up in a South Asian home in Canton, a multicultural suburb of Detroit, and said she learned from a young age that she couldn’t talk about her mental health struggles with her immigrant parents. “It was like they just came from a totally different world … and for them it was like, ‘Well, what do you have to be depressed about? Like, you’re 13, you have a good home, you have a good family, like, you have food on the table,’” said Ali, now a stay-at-home mother and former teacher. She said her parents meant well and suggested she pray more to resolve her internal struggles, “to be more religious, essentially, quote, unquote, whatever that meant to them.”   But in college, when she began struggling with recurring nightmares, Ali knew she needed outside help. She began attending therapy through the Counseling and Psychological Services or CAPS program, a free counseling program for full-time students. CAPS, which is offered on college campuses around the country, offered Ali a private entryway to seek counseling services without having to tell her parents. “Maybe God is testing me, but even my decision, the path towards making the decision to seek professional help, I think, in a way, was also a test, you know, because what is the saying, trust in God, but tie your camel, right?” Seeking mental health care can be complicated for many American Muslims, who, like Ali, often grow up learning therapy is shameful and problems should be kept private or within the family. When there is conflict, they are urged to go to an imam first for advice. Now, a growing number of mosques are hoping to make therapy more accessible to Muslims who want it, in part by offering it themselves. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2025 RNS, All rights reserved.