August in Montreat

Montreat Conference Center is pleased to bring you our monthly newsletter August 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 the Harry Bryan Bridge reconstruction, future youth conferences, and our upcoming Women’s Connection conference.

Bridging Gaps by Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center During the summer months, President Richard DuBose writes a weekly letter to the community which is published as part of This Week in Montreat. Today, we are resharing his most recent letter which discusses the reconstruction of the Harry Bryan Bridge. One morning earlier this summer, I happened to glance out my office window just as a construction vehicle was making its way slowly up Assembly Drive. So slowly, in fact, that its cargo immediately caught my attention: an enormous steel I-beam, nearly 60 feet long, carefully balanced and escorted up the hill toward Lake Susan. It looked like quite an undertaking. I was curious – but, apparently, not curious enough to leave my desk and investigate… READ MORE PROGRAMS & EVENTS We are halfway through our final week of Montreat Youth Conference for the 2026 season. If you enjoyed this summer’s events and are interested in shaping future conferences, we have an opportunity for you! We are currently accepting applications for our 2028 youth conference and middle school conference Planning Teams. Both youth and adults are invited to apply online by clicking here. Later this month, we will welcome women of all ages for our annual Women’s Connection conference featuring author Kristin Kobes Du Mez. If you have not already, there is still time to purchase one-night-only tickets for Kristin’s keynote on August 15. (Please note, access to this event is included for full conference participants.) Learn more or reserve your spot now on our website. Did you know? Montreat Conference Center hosts a variety of groups for events, meetings, and retreats from mid-August through mid-may. We offer a range of meeting spaces for groups of all sizes and both hotel-style and lodge-style housing for those interested in planning an overnight stay. Learn about our amenities or submit an event request form today by clicking here. 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 There is one more opportunity to join us for our 2026 Summer Worship Series! On Sunday, August 9, Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hickory, NC, will be preaching. The service will begin in Anderson Auditorium at 10:30 am. Learn more about the series or view recordings of previous services on our website. We are super grateful for the work of our wilderness rangers this summer! They have spent countless hours making sure that our trails are accessible, well-maintained, and safe for guests. By caring for God’s creation, they are helping us ensure that generations to come will be able to experience the same beauty, peace, and wonder found in the Montreat Wilderness today. Read more about their impact here. John Philip Newell and Cami Twilling will join us this October as part of our annual Earth & Soul Retreat. This year, they will lead “The Great Search 1,” the first in a new series of retreats in which participants will explore the search for expanded vision, the search for intimacy with Earth, and the search for spiritual presence. The Great Search 1 can be taken as a stand-alone retreat or in conjunction with other Earth & Soul retreats. Learn more. 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. Montreat Memories are Possible Thanks to You! From rock hopping in the creek at Robert Lake Park to joining a big circle mountain dance in the Barn, Montreat memories are made possible by generous support from those who love Montreat! The Montreat Fund supports almost every aspect of the Montreat experience. Those who make a yearly gift to the Montreat Fund join over 1,300 others who hold Montreat close. MAKE A GIFT Thanks for Making Our Summer Special As we wrap up the summer, we just wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in one of our seasonal programs or events! From worship to recreation to craft classes and more, your presence made this summer one to remember. 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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