April 15, 2011

A Renewed Spirit

Read: Romans 12:4-13

My father did not take our family camping.  He said he had enough camping in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, France, Germany, and Austria to last a lifetime.  My parents did allow my sister and me to participate in Girl Scouts where we learned to love camping and the out-of-doors.  My sister spent her summers at a camp near Cadillac and I attended church summer camp at Lake Louise.  Mom and Dad did volunteer to be the MYF youth group leaders and went with us to Winter Retreat at Wesley Woods, and the annual canoeing adventure down the Rifle River.  It was during the canoeing overnight that Mom and Dad ended up fighting for the backseat of the car to escape the tent.  I have deep gratitude for the many hours my parent devoted to our church youth activities even when the activity included camping.

When Jack Giguere suggested 21 years ago that our church family participate in a weekend at a Lake Louise our family signed up.  The retreat was led by Bob Keiss.  The GPUMC Family Winter Retreat was born.  Our church families have been traveling North ever since.

This year I was amazed and gladdened by the number of college age, single twenty something’s, and married couples, with and without children, in their 30 and 40’s that chose to come to Lake Louise this year.  There were 18 children ages 2 to 12.  Yes, those of us in our 50’s and 60’s attended also and played hard. 

My spirit has been renewed by watching these families interact with each other, share games, equipment, transportation, and children’s medicine! There were 21 first timers attending.  GPUMC was the only group that came to Lake Louise for the retreat season with youth!

Josh Dixon won my heart this year with his classroom “Traditions” poster on his experience at Lake Louise.  New traditions this year were a campfire at the sledding site with hot chocolate provided, an evening campfire outside of the lodge complete with benches and smores!  Besides trips to the skiing hill there were trips to Avalanche Bay, the local water park.  Fresh talent was shared at the Saturday night “Really Big Shew”, from real tumbling, a clarinet trio, operatic aria, and the debut of a new product to keep you warm while sledding.

The people attending the retreat this year are the leaders of the WOW Program, Mother’s Day Out, ushers, finance, trustee, worship, nurture, UMW, youth group, VBS, choir, VIM, Workcamp, book studies, etc.  They are our future.  They have chosen to make church a priority and they enjoy being together.  New friendships were made and old renewed. 

So thank you Mom and Dad, and those that have nurtured me through my life to be a part of a great tradition.  Church!

PS  Think about joining the retreat next year.  New all season buildings have been added so that larger numbers will be able to attend! 

Lynn Van de Putte