Junaluska Weekly

The Junaluska Weekly newsletter and the Summer Activities Program are made possible in part by charitable giving. Your gift to the Lake Junaluska Annual Fund will continue to support these and other similar initiatives. Gifts may be made online, by phone, or mail.

Give online: lakejunaluska.com/support

Call: 828-454-6680

Mail: Lake Junaluska Annual Fund, PO Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745

The mission of Lake Junaluska is to be a place of Christian hospitality where lives are transformed through the renewal of soul, mind and body

A NEW SEASON FOR THE LAKE JUNALUSKA SINGERS

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S CONFERENCE COMES TO LAKE JUNALUSKA FOR TWO DAYS OF FELLOWSHIPThe United Methodist Women of WNC will hold their 2017 Spiritual Growth Re-treat at Lake Junaluska from June 16 to 17.

The goal of the organization is to live united in the vision of Christ while knowing Him as individuals. More than

500 women will attend the conference.The theme for the retreat is “S.M.I.L.E.: See Miracles In Life Everyday.”

The women will participate in praise and worship, attend a private Lake Ju-naluska Singers concert and spend time

in quiet reflection.

In partnership with the United Method-ist Committee of Relief, the women will also pack Layette kits. These kits will be sent to women globally to aid in swad-dling and general care for newborns.

The Lake Junaluska Singers arrived at the lake this week, ready to begin rehearsing for their upcoming perfor-mance season under the new leader-ship of Interim Director Mary Huff.

Huff currently lives in New York City, but she grew up visiting Lake Junalus-ka with her grandmother and parents and now owns a home by the lake.

She is joined by Associate Director Kathy Geyer McNeil, who currently serves as a choir director for multiple ensembles in Western North Carolina.

Huff and McNeil will join forces to lead the 16-voice ensemble, which is com-posed of young musicians from all over the country. A portion of the Singers budget is funded through charitable giving.

“Rehearsals have been fantastic,” said Huff. “The singers are talented, smart, and ready to have a great summer singing.”

The Singers season commences this week with a free children’s Sing Along with the Singers on Tuesday, June 13 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in Wilson Chil-dren’s Complex, Room 6. Everyone is invited to attend. The Singers will perform selections and also lead an in-teractive sing-along for kids and adults.

The Lake Junaluska Singers will also

perform at the lake’s Independence Day Celebrations on July 4 and in a concert of Broadway selections on July 13.

Find more information about the Lake Junaluska Singers performances at lakejunaluska.com/singers and in the Junaluska Weekly.

The Singers perform for youth from Winter Park First United Methodist Church.

Lake Junaluska, NC

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MONDAY, JUNE 12

Morning Devotion with Rev. Mitzi Johnson Start the week off with a time of reflection and a beautiful view of the lake. Harrell Center Porch, 8 a.m.

“Africana Live”Join the Holston Annual Conference for an evening tracing the history and development of Black Sacred Music.Stuart Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Movie Night - October Sky Bring your blanket or chairs and enjoy a movie under the stars. Weldon Gym Lawn, 9 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

Children’s Sing Along with the Lake Junaluska Singers The Singers will perform and also lead an interactive sing-along for kids and adults. Wilson Children’s Complex, Room 6, 10:30 a.m.

Lauren Talley in ConcertJoin the Holston Annual Conference for this gospel concert.Stuart Auditorium, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15 Story Time with Rachel Rachel Watkins will lead a storytime for kids and their parents. Wilson Children’s Complex, Room 6, 10:30 a.m.

Bonfire Bring your own s’mores supplies and we’ll provide the fire and roasting sticks. Shackford Fire Pit, 7 p.m.

GROUPS AT THE LAKE: Holston Annual Conference

WNC United Methodist Women Spiritual Growth Retreat

Summer Youth Events

ENJOY THE SEASON WITH THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

Look forward to many exciting events this summer, including the Family Olympics on July 3.

Lake Junaluska’s Summer Activities Pro-gram is about to begin, and all are wel-come to enjoy life by the lake through its many events for all ages.

Rev. Mitzi Johnson will lead morning devotions to start off the week on June 12. That evening, bring a blanket and some snacks and watch October Sky at the lake’s first outdoor movie night.

Later that week, all are invited to an opening bonfire on June 15 to cele-brate the start of the summer season. These are just a few of the events offered in the program’s first full week. Look forward to yoga classes, movie nights, nature walks, board game tour-naments, craft classes, and children’s singalongs with the Lake Junaluska Singers throughout the summer as well.

All of these events are made possible through the support of charitable giv-ing. Gifts to the Lake Junaluska Annual Fund and the Ministry and Program endowment will help support these and other events.

“People who grew up coming to Lake Junaluska as children and youth, but who are now in their senior years, com-mented about how wonderful it was to have programming in 2016 that remind-ed them of the ‘good old days,’”said Jack Ewing, the executive director of Lake Junaluska.

Find details on these events in the sidebar to the right, and look for the Ju-naluska Weekly to stay updated on the Summer Activities Program throughout the season.

June 9, 2017 | Issue 1

THIS WEEK

Junaluska Weekly

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Searching back through our files for events that took place during the first week of any given summer at Lake Junaluska, we find that the time was devoted to setting up housekeeping and catching up with friends.

During the first several decades of the Assembly’s operation, many families arrived in early June, with mothers and children staying for the entire summer and the fathers coming and going as necessary.

Programming and recreational activities ceased at the end of August and, for the most part, homes and buildings were closed until the next summer. It was not until the 1960s that the Assem-bly began to host events during the

spring and fall, and not until 1982 that it was officially declared a year-round operation.

This Week in History is provided by Bill Lowry and Nancy Watkins. For more in-formation, visit the SEJ Heritage Center, located in the Harrell Center.

This June and July, more than 700 youth across the Southeast will attend Lake Junaluska’s six summer youth events, which kick off June 11.

The events include worship, small groups, games and recreation that en-courage a desire to give back.

“We are doing games and projects to delve more deeply into understanding our own value and sharing that grace and affirmation with those around us,”said Mitzi Johnson, director of program-ming.

The events highlight a series of worship bands and guest preachers.

The theme of this year’s program is “Love Your #Selfie: Appreciating God’s

Masterpiece in the Mirror.” The mes-sage follows a consistent issue for kids today—the unrelenting presence of so-cial media. By alleviating this constant weight, youth can find satisfaction, both individually and spiritually.

Efforts in promoting self-love also in-spire opportunities for mission, as teens experience a transition from inward to outward appreciation.

These missions include Rise Against Hunger—an organization dedicated to populations in time of famine or natural disaster. Surrounding the Haywood area, youth groups will participate in local organizations like Star Ranch, Haywood Christian Ministries, Clothes to Kids, and Open Door.

Jack Ewing, executive director of Lake Junaluska adds that the program is evolving with the youth. This exercise in maintaining relevance allows the groups to experience transformation.

“Our goal is that every young person who participates in programming at Lake Junaluska this summer will power-fully feel the presence of God, and will make decisions that will positively im-pact the rest of their lives,” said Ewing.

THIS WEEK IN LAKE JUNALUSKA HISTORY

SUMMER YOUTH EVENTS AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

PLANT OF THE WEEK

The Red Hot Poker is easy to grow because of its resistance to heat, as the plants around it wilt. The plant is native to South America and also goes by Torch Lily and Poker Plant. It produces flow-ered spikes and grows two to five inches tall from spring to fall. Hummingbirds are very attracted to the Red Hot Poker, as colors range from red, orange, coral, cream and yellow.

Red Hot Pokers are blooming now in the Biblical Garden.

Families traveled to the lake by train until car travel became more common.

Junaluska Weekly

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VOLUNTEER PROFILE

THE TAFT FAMILY: THREE GENERATIONS OF SERVICE TO LAKE JUNALUSKA For some families, service to Lake Junaluska is a tradition that spans generations. The Taft family has been visiting the lake since 1919, after finding it to be the perfect place to escape the summer heat.

Years later, Joe Taft brought his then-girlfriend Camilla to the Lake.

“I fell in love with Joe and the lake at the same time,” said Camilla.

After their wedding, Camilla and Joe honeymooned at Junaluska and have now been visiting the lake for 55 years.

Love for the lake runs in the family and so does a desire to serve. Camilla and Joe Taft, Robert and Rebecca Taft, Joe and Camilla’s daughter Cissy Hicks, and their granddaughter Cam-eron Welch all serve Lake Junaluska in many ways.

Camilla and Joe have both served on the Board of Directors for the Lake Junaluska Associates, Cissy will be leading yoga classes for the Summer Activities Program and Robert Taft is a current member of the Lake Junaluska Board of Trustees.

Their desire to serve at the lake stems from their fond memories of time spent here throughout the years.

“This place is my second home,” said Joe and Camilla’s granddaughter, Cameron Welch, who is working as a communications intern this summer at Lake Junaluska.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY: BILL AND IRENE GATTIS

THE HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

Bill and Irene Gattis have enjoyed life at Lake Junaluska for years. They believe in the community that resides here, and through the years they have wanted to see even more people connect over shared experiences at the lake.

To this end, they gave a financial gift to help begin the Summer Activities Pro-gram last year; this allows a wide variety of events to be offered to the residents and visitors of the lake.

“The events offered as part of the Summer Activities Program provide people the chance to not only share their stories and connect with others, it also helps them make new memories they will cherish,” said Bill Gattis. “We felt that creating a sense of community helps people fall more in love with Lake

Junaluska, and we hope this lovewill continue to ensure support for the sustainable future.”

As the program heads into its second year, the Gattis’ have created a Ministry and Program Endowment, which will provide support for recreational events, worship services, training, leadership development and mission outreach.

This endowment and the Lake Junalus-ka Annual Fund will ensure the continu-ation of the Summer Activities Program and many other vital ministries that the Lake Junaluska community loves.

For more information about Lake Junaluska’s endowments or the Annual Fund, contact the Office of Develop-ment at 828-454-6680 or visit lakejunaluska.com/support.

The Holston Annual Conference will hold their 40th gathering at Lake Ju-naluska from June 11 to 14. The Holston Conference serves The United Method-ist Church with 887 churches along the Holston River in East Tennessee, South-west Virginia and North Georgia.

The annual conference meets each year to approve business, set the budget, pro-mote ministry programs, commission pro-visional clergy members, ordain deacons and elders, and license local pastors.

This year nearly 2,000 clergy and lay-persons are expected to attend the conference. Together with their families, organizers estimate that the conference will bring nearly 2,500 people to Lake Junaluska.

The conference will participate in rec-reational activities like Mission Dinners and a 5K Run/One-Mile Walk.

The missions offering for this year is Ishe Anesu. Located in Sakubva, Mutare, and Zimbabwe, the organization provides education for underprivileged children. This includes Christian education and values, two meals a day, first aid, and recreational activities.

Two concerts during conference are open to the public. Lauren Talley, a well-known Gospel singer is performing Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. An “Africana Live” evening tracing the history and development of Black Sacred Music through a worship experience is Mon-day, June 12 at 7 p.m.