Autumn Retreats & Programs...

Autumn is a special time at Lutheridge+Lutherock and we delight in the changing colors of the season. Bright Yellows, Reds and Oranges backlit by the sun are truly magnificent with the backdrop of the mountains. The crisp nights and warm days make for a near perfect Camp and Retreat environment. Our 2009 Autumn programs are truly inspiring, consider treating yourself to a “Spiritual Getaway” here in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

This is a small sampling of our 2009 Autumn programs.
Log onto our website to view the entire schedule.









Fall Color Weekend
October 16-18 (Friday-Sunday)
Enjoy the best of Autumn's beauty: crisp, sunny days and cool, starry nights; mountain trails and sparking waterfalls; surrounded by trees in brilliant color!
Enjoy on-site activities: crafts, campfires, hayrides, songs, stories and a staff-led outing to a nearby waterfall. Or set your own schedule and explore the beauty of the area on your own. Bring family and friends and meet lots of new ones. The weekend begins with fellowship and devotions on Friday night and ends with worship in the open-air chapel on Sunday morning. Fees (which vary according to lodging) include two nights lodging (with linens) and four meals, Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast. Saturday lunch is a picnic lunch you can take with you.
Leaders: Pastors Tim and Mary Canniff-Kuhn, Lutheridge Program Directors

2009:Portraits of Faith
Autumn Adults: Mid-Week Adult Retreat
October 18-22, 2009 (Sunday-Thursday)
For adult church groups and individuals.

This program, for both individuals and church groups, provides a wonderful blend of study time, sightseeing opportunities, and fellowship activities. This year's offering includes:

Mornings: Bible Study - "Portraits of Faith" led by Pastors Tim and Mary Canniff-Kuhn (see below for a more detailed description)
Afternoons: Exploring - Motor Coach Parkway Tour, Apple Farms, Hayrides
Evenings: Fellowship, Entertainment, Storytelling with Pastor Mary C-K
"Good study and wonderful fellowship in the midst of God's Creation."

We have many other retreats and programs log on to our website to check it out or to register.

The Passion Walk...

Earlier this week we caught up with Van Van Horn, Lutherock Program Director. We wanted him to tell us about his very special program, “Passion Walk” or “L.D.R.” (Life, Death & Resurrection).

Tell me about the Passion Walk. What is it? What story does it tell?
Actually, it isn't the "Passion Walk" it is "L.D.R." (Life, Death, Resurrection). The staff acts out stories from the Bible during Jesus' time with the disciples. It goes right to the time He was handed over and crucified and then we have a service at the cross.

Lutheridge has a camp-wide vespers service on Sunday. Is this Lutherock's camp-wide vespers? Does it happen on Sundays?
We have a camp wide worship on Sundays and Fridays. This would be in addition to that, on Tuesday nights.

How do you decide who plays which person? Does the same staff play the same person each week?
We try to have the same people play the major characters, Jesus, etc. Everyone has an understudy.

When did “LDR” start? Who created it?
We started it in 2003 (my first summer here). It was the idea of Sanford Groff. We have changed it a lot since then, but using the same basic plan for it.

What kind of impact do you think it has on the campers and adults?
I think it is great for the adults and campers to see their counselors making this story an important part of their week at camp. With the changing themes each year L.D.R. still supports anything that they are studying during the week. I believe it helps to bring the story "alive" for folks especially when they see Jesus on the cross breathing His last breath. We follow that up with Jesus rising from the dead and we, of course, celebrate that.

Van, thanks for taking a moment to share your story of “LDR”. You make a difference here at Lutheridge+Lutherock.

If you would like to view more about “LDR” log onto our site and check it out.

58 Years of Amazing Volunteers...

At Lutheridge we are celebrating our 58th year of summer camp! The Camp and Conference Center is open year-round and for 58 years we have worked hard at keeping the grounds and buildings open and in good repair, it is a full time endeavor. Lutheridge is blessed to have a wonderful maintenance and housekeeping staff, but many times, it is volunteer groups that make the difference and come to help with our many various projects. Today we are going to talk a bit about these volunteers who come to “Camp” to work on projects, meet new friends and make a difference in our corner of the world, here at Lutheridge. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Jimmy, Lutheridge Site Manager, is always looking for volunteer help. Groups of any size and skill set are welcome. As the head of the maintenance and housekeeping departments, Jimmy is never lacking a variety of volunteer projects. “We welcome any group to come and give of their time and talents. I have had groups of all ages and skill sets from men’s groups that are skilled in carpentry to family groups who are able to weed, scrub, and paint. I always have a project to fit any group. Being a non-profit and budget-driven ministry and to be able to carry on God’s work, it is necessary for us to call out for help from our amazing and dedicated friends and supporters of Lutheridge,” says Jimmy Styles. “Without volunteer help, we would not be able to accomplish new projects, upgrades, and necessary maintenance to our facilities and grounds.”

Groups are lined up with projects through conversations prior to the group’s arrival. “Because we look and depend so much on volunteer groups, it is important for us to learn the dynamics and break down of the group,” says Suzanne Delap. Suzanne handles bookings for Lutheridge and Lutherock for guest groups. “When groups call in, I generally try to find out basic information such as if the group is made of mainly youth, families, etc. However, a lot of the final planning falls to Jimmy as he talks with the groups in the weeks leading up to their arrival.”
Suzanne went on to say, with a smile, “Now there are some groups where this discussion is not necessary. We know the group because they have been here so many times before.”

One such group is Antioch Lutheran Church. Jim Pasour and his men’s group have been coming for years. When asked what draws his group to Lutheridge, Jim replied, “Antioch men’s group is always on the lookout for areas where we can volunteer our time and talents for a worthy cause. For a number of years the Antioch and St. Paul’s congregations in Dallas, NC, have been meeting for a Lutheridge Sunday once a year where we worship in Whisnant Chapel and then share a picnic lunch at Lakeside Lodge after worship. As a result, our men have seen the needs at Lutheridge and responded.” When asked why they return and what is so satisfying about volunteering at Lutheridge, Jim replied, “We enjoy the time together, working on a project, using each member’s various skills, and completing projects at Lutheridge. It’s great to be able to play a small part in maintaining our church camp. We have also enjoyed the relationship with Lutheridge staff and workers. Jimmy Styles has been great to work with, providing whatever is needed to make our time at Lutheridge successful. The workers in the kitchen always provide great food.”

Jerry and Wanda Butt echoed this comment. “Our oldest granddaughter went to Lutherock for summer camp. Jerry and I had been looking for a place where we felt we could make a difference. When we contacted Lutheridge, they said they could use our help.” With a chuckle, Wanda went on to say, “That was seven summers ago.”
Jerry and Wanda come up and become a part of the staff during the summer. Wanda helps in the office while Jerry helps in maintenance. “We like to serve,” Wanda said when asked why they come. “We found this place where we can make a difference. It is an awesome place and we love the people.” And their granddaughter? “She is a counselor at Lutherock this summer,” Wanda said with a smile.

Lutheridge is so lucky to be blessed with these same feelings from many different volunteer groups such as Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, NC; St Luke’s Lutheran in Conover, NC; and Christ the King in Cary, NC, just to name a few. This spring, a youth group from Christ Lutheran in Charlotte, NC, spent their spring break at Lutheridge. This group of about 25 youth and adults usually work with Habitat for Humanity, but came to Lutheridge to help. During their stay, they replaced the roof on four camper cabins, painted the room in lower Bischoff, scrubbed and cleaned tables and chairs, and straightened a falling shelter and then reinforced the braces, whew, these folks sure get things done!

Would you like to help? Please contact Suzanne Delap at sdelap@llmi.org or Jimmy Styles at jstyles@llmi.org to start planning your volunteer retreat. Or call at 828-684-2361. “We still have lots of projects that need to be done,” adds Jimmy. “A group will be with us in July to help clean up trees that have fallen throughout the year.”
For a list of upcoming projects, please visit the Volunteer Page of our website. To find out if your group might qualify for Thrivent Funds through the Care for Communities grants, please contact Rev. Mike Ward at mward@llmi.org or 828-684-2361.

YouTube & Sunday Vespers...

Sunday evening vespers have been a tradition at Lutheridge for years. For the first time last year, we taped the vesper service each week and uploaded the videos to YouTube. Now, the parents, grandparents, family, and friends could share in that experience. These videos were so widely watched and appreciated we decided to do it again this year!

Sundays in the summer are exciting times at Lutheridge. Around lunchtime, counselors come in from their night off to have lunch and prepare to meet a whole new group of campers. Areas and cabins are prepared to welcome campers that will spend a week in a Christian community building and sharing their faith.

Then the campers arrive. Some are so eager to get here and get that top bunk they arrive thirty minutes to an hour before registration opens. The afternoon is spent moving campers into their cabins, meeting the counselor and other campers that will be their family for the week, and waving good bye to parents and grandparents. And the fun begins!

While the family heads back home, campers and their counselors are playing games, going over rules and expectations, and meeting many other campers from different places in the southeast. Then it is off to dinner.

Sunday evening ends with a camp-wide vespers service. For about an hour, all campers, adult leaders, and adult participants sit under Lakeside Lodge singing songs, meeting each other, and hearing a story from Pastor Mary.


So, as you drive home from dropping your camper off, imagine the fun he is having. Then on Monday or Tuesday, visit our website for the link to the YouTube videos. You can enjoy and experience a taste of camp. Or learn the songs to sing with your camper when he is home to help in continuing to build his faith. For a link to our Podcast and Videos page to view the videos, just click here . Enjoy, sing out loud, and relive the camp week with your special camper! Or take a minute and relive your camp experience from childhood!

And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for Bunk1 to view the online photo gallery of pictures taken during the week. We look forward to seeing you on the mountain this summer!

Log on to our website to book your summer experience today. We would love to have you join us for our Sunday vespers service.

Scholarships and Camp: Makes A Difference...

In the past we have featured articles on our Faith Formation Stimulus Package (our outreach to families affected by the economic times) and camp scholarships.
These programs have been very successful and we have helped many kids who otherwise would not have gone to camp. We have received many heartfelt letters and thought we would share this one with you. We can all make a difference in the life of a young person.

"Dear Mr. Johnson,
Amy won't be able to come to camp this summer. She will be spending the summer with her father in Arkansas. Here is a small check ($100.00) for you to add to your scholarship fund. Last summer at camp changed Amy's life and my own in profound ways that I never thought possible. I will be forever grateful. I hope this small token of gratitude will make a difference for someone else. God bless you."

You need to know a little more about Amy and her mom, lets call her Martha, so you can appreciate the full significance of this gift and the miracle that God worked in their lives. Martha's pastor (lets call him Pastor Joel) used to serve on the LLMI Board of Trustees. Last spring, he went to Martha and encouraged her to send Amy to camp. Martha said no. She had been divorced twice, was unemployed, and claimed she could not afford it. Pastor Joel did not know it at the time, but Martha was also dealing with a bad drug habit. Amy had dropped out of youth group at church and was starting to have trouble at school. Fortunately, Pastor Joel persisted. Together with his congregation and LLMI, Amy received a full scholarship to attend camp at Lutherock. That week literally changed Amy's life. She was physically challenged and the Holy Spirit touched her life in a profound way. Amy also re-connected with some old church friends while at camp. Amy was not the same person when she returned home. Thanks to Pastor Joel's help and encouragement, she once again attended youth group and arranged for a ride to Sunday worship. Martha noticed the difference and, last fall, was motivated to seek Pastor Joel's help to enroll in a drug treatment program. Amy and her mom still have a long journey ahead of them. It will not be easy for them, but they are no longer walking alone. The Christ who surrounded Amy with love and support at Lutherock, is walking alongside Amy and Martha. They now have hope for a better future.

In making a gift, Martha is not only saying thank you, but she is also recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of campers and guests at Lutheridge+Lutherock. In the Camp Season 2009 several campers will receive financial assistance to share in the Christ-centered camp communities this summer. Already, over $75,000 has been committed to the Faith Formation Stimulus Package. However, we expect to need to at least double this amount in order to meet all the anticipated requests for help this summer. If you know of a young boy or girl who could benefit from summer camp, please contact them and invite them to attend. Their situation does not need to be as dramatic as Amy's. What a joy it is to share together in a ministry that God uses to touch lives like Amy and Martha!

Lutheridge Music Week...

I will bless the Lord at all times...
A Celebration of Psalms
Lutheridge Music Week
July 12 – 18, 2009
This year, Lutheridge celebrates our 57th year of Music Week. We have put together an amazing list of clinicians. The team of Linda Hasseler and Craig Courtney from Capital University will be leading the adult choir. The composer John Horman will be directing the Elementary Chorus. Wayne Wold, composer of hymns and organ and choral works, will be our Organ Clinician. Read on for a complete list of the clinicians we will have this summer.
We also have exciting and interesting classes and workshops scheduled for The Summer of 2009 Music Week.
Classes: Bible Study, Drumming, Guitar, Contemporary Worship, Reading Sessions, Organ/Keyboard, Clinicians’ workshops and Liturgical Arts.
Ensembles: Adult Choir, Flute Choir, Hymnfest Choir, Liturgical Dance, Advanced Recorder, Orcha/Band,
Daily morning and evening worship is centered on the Psalms.
We invite campers young and old to come join us on the mountain and let the music ring forth. Space is still available, so come and rejoice and "Bless the Lord at all times".
Our Staff for Music Week:










LYNDA HASSELER Adult Choral Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities in the Conservatory of Music at Capital University, Columbus, OH. Directs the Chapel Choir and Choral Union and teaches choral conducting. Active as guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician for choral events and festivals in United States. Bachelors degree, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI…. Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts, Michigan State University. Taught elementary, junior high and high school choral music. A mezzo-soprano, performs, tours and records nationally and internationally. Toured France with the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus, soloist. Sang with Sir Neville Marriner, André Previn, Helmuth Rilling at Carnegie Hall. Toured with the Oregon Bach Festival choir and shares 2000 Grammy for Best Choral Performance for Penderecki’s Credo. Member ACDA, Ohio MEA, MENC and The Honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. Nurturing Capital University’s rich choral legacy, Hasseler continues to program the classic and contemporary a cappella sacred and secular choral literature. Dr. Hasseler shares her special talents with us this summer.

CRAIG COURTNEY Adult Accompanist, Workshop Clinician Editor, Beckenhorst Press and composer, choral clinician and accompanist, Columbus, OH. Bachelors and Masters in Piano Performance, studying with Raymond Dudley and Walter Levin at University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Studied piano with Illonka Deckers, Milan, Italy. Served as piano teacher and accompanist on faculty of Mozarteum and music minister at Salzburg International Baptist Church, Salzburg, Austria. In addition to accompanying Dr. Hasseler and the Adult Choir, Mr. Courtney will present two workshops introducing his own works: “The Composer’s Heart” and “Compositions Based on Psalms”.

WAYNE WOLD Organ Clinician Associate Professor of Music and College Organist, Hood College, Frederick, MD. Teaches music theory, composition, private organ and harpsichord lessons. An active church musician, composer, author, performer and clinician with over 200 compositions published for organ, choirs, children’s musicals, recorder suite and hymns for congregational singing. Published poet with many hymn and anthem texts in print. Bachelor of Music, Concordia College…MSM, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH… Doctor of Musical Arts from Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA. Served as a clinician for Choristers Guild, AGO, Hymn Society, ALCM, serving as president of ALCM Region One. Served on the editorial board for the Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Dr. Wold will present organ and keyboard workshops daily, prepare the Hymn Fest choir, and lead the Hymn Fest Thursday evening, July 16, at St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, NC.

JOHN HORMAN Elementary Choral Director of Music and Organist, Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church, Kensington, MD, where he writes extensively for the choirs. Retired teacher of 26 years, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County, MD, spending 21 years at the elementary level and 5 years at the secondary level teaching general music and choir. Active choral clinician and consultant; has directed over 50 choir festivals in the last 10 years. Writer and contributor, Silver Burdette and Macmillan Publishing Houses, school music series. Served on Choristers Guild Board of Directors, 3 years as president, and the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Editorial Staff for Abingdon press, Church Music for Children and Church Music Workshop. Many choral anthems in print as well as children’s musicals (By the Sea, Paul and Co., Angel Band). John will work with our singers who have finished 3rd – 5th grade, present a reading session of elementary choir music and a workshop entitled “Searching for Unison: The Ongoing, Neverending Challenge of Helping Children and Adults Match Pitch and Sing in Tune".

MICHAEL ZEMEK High School Choral Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. Conducts the Augustana Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and the Collegiate Chorale, teaches music methods, conducting and research courses, supervises music education students and advises the collegiate MENC and ACDA chapters. Director, Youth Choir at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA. Serves as guest conductor and clinician. Serves as Program Director for Young Lutherans Sing, a national summer choral experience sponsored by ALCM for middle school singers. Formerly served as Summer Program Director for Lutheran Summer Music Academy and festival. BA in vocal, instrument and classroom Music Education, Gustavus Adlophus College, St. Peter, MN. MM in Choral conducting, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, doctor of Education degree in Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Zemek will conduct the 9th – 12th grade choir in performance at Thursday evening’s Hymn Festival and Friday afternoon’s concert.

DAVID VANDERMEER Handbell Clinician Director of Music Ministries, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA. Conducts the Chancel Choir and three handbell choirs. Plans monthly Taize Prayer Services and oversees the Liturgical Arts Guild, the Movement Choir, and the African Drumming Choir. David is a graduate of the Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. Served as Minister of Music and Fine Arts, Northwoods Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX for 12 years. Served six years (2002-08) on the National Board of Directors for AGEHR, Inc. Served as the Conference Director for Music Week at Montreat and has been the conference Director twice of Mo-Ranch Worship and Music Conference and for the 2000 Pam West Worship and Music Conference. David is a member of AGO, AGEHR, PAM, NMEA, ACDA, the Hymn Society, Choristers Guild, Christians in the Visual Arts and The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts. David sings with the Atlanta Sacred Choral directed by Eric Nelson. David has helped launch a handchime program for inner-city elementary schools in the Atlanta Public Schools.













SCOT HANNA-WEIR Middle School Choral Vocal Music Teacher at Tecumseh Middle School and Tecumseh High School... directs program with 6 high school choirs, 4 middle school choirs, and 570 students involved in program... conducts Tecumseh Community Chorus... BM in Choral/General Music Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro... MM in Choral Conducting, University of Wisconsin - Madison... served as director of music for UW Lutheran Campus Center... accomplished pianist and arranger. Scot returns to lead our 6th – 8th graders.

ED TOMPKINS, Handbell Clinician: Minister of Music, Morning Star Lutheran Church, Matthews, NC…BA in Music and Religion, Duke University…MCM in Organ and Conducting, Scarritt Graduate School… CAGO:Colleague of the American Guild of Organists…served on Area III AGEHR Board of Directors… handbell clinician numerous times at Montreat Conference on Worship and Music and Massanetta Church Music Conference.

PASTOR TIM SMITH, Chaplain: Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, Boone, NC, since 1993, including as Lutheran Campus Minister to Appalachian State University from 1993 - 2000…also served St. Paul Lutheran Church, Newton, NC, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Hanover, PA and The American Church in Berlin, West Berlin, Germany…Bachelors degree in Religion, UNC-Chapel Hill, Master of Divinity Degree, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA…Doctor of Ministry Degree, Drew University Theological School, Madison, NJ…traveled extensively overseas and in U.S., including summer 2009 Lilly Grant sabbatical to Tanzania. Pastor Smith’s Bible Study will focus on the Psalms: the various kinds of psalms and how they relate to our everyday lives.
Other clinicians: Handbells:David Platts, Jeanette & Roger Myers, Karen Shuford, Rob & Deb DeGaetano, Teresa Gardner, Nancy Gibbons, Larry Areheart, Karen Areheart, Sandra Lindler, Stephen Allen, Karol Kimmell and Mark Glaeser.

The Music Week schedule…
Hymn Festival ~ Thursday, July 16 ~ 8:00 PM
St. James Episcopal Church
Hendersonville, NC
Friday concerts ~ Friday, July 17 ~ 11:30 AM
First Camp Concert
Bischoff
2:15 PM ~ Children & Youth Choirs
Youth Handbells
Faith Center
Friday worship 7:30 PM ~ Adult Choir & Handbells
Nativity Lutheran Church, Arden, NC

We look forward to seeing you at our 57th Annual 2009 Music Week, here at Lutheridge+Lutherock. Log on to the website and sign-up today! Financial aid is still available for those that need it.

Summer Camp: Our Staff, Part 4...

Summer is upon us, the weather has turned consistently warmer, the leaves are on the trees and flowers are everywhere. At Lutheridge+Lutherock we are geared up and ready for our favorite season. This article is the final installment of our Summer Camp staff. We hope you feel like you have gotten to know a bit about who they are and the passion and expertise they bring to "Summer Camp". They are all here waiting to meet you, the campers of 2009. See you soon.

Hi, I'm Megan and will be the Lutheroad Area Director. I graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor's degree in 2007. I was a Spanish and Secondary Education Major. After graduating, I worked full-time for a year in Charleston. I was on summer staff here at Lutheridge in 2005 and in 2008. I also I studied ESL and received my TEFL certificate. For the past year I have been living in Hermosillo, Mexico teaching English. I'm looking forward to this summer because I want to help children grow in their faith in God and show them how important He is in their lives. To me Lutheridge offers a place where can grow in their faith while having fun at a beautiful place apart. I truly feel blessed to be able to take part in this amazing opportunity.

Hi! I am Karen Plonk and I will be KidzCamp Director and Scheduler for the summer of 2009. Currently I am the proud teacher of seventeen incredible first graders in Mount Pleasant, SC. I am looking forward to working at Lutheridge this summer because along my spiritual journey Lutheridge is always a favorite weekend stop. Now I can stay longer. I am so excited to be part of this summer’s team! Lutheridge is friendship, adventure, learning, laughs, songs, and a time away to feel God’s love in everything we do together.

Hello- My name is Elliott Cox and this summer I am pleased to be serving you as one of your General Duty Area Directors. I just recently graduated from Newberry College with a degree in Media Communications. After this summer I will be spending a year doing team ministry through Youth Encounter, traveling throughout the country and also spending four months overseas in Paupa New Guinea. I'm really excited about this opportunity to spread God's word throughout the world. One thing I'm looking forward to this summer is the opportunity to serve Lutheridge in a different capacity other than being a counselor. To me Lutheridge offers an opportunity to experience the real world; a world where sharing God's love with those around you is one of the most important things. This is just one of the many reasons why I love Lutheridge so much and keep coming back summer after summer.

My name is Chris Rivers and this will be my 4th year on the summer staff at Lutherock and I will be changing my role from counselor to be the OAP assistant. I was a camper for so many years at Lutherock and I knew it was a place that I wanted to work and change peoples lives. Over the last 3 summers working at Lutherock has changed my life and brought me closer to God. Seeing each and every one of my campers come to camp and have an amazing week, and see the joy of each of there faces is why I come back every year. Lutherock is truly a place apart and I can think of no other place to spend my summers.

Hi - I'm Liza Anne Ballentine and will be the waterfront director this summer! Currently, I am teaching preschool in Charleston, SC. I'm looking forward to this summer because Lutheridge is the greatest place on earth! I can't wait to spend time with silly children and grow in my own faith through the relationships I develop. To me Lutheridge offers an incredible week to have fun playing in God's creation with new friends while learning about Him and how wonderful He is!

If you have not signed up for camp, log on to our website and pick the program that is just right for you. We have special weeks and programs devoted to Music, Drama and outdoor activities. Don't wait sign-up today.