Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

New logo, web site home

By Penney Koeppen

Grace Point has a new web site: gracepointcamp.org. It contains all the useful info found at its former diocesan web home at etdiocese.net, including facility descriptions and rates, directions, guest information and more – and it features a new camp logo (see above) and site design by Alex Haralson, diocesan youth coordinator. The former camp and retreat center logo will be retained for use with Grace Point summer camps.

Send comments and suggestions for additional content to Alex at aharalson@etdiocese.net.

Appalachian Ministries Resource Team
stages successful – though damp – camp

By Bill Fryar
AMRT chair

It was the first time for Rebecca and Christina, the eight-year-old twins from Johnson City, to go to camp. It was their first boat ride, and their first time to see a bald eagle fly over their heads and land in a tree.

The girls were among 24 eight- to 11-year-olds who attended the three-day Appalachian Camp at Grace Point in late July. The diocesan Appalachian Ministries Resource Team sponsored the camp again this year for 14 children as the final event of Harry and Patty Chase’s Summer Arts Camp in Jellico. The Men of St. John, Johnson City, sent an additional 10 children to the camp from their area’s Interfaith Hospitality Network.

The theme for this year’s camp, co-directed by AMRT members the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew and Bill Fryar, was “I Love to Tell the Story.” Over the three days of camp, Canon Askew; his wife, Patricia Askew; and priests Kay Reynolds and Peggy Blanchard told different stories from the Bible in a variety of ways.

Although rain threatened to limit this year’s activities, the children participated in all of the camp’s facilities and programs: kayaking, fishing, boat rides, swimming, hiking, crafts, field games, singing, indoor games and a campfire.

The boys stayed in one “tree house” dormitory, and the girls stayed in the other. The new porch along the back of the Commons Building was a favorite gathering spot.

Patty Chase, Kathryn Jones and Pat Brake assisted the regular summer camps program staff and cabin counselors in supervising the children.

AMRT on the web: etdiocese.net/appalachian/

By Christopher Turner, executive director

It is hot and humid outside, summer camp has just ended, and I am thinking about winter.

One late-year event making the move to Grace Point this year is the Senior High Sabbath, which is open to youth in grades nine through 12. It is a time of rest and relaxation, a time to de-stress, to take Sabbath time. It’s set for Dec. 7-9; contact diocesan Youth Coordinator Alex Haralson for more info (865-966-2110 or aharalson@etdiocese.net), or go to the youth web pages at etnyouth.org.

I also want to put a plug in for a fantastic youth event at Kanuga: Winterlight.

Winterlight is an annual conference for young people in grades nine through 12 held at Kanuga Conferences (kanuga.org) between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It is the largest annual conference for young people in the Episcopal church, and it brings participants from throughout the Southeast and across the country to western North Carolina.

Adult youth leaders also are invited to attend and participate in a separate program specifically designed for them.

I have served on the staff of the conference for most of the past 18 years, and I coordinated Winterlights 28, 29, 30 and 31, so pardon me when I say enthusiastically that this event is an amazing way to celebrate the holidays, make new friends, experience the ministry of hospitality through community and learn a little something along the way. Participants sing, watch, worship, hike, create, play and pray. New Year’s Eve is always fun with a special dinner, closing eucharist and dance.

Winterlight 32 is being coordinated by two good friends of mine: Rebecca Nelson Edwards of Chattanooga – who is a parishioner and youth leader at St. Timothy, Signal Mountain – and Tommy Koonce of Chapel Hill, N.C. I hope to be there myself, and I would enjoy having as many young people as possible from East Tennessee join me. Diocesan Youth Coordinator Alex Haralson also will be there.

Camp and Retreat Center availability

Did you know anyone may reserve facilities for their use at Grace Point, the camp and retreat center of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee?

In addition to events such as vestry and youth group retreats, Grace Point has hosted study and hobby groups, family weekends and day meetings.

Grace Point overlooks Watts Bar Lake near Kingston, Tenn. Nearly 270 acres of woods, hills, fields and two miles of shoreline offer plenty of space for activities including boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, picnicking, games, sports, reflection, meditation and worship.

Rates are as follows:

• Diocesan/parish groups, day rate: $50 minimum for 10 or fewer guests; $5 for each additional guest. Overnight: $20 per person, per night, with a minimum fee of $160 per group. Full payment is due upon departure.
• Non-diocesan/private groups, day rate: $50 minimum for five or fewer guests; $10 for each additional guest. Overnight: $30 per person, per night, with a minimum fee of $240 per group. Full payment is due upon departure.
• Rate for diocesan youth events/parish youth groups in the diocese, overnight: $10 per person per night. Full payment is due upon departure.

A $50 deposit is required within 10 business days of making a reservation.

To make your reservation, contact Christopher Turner, executive director of Grace Point, at gracepoint@etdiocese.net, 865.376.0589 (camp) or 865.803.8921 (cell).

Grace Point pages on the Web include more facilities information and photos at gracepointcamp.org.
Directions to Grace Point