Members of FPC’s Fine Arts Program, including LightShine and adult volunteers, are in North Carolina this week, attending Montreat, an annual event for the Fine Arts participants.
The Presbyterian Association of Musicians holds an annual Worship and Music Conference at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. This year’s conference theme is “Lead Us Homeward.”
“It’s a blissful, peaceful, spiritual environment to be in,” says Sam Carlton, FPC’s Classic Worship Arts Director. “Everything heightens the experience.”
Braelyn Albright, a member of FPC’s youth group and youth worship band, is attending Montreat again this year.
“I hope to grow deeper in my faith with God,” Albright says about the trip. “I hope to get better with ways of worshipping God.”
Albright is also a member of LightShine and volunteers with VBS and Buddy Break.
Lead us Homeward
In describing the theme, the Montreat website says, “Home is a symbol, a place, a people, a destination, a sensation. For symbols to come alive, they must be broken open. Throughout the week, the concept of home will be unsettled, uprooted, planted, explored, glimpsed, and activated.”
“The kneading will be beyond word and form; and as concrete as the land on which we stand. As an assembly, we are guided by God on the journey, led by Jesus on the way, interrupted and redirected by the Holy Spirit. Our pilgrimage will be a prayer – lead us homeward.”
“The purpose is to train worship leaders, primarily in a classical style,” Carlton says. “It’s everything church worship should be. Every day there is a worship service, and that is probably the best part of the conference. It’s a bunch of artists getting together in one room and doing really creative things.”
Carlton says the conference includes musicians from all over in a cross-generational, multi-cultural endeavor.
“In our hymnal, we have a lot of multi-cultural hymns, but we don’t use them,” Carlton continues. “At Montreat we look at how we use the tools we have and what is possible in worship through music, art, tech, and sound.”
History of FPC and Montreat
As per the FPC “Journey of Faith” history book, compiled and written primarily by Peggy Snow and the late Susan Rogers, indicates one of the first trips to Montreat by FPC youth was in 1966. That group was chaperoned by then pastor, Rev. Ralph Arbaugh, and then organist and choir director, Everett Amos.
Later, in 1975, the youth attending Montreat donated $175 to the General Executive Board to help replace a missionary airplane.
The next year, the youth performed “LightShine” for the FPC congregation. This was their first musical incorporating drama. Mac Boulware, Director of Music, directed the performance. (Some theorize this is where the current LightShine group get their name.)
Students involved in that production included: Liz Barrett, Lynne Bovay, Rick Bovay, Jerry Haydes, Mary Latham, Tracie Latham, LeeAnn Oxford, Nancy Stanley, and Kathy Woods.
FPC Connection
John McCall, one of FPC’s mission partners, will be serving as the Adult Bible and Morning Prayer Leader at this year’s conference.
McCall teaches at Taiwan and Tainan Seminaries in Taiwan, where he has been serving as a PC(USA) co-worker for the past 25 years. He teaches spirituality, ministry, preaching and worship and loves to integrate these topics into daily life, according to the Montreat website. Every weekend, he travels around Taiwan teaching and preaching in churches and presbyteries.
Classes for students include: Hymn/Song Writing, Practical Service Playing, and Instrumental Ensembles. Classes for the adults on the trip include: Beyond Sunday: Faith at Home, Creating a Culture of Generosity, and Paying Attention in Daily Life.
Daily activities during the conference include daily prayer and worship.
Congregational Connection
Please join us in praying for the group attending Montreat, for their safety and spiritual growth.