Posted by Brian Paff on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (January 30, 2012)—Thirteen high school students and one teacher from Central Christian School (Kidron, Oh.) spent eight days at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in January. The trip was part of the school’s popular mini-term, a time set aside for unique learning opportunities in a variety of settings, both on campus as well as off.
Dave Risser led the Laurelville mini-term, marking the twelfth consecutive year the science and math teacher has visited the camp and conference center with students under his supervision.
Risser appreciates coming to Laurelville because his students encounter service opportunities in a different learning environment. “It’s been eye-opening for them,” he observes. “They learn they can have an impact on others through service work.”
The thirteen students collaborated for more than 260 volunteer hours during their stay at Laurelville, a sum equal to more than six weeks of full-time labor by one individual.
Volunteer coordinator Jane Rittenhouse praised the contributions of Risser’s group of students. “We count on (the volunteers) to split most of the summer's firewood, which they've done every year for at least twelve years,” she explains. By the end of their stay, chopped firewood was neatly stacked all the way to the roof in the Laurelville woodshed.
Students also helped out in the kitchen and dining hall, performed general clean-up tasks and assisted facilities and grounds director Gene Hartzler with assembling receptacles for Laurelville’s soon-to-be-enhanced recycling program. “I hope they take away a sense of accomplishment,” says Rittenhouse.
For Risser, the continuity of coming to Laurelville year after year has been a plus. “Gene (Hartzler) and others treat me pretty much like a fellow staff member,” he says. “They trust us to go and do what we need to do.” He also appreciates the variety of tasks laid out for them which serve to engage students with different interests and skills.
Service is a strong mini-term component by design, but students also have the opportunity to explore and develop new skills related to special interests. The Laurelville mini-term features significant time at Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, two nearby resorts that offer skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities.
Laurelville executive director John Denlinger describes this balance of activities as a “win-win” scenario. “Laurelville provides an excellent setting for work and play,” he says. “There is always plenty of work to do around our campus, and students get an inside look at what is required to make things go at a ministry setting like Laurelville.” Plus, he notes, students are able to relax and have fun at Laurelville and its beautiful setting in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.
Risser also values the time his students find for reflection and relationship-building while at Laurelville. “It’s a concentrated time spent together as a group,” he says. “These students are learning to live with one another in a community.”
To learn more about Central Christian School and its mini-term curricula, visit www.ccscomets.org or call 330.857.7311. If your school or youth group is interested in combining service and recreation while at Laurelville, please contact Jane Rittenhouse at 724.423.2056 or go to Laurelville.org/volunteer.
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No. 77
Posted by Brian Paff on Fri, Jan 20, 2012
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (January 16, 2012)—Some 200 individuals from nine different states and one Canadian province gathered at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center for the Music & Worship Leaders Retreat in January, marking the 25th consecutive year the program has taken place at the camp and conference center in Western Pennsylvania.
Allan Rudy-Froese, professor at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, served as keynote speaker, addressing the role of confession in worship. Actor and playwright Ted Swartz also led an in-depth workshop on adapting Biblical texts for dramatic readings and sketches.
The program has evolved throughout its 25-year history, but its celebration of various musical traditions and hands-on style have become signature elements that bring many individuals back to Laurelville year after year.
In January 1988, Eastern Mennonite University professor Kenneth Nafziger assembled a small collection of musically minded pastors and worship leaders at Laurelville. Initially billed as a song leaders workshop, the gathering allowed Nafziger and his colleagues to experiment with familiar as well as newer hymns and arrangements for the forthcoming Mennonite hymnal they had been commissioned to edit.
Hymnal: A Worship Book—the product of countless hours of editing, revision and narrowing of selections, some of which took place at Laurelville—was published six years later, but the need to come together to examine, explore and celebrate music and the strong Mennonite tradition of worship never subsided.
Now known as the Music & Worship Leaders Retreat, the Laurelville gathering happens on the first full weekend of January each year. Registration typically reaches its 200-participant capacity several weeks in advance of the program, a testimony to its popularity and vital role within the context of Mennonite worship.
“The new moon cradled in the arms of the old,” Nafziger told a roomful of participants on Saturday evening of this year’s program, referencing a timeless Native American saying used to describe a waning crescent moon. “To me, that’s what we’re doing every time we gather for this weekend in January. There is a past. And we don’t know what that new moon is going to be, but we’re enjoying it in the meantime. It’s a thing of beauty.”
Joining Nafziger in leadership roles during the weekend are Marlene Kropf, Marilyn Houser Hamm and Swartz. Each individual leads from his/her own set of experiences and expertise, revealing a true synergy that has contributed to the growth and sustainability of the program throughout the years.
Kropf is a retired AMBS professor who served Mennonite Church USA as denominational minister of worship for twenty-seven years; Houser Hamm, a music instructor whose contributions include her role as chairperson for the Hymnal: A Worship Book committee as well as her tenure as director of worship and spirituality for Mennonite Church Canada; and Swartz, a seminary-trained playwright and actor who has provided great depth and insight through his original dramas for over twenty years.
“Their leadership has very much shaped the personality of the weekend,” said Laurelville program director Angela Dietzel of the input provided by Nafziger, Kropf, Houser Hamm and Swartz. “Each member of the resource team possesses such unique styles and giftings, so the experiences shared here inevitably carry their mark.”
Les Horning, pastor at Christiansburg Mennonite Fellowship (Christiansburg, Va.), has attended the Laurelville event numerous times. “I am eternally grateful,” he said during an interview on Saturday afternoon of this year’s program, “for the (resource team members) who have given their gifts to help open our eyes—to new ways of thinking about worship, to new ways of thinking about praying, to new ways of thinking about singing—and enriching our experience.”
The program signifies more than just musical excellence, though. For many, it represents an opportunity to connect outside of congregational walls and theological variances, to fellowship, worship and break bread with the broader church.
“(The Music & Worship Leaders Retreat) is a place where politics are set aside and we focus on the things we have in common, things like our faith and beliefs and our worship,” noted Amy Yoder McGloughlin, pastor at Germantown Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) and a regular attendee.
Yoder McGloughlin, who went so far as to liken the program’s sense of community to a homecoming weekend, added that the environment lends itself to trying new things in and around worship. “It’s kind of this experimental ground where people are willing to try some risky things with musical arrangements and worship rituals,” she said.
To mark the occasion of twenty-five years, Laurelville is releasing a commemorative DVD with footage from this year’s event as well as interviews and commentary that reflect on the rich heritage of the retreat. Audio .mp3 tracks from this year’s event are also embedded on the DVD. The DVD is set to be released in mid-February; it is available for purchase at Laurelville.org/mwlr.
Next year’s event is scheduled for January 4-6, 2013; registration will begin on September 1, 2012. For more information, visit Laurelville.org/mwlr or call 800.839.1021.
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No. 76
Posted by Brian Paff on Mon, Jan 09, 2012
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (January 6, 2012)—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center will host two exciting Road Scholar programs this spring. Frank Lloyd Wright: Revolutionary Contributions to Modern Architecture is scheduled for April 15-19; Bicycling on the Great Allegheny Passage in the Laurel Highlands will take place the following month on May 21-25. Both four-night, five-day programs are part of Elderhostel, Inc.’s Road Scholar series of travel-learning opportunities designed for people ages 55 and over.
“Road Scholar participants seem to be a special group of people,” says Angela Dietzel, Laurelville program director and Road Scholar coordinator. “Our bicyclists bring their experiences from riding all over the world. And our Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados have admired Wright architecture across the country and bring a wealth of knowledge and know-how.”
Laurelville has partnered with Elderhostel, Inc. for several decades, offering a variety of programs that explore and celebrate the rich culture and scenery of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Participants—typically an assortment of retired teachers, business owners and other professionals—hail from all over North America as well as nearby locations here in Western Pennsylvania.
According to Dietzel, the diversity of experiences and knowledge participants bring to each of the Road Scholar programs create a warm climate of learning and celebration. “I've always been impressed with their desire to both learn and experience new things. This common quest makes it a rich experience for everyone,” she notes.
The Frank Lloyd Wright program includes visits to Wright’s Duncan House (Acme, Pa.), Kentuck Knob (Dunbar, Pa.) as well as his iconic Fallingwater (Mill Run, Pa.). Directed by Fallingwater staff, the program also features interactive workshops and lectures centered around Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy.
The cycling program takes participants on a three-day journey of the Great Allegheny Passage, a rail trail that stretches from Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh. Cycling an average of 35 miles each day, participants cover 100 miles of the 150-mile trail that is quickly becoming one of the world’s most popular bicycle routes.
All-inclusive packages range from $600-$900; more affordable options are available to participants who wish to commute or stay on-site in their own RV. To register for or learn more about either program, visit Laurelville.org/road-scholar or call 724.423.2056.
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No. 75
Posted by Brian Paff on Fri, Jan 06, 2012
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (January 5, 2012)—Laurelville executive director John Denlinger will head down to Sarasota, Florida, this winter for a special breakfast with Association members and friends. The event will be held at 8:30 a.m. on February 14, 2012, at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant.
This marks the tenth year that Laurelville has hosted such an event in order to connect with Association members who are either wintering in the area or who have relocated to Florida’s gulf coast.
Denlinger, in his third year as executive director of the camp and conference center, looks forward to the Florida gathering each year. “I have found [the breakfast meetings] to be a helpful time to get to know many of the people who have had such an impact on Laurelville’s growth,” he says. “It is always interesting to hear so many stories from an earlier time in our history.”
He believes Sarasota’s culture—in general a more casual, relaxed atmosphere—encourages this sort of event, which is typically characterized by storytelling and sharing.
Denlinger typically shares an update from Laurelville, highlighting different programs and community events scheduled for the coming year. He also plans to present a slideshow featuring images from the past year. Moreover, the events are an opportunity for him to build relationships with some of Laurelville’s most ardent supporters.
From its inception, the Sarasota breakfast has been coordinated by Katie Rutt, a longtime Laurelville Association member who lives year-round in Florida with her husband, Phares. Rutt recalls that twenty-one people attended the first such event in February 2002, hosted at what was then Der Dutchman (now Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant).
Two years later, the Laurelville board of directors held its annual mid-winter meeting in Sarasota, and Rutt was asked to organize a similar gathering to connect board members with Association households. The popularity of these events has now created demand for a yearly event.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at Laurelville.org/sarasota-breakfast or call 941.468.6607.
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No. 74
Posted by Brian Paff on Thu, Dec 22, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (December 22, 2011)—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center added a new calendar widget to its Laurelville.org home page that currently displays 2012 program dates, community events and other important information.
The Google-powered widget will allow visitors to browse upcoming events at the camp and conference center directly from the site home page. Site navigation will also benefit from this improvement, as each event listing will include a link to a landing page with additional information.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our online presence and engagement,” says Brian Paff, director of communications. “Many of our Association members and other supporters have expressed interest in being able to quickly access dates of upcoming programs as well as other events taking place here at Laurelville, so we felt it was important to have a useful tool like this right on our home page.”
The calendar widget should also prove useful as Laurelville continues to build connections with its local community, Paff adds. “Our neighbors and others in the Mount Pleasant community will be able to find information about the Thursday morning coffee hours, when the swimming pool is open, upcoming community events and such.”
To use the calendar widget, visit Laurelville.org and scroll down to the panel labeled “Upcoming Programs & Events”. By default the calendar will display upcoming programs and events, listed in chronological order from that day’s date. The right-side scroll bar will allow you to browse Laurelville’s calendar in the coming months; you can also scroll up to refresh past programs and events posted to the calendar.
If you have any questions or would like your event listed on Laurelville’s calendar, contact Brian Paff (brian@laurelville.org or 724.423.2438).
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No. 73
Posted by Brian Paff on Mon, Dec 19, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (December 19, 2011)—On the heels of a successful holiday luncheon, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center announced that it will host a coffee hour at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings beginning January 12, 2012, recurring weekly through the end of March.
“Our hope is that the coffee hour will offer people a nice mid-week break,” says John Denlinger. “It will be an opportunity to meet up with old friends as well as form new friendships. What better way to do that than over a cup of hot coffee, homemade pastries and good conversation?”
Denlinger was appointed executive director at Laurelville nearly three years ago, and he has made extending a warm welcome to its local community a priority.
“We want Laurelville to be a space where everyone—beginning with our neighbors—can retreat from the busyness of daily life and restore mind, body and spirit,” he remarks. “The coffee hour will serve as yet another opportunity for us to extend this sort of invitation to our community.”
Laurelville recently hosted a special holiday luncheon for neighbors, volunteers and others affiliated with the camp and conference center. Over seventy-five guests attended the event. Denlinger is hopeful the weekly coffee hour will aid Laurelville’s efforts to strengthen relationships with its community.
“There are no set expectations,” he says. “It will be a time for our neighbors to come together and simply be. Activities and conversation topics could include many different things, depending on the desires of the group; I hope our neighbors will set the agenda as this event develops.”
Denlinger asked local residents Ed and Gwen Chute (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) and J. Lorne Peachey (Scottdale, Pa.) to serve as community hosts at the Thursday morning coffee hours, which will take place in Laurelville’s Dining Hall lobby.
Coffee, tea and fresh-baked pastries will be free, but Laurelville will accept any donations to help offset the costs of hosting the event. The Laurelville Gift Shoppe, located adjacent to the Dining Hall lobby, will also be open from 9:30-10:30. To learn more, visit Laurelville.org/coffee-hour or call 724.423.2056.
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No. 73
Posted by Brian Paff on Fri, Dec 16, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (December 15, 2011)—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center hosted a special holiday luncheon for neighbors, volunteers and others affiliated with the camp and conference center on Saturday, December 10.
Over seventy-five people attended the event, which featured a buffet luncheon with homemade desserts and treats. Guests also enjoyed live Christmas music performed by Maria Paff, a part-time staff member who lives on grounds at Laurelville.
“I was energized by the time we spent with our neighbors,” said Laurelville executive director John Denlinger. “I believe there is a fundamental need for people to be in relationship with one another; by hosting events like this, we can provide both time and a space for our neighbors to get to know and appreciate each other.”
This marks the third year Laurelville has invited neighbors to a community meal; the previous two luncheons took place prior to Thanksgiving, but a busy November schedule at Laurelville bumped this year’s event into the second weekend of December.
Denlinger was pleased with timing of this year’s luncheon. “Christmas is a time when people are more open to giving, sharing and being with one another, so hosting our luncheon in December was a natural fit,” he noted. “There was a festive spirit
Laurelville is open year-round to day-use visitors, and it is becoming an increasingly popular venue among local residents for birthday parties, weddings and other special events. During the summer, local residents can use the swimming pool $2.50 per person; individual and family passes are also available for purchase.
Local families are also beginning to choose Laurelville for summer camp in greater numbers. Last year, the Mt. Pleasant Ministerium and Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club even teamed to provide scholarship assistance to help several local youth attend summer camp at Laurelville.
“Laurelville is becoming a special place in the life of our local community,” Denlinger said. “Our mission and ministry is centered around offering Christ-like hospitality, so it’s only natural that we seek to extend across Jacobs Creek and into our community.”
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No. 72
Posted by Brian Paff on Mon, Nov 28, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (November 28, 2011)—Registration for the eleventh class of the Values-based Leadership Program will begin on December 1. The program is comprised of two sessions which are scheduled for September 18-20, 2012, and February 26-28, 2013, both taking place at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center.
The Values-based Leadership Program attracts individuals in leadership roles from a variety of settings, including non-profit work, vocational ministry, healthcare, academia and business administration. This diversity helps foster an interactive sense of community, wherein participants share their unique experiences with one another and grow together as leaders.
Registration is limited to forty-five participants; the 2011-12 class—currently engaged in the inter-term period of learning and growth between Sessions I and II—reached capacity in late August.
Tuition for the two-part program costs $895 before August 17, 2012 ($995 after August 17). Participants are also responsible for expenses associated with transportation, materials, and lodging and meals during the program.
Because of the Values-based Leadership Program’s outstanding reputation, businesses and organizations often provide some monetary support to enable their employees to attend. Scholarship money is also available for individuals demonstrating financial need.
The Values-based Leadership Program is co-sponsored by Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Everence, Laurelville, Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Education Agency, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, Mennonite Health Services Alliance and Schmucker Training & Consulting.
You can register for the Values-based Leadership Program and learn more about scholarship opportunities at www.vblp.org/registration or by calling 800.839.1021.
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No. 71
Posted by Brian Paff on Wed, Nov 23, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (November 23, 2011)—Laurelville Mennonite Church Center is seeking a used pickup truck to assist the facilities and grounds department with a variety of maintenance-related tasks.
The pickup truck currently used by the facilities and grounds department is declining in performance and is unlikely to pass its next inspection, says Laurelville executive director John Denlinger.
“We would like to obtain a used vehicle equipped with 4-wheel drive and enough power to handle some of the maintenance activities taking place at Laurelville throughout the year,” he explains.
Some of the maintenance activities requiring an adequate truck or vehicle include plowing snow, hauling equipment and materials, and picking up supplies from local vendors.
“Our facilities and grounds director, Gene Hartzler, and his crew do a tremendous job here at Laurelville,” says Denlinger. “We want to be able to support their work as they maintain an environment that is safe and welcoming to all who set foot here. Obtaining a more powerful, reliable vehicle will certainly help their efforts.”
To inquire about donating your vehicle, go to Laurelville.org/truck or call 800.839.1021. You can also make an online financial contribution by visiting Laurelville.org/donate. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center is a non-profit organization; donations are tax-deductible and donors are issued a receipt upon request.
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No. 70
Posted by Brian Paff on Tue, Nov 22, 2011
MOUNT PLEASANT, PA (November 22, 2011)—Registration for 2012 Laurelville Summer Camp will open on December 1. The camp and conference center is offering two extraordinary discounts—half-priced registration for new campers or $30 off the registration cost for returning campers—who sign up prior to December 31, 2011.
Laurelville hosts five weeks of overnight summer camp for youth ages 6-17 during the months of June and July. The camp and conference center also runs an adventure camp for Sr. High youth that takes place primarily off-site in the Laurel Highlands.
“Laurelville is a place for people to get away from the busyness and distractions of normal life. For a lot of kids this is a very new experience,” explains Angela Dietzel, now in her third year as program director at Laurelville.
“Laurelville Summer Camp is strongly rooted in Christian faith,” she adds. “Campers and counselors explore together what it means to follow God throughout our lives. We try to plant seeds of faith, trusting that God will nurture the growth.”
Campers sleep in state-of-the-art cabins in the Laurel Youth Village, a unique space that is set apart from the main area of Laurelville’s campus. Programming includes outdoor games, swimming, crafts, Bible lessons, singing and many other special activities.
“Laurelville Summer Camp is one of the best investments parents can make for their kids,” says executive director John Denlinger. “We always say that campers who spend one week at Laurelville will never be the same again—we believe that's a good thing.”
Denlinger praised his summer staff. After participating in hands-on training and CPR certification, they oversee daily camp activities and provide supervision, mentorship and care for campers. Many counselors are former Laurelville campers themselves, lending a special appreciation for the camp experience.
“They love being at Laurelville, but they also love God and the kids who come here,” he observes. “We have some of the best young people I’ve ever been associated with.”
Laurelville produced a five-minute video to share the summer camp experience with youth and families who want to learn more. You can view it and find additional resources and information at Laurelville.org/summer-camp-video. To register for summer camp, visit Laurelville.org/summer-camp or call 724.423.2056.
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No. 69