January 6, 2000

A blessed Epiphany to you my happy Cybercamper!  As we enter the season that celebrates, among other things, Jesus' earthly ministry I smile warmly at the thought of thousands of brochures hitting the bulk mailing office in Yarmouth.  Today Eric, Cathy, MaryAnn and I sorted and prepped the mailing.  It should be arriving in the mailboxes of churches and campers sometime next week. 

Only two errors so far, one egregious (sorry Amy and Jim).  I'll let you find them.  It's amazing how four people (me among them) can proof a document and miss something SO obvious.  C'est la vie.  In general I am pleased with the look of the brochure.  The opposing color this year is red but it came out much more orange than I wanted.   I'm getting over it.  (I'd say I am over it, but Eric would be quick to point out my lie.)  The cover art was done by Marcia Leithauser who most of you remember as last summer's wonderful photographer.  Most of the photos were hers too.  It was great to have a bunch of good photos from which to choose.

If you just cant STAND waiting for the mailman to deliver, you can get a PL2K fix on this website.  Just go to the summer camp quadrant and then click 'schedule.'    Then just click the event you are interested in on the calendar and you'll get a full description.  The cover can be seen at the 'Order a Brochure' page.

Also, while we're talking website... here's a nifty little trade secret: if you go to the logo on the top left of any page (like this one for example) and click the quadrant you want, you will be transported there.  This is a result of the the way-cool design by Mr. Jeremy Zanzig of the Seattle area.  "Thank you" to Jeremy for mapping out the 2000 calendar and linking it to our database this week.

Other than getting the brochure out, I have been doing year end financial stuff and catching up on miscellaneous office projects.  Now that the brochure is heading toward you, I am going on vacation!  Yes this sounds like a fine time to head for a southern island and relax after a rather hectic holiday season.  So, this page won't be updated again until I get back after MLK day.  Until then...run and don't be weary, walk and don't faint.

Yours,

Bryan

January 18, 2000

From 80 degrees, sunny with a pleasant breeze to... well you fellow New Englanders know.  Brrrr.  The vacation was just perfect.  Highlights: SCUBA diving (and coming mighty close to three 8 feet long sharks), playing in the waves, fine sand beaches, an ocean view top floor room with balcony, all the (wonderful) food we could eat, relaxed uninterrupted time with my honey, the list goes on.   This was our second honeymoon to celebrate our tenth anniversary. 

In the meantime, I'm sure you all got the brochure.  No?  e-mail me and I'll send one right out.  I have a huge happy pile of mail, 19 delicious e-mails and 15 exciting phone calls to return.  If you're one of them, I'll get to you by the end of the week.  Promise. 

The plans for the septic field are done.  Now I just have to get them to the excavator and get a ba-zillion approvals, tests and permits.   Many thanks to Albert Frick, soil scientist, for giving us his professional time gratis.  It's an huge amount of work.  We are very blessed to have Albert's support. 

OMC met in my absence.  I'm told it was a very productive meeting.  We're putting together some plans for publicity. 

Staff meeting tomorrow (Wed.) and then it's office time for Thursday and Friday.

Next week I'll tell you about a great new project...

Until then, stay warm!

Faithfully,

Bryan

January 27, 2000

Good to be home again, I have spent the last few days in Connecticut taking a course in using Microsoft Access.  Great class!  I am amazed at the untapped power sitting on most of our desktops.  Given a little time and experience I hope to develop a comprehensive database for PL that will not only register campers and track their accounts, but track staff, counselors, nurses, deans, OMC members and volunteer laborers.  Done right we should be able to do all sorts of neato stuff. 

I should have been back yesterday but as I started home my (newly mounted) left front tire fell off the rim.  My jack was not working so I called AAA and proceeded to wait five hours for them.  I finally bagged them and found a local garage.  When I returned with the tow truck, of course two more tow trucks dispatched from AAA were there.  I ended up coming home today (Thursday) and coming straight here.   The nifty thing was how many people stopped during the five hours and asked me if I needed help, offered me use of their cell phone, and even coffee.  Very heart warming indeed.  While waiting I finished the book I was reading and read half of another. 

Now that nifty news I promised:  A certain young man you may know (I'll save his identity for now) is creating a Compact Disc titled "Gathered In Song" containing our PL favorites!  It'll be available in the store this summer.  Do you have a favorite song you'd like to hear on the CD? Email me and let me know.  The genesis of this plan comes from churches who have asked for a resource to help them continue teaching PL songs throughout the year.  "Gathered In Song" will serve both as a resource and as a spiffy reminder of the PL spirit" for which we all long throughout the winter months. 

Summer Staff Applications are going out next week, if you are interested check out the summer jobs page.  On Saturday I am teaching a class on youth ministry at Bangor Seminary for the ACCT program.  Until next week: honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep, honk honk rattle rattle rattle crash beep beep.

February 3, 2000

Perhaps you can help me (and without charging $125 for a fifty minute hour).  I am trying to get photos of all the previous summer staffs at Pilgrim Lodge.  I have every year back as far as 1989, but that's as far as it goes.  If you were on staff for the whole summer, or know someone who was, and you have a photo of the entire group, please send it to me (Bryan Breault, 103 Pilgrim Lodge Lane, West Gardiner, ME 04345). I will scan it and send it right back.  Let me know what year the photo was taken please.

Also, do you (or your parents, or grandparents) have any old camp brochures?  I am collecting them all the way back.  So far I have them back to 1986.  For 1986 I have two pieces: a long page folded to letter size, and a little packet made of different color pages of increasing length for a nice rainbow effect on the bottom.  I have a similar long folded piece for 1985, 1984, 1982 and 1981, but no additional pieces (was there such a thing in those years?).  I have nothing for 1983 or 1980.  I do have a copy of the 1979 brochure, but that's as far back as I've found.  Everything from 1978 on back is missing.  If you have any of these items I'm seeking, and you'd be willing to part with them, I'll add them to the official archives, to be on display in the camp farmhouse.  We'll name a hose after you or something.  So far, none of these old brochures have turned up on Ebay.

This is a very quiet week, so I'm catching up on a lot of piles of deskwork and thinking about a sermon.  Soon I begin visit churches pretty much every Sunday until the season starts.   OMC meets Saturday, Feb. 5. 

'Till next time - just clap your hands (or paws, or anything you got now)

Bry 

Thursday February 10, 2000

Welcome Cybercamper, it's time for our meditation interest group.  Close your eyes.  NO WAIT!  Don't close your eyes, or won't be able to read.  Close your eyes almost all the way.  Breath in.  Hold it.  Breath Out.  Relax.  Breath in all the goodness and light.  Hold it. Breath out all the icky stress and existential angst. 

Reached Nirvana yet?

NO?!

Well then, perhaps this calls for desperate measures.  When you click on this link, breath in, and out, several times while it loads completely.  It's time to experience the new PL website link: The Hamster Dance.  Go on, I'll be right here...

Now if that doesn't solve all your troubles, what will?

The Hamster dance is now appearing on the "contact us and links" page.

The OMC meeting went very well on Saturday.  We're moving right along.  Monday I met with an excavator and discovered that our septic system needs some tweaking to get the expense down.  Tuesday I went to Chez Pennell to work with Cathy, Mark and Cheryl on new registration software for the camp.  Wednesday I was in Portland for a meeting of the Ecology-Spirituality Task Team (more on that in a few weeks) and then back to the currently-being-renovated Pennell Center to discuss the septic system with Mark.  Today I'm preparing to lead worship at the
Wells church this Sunday.   

Also soon to be announced on this here page: a special, this year only, must-have, PL millennium collectible.  

Until next week, I'll be waltzing with Hamsters and Bears

Dahda dee da dee da doh doh.  Dahdee doh dee doh dee  doh!

Thursday February 17, 2000

My grandfather, Alvin Hogberg, passed away last night.  He was a great man and the perfect grandfather.  He was strong and yet gentle.  He has been very sick and this passing is a merciful release, and yet, I will miss him.  He was 91 and joins his wife in eternity.   I'm leaving for Connecticut tomorrow and will be back by Thursday of next week. 

Thank You in advance for all your good thoughts and prayers.

Rev. Bryan S. Breault, Maine Conference Director of Outdoor Ministries

Thursday, February 24, 2000

I just got back from the Connecticut.  It was great to be with my whole extended family again.  The service for my grandfather went very well. I hope I can be as good a man as he was.  That sets the bar very high. I realized when reading the log how abrupt the change is from "the hamster dance" to  the funeral news.  I guess life is like that sometimes.  I'm doing quite well, thank you for asking.

I don't have too much to report.  The new farmhouse septic system is frozen solid.  Got'ta love it.  I'm working on catching up on correspondence, counselor handbooks, prepping next weeks Priorities Committee meeting, working on a brochure for a New England Outdoor Ministries Event, tweaking the new camper registration software, and working on summer staffing.  (In answer to that favorite question "what do you do all winter?")

The following sites came up in a search I did for Pilgrim Lodge.  These organizations are in NO WAY affiliated with the Maine Conference, I just thought it was kind of nifty that we share a name.  The first is a page from a website for a Buddhist retreat facility in Australia called the Nan Tien Temple. They have a building titled The Pilgrim Lodge.   Pretty nice, huh?  I'm thinking of building one on Wilderness Island.  What do you think?

The second is for a chapter of Massachusetts Masonic Lodge
called, what else, Pilgrim Lodge   (Grandpa Al was a mason).  Their page is pretty basic. 

We have no intention of becoming Buddhists, or Masons, or Masonic Buddhists ("I will now meditate upon laying bricks") but in the further interest of tolerance and understanding I thought I'd point them out.  Any other Pilgrim Lodge references out there?  Let me know!

If you're on State Youth Council, have a great time at midwinter this weekend.  If you're not, how come?

Peace, love, granola,

BSB

Thursday March 2, 2000

I'm currently in Seattle on my way to a meeting of the  UCC Outdoor Ministries Association board.   I am looking forward to seeing my friends and Outdoor Ministry colleagues. The meeting is at Camp Adams just outside Portland (that's Oregon for you down eastonah's) and Deb and I thought we'd mix a little business with pleasure and visit some dear friends and our old stomping ground.

I added two links to the "contact us and links" page.  One is for the Maine Youth Camping Association (of which we are a member) and the other is for the United Nations Hunger Site.  If you haven't been there yet, go and bookmark it.  You can click on the "donate food" button once a day and corporate sponsors will donate food.  Why the corporate sponsors don't just donate the food without making us click like little mice pushing the feed bar is beyond me.  But in any case, it's worth a few seconds of your download time. 

Sunday I preached in North Yarmouth.  That was fun!  Lots of very hospitable folks.  Monday I prepped a priorities committee meeting and then met with OMC co-chair Peter Godfrey about the woodstoves for the cabins.  He sure has worked hard on that project!

Tuesday I met with the Priorities committee and we managed to fund the stove project and the septic system project.  Good meeting.  Between those two projects, cabin showers and the building of cabin 5, April is going to be a very busy month around here.  Let's hope the roads aren't posted too late into the year.  We may only put in a few stoves and see how we like them before committing to the whole camp. 

Saturday the OMC will meet in Waterville (as the Farmhouse septic system is still frozen).  My trusty assistant Tonto, er, no...Robin, umm wait... Kato.... Costello...  ERIC! that's it, Eric will be attending in my place. 

See ya next week.

Same PL time, same PL page.

Bryan,                    

HB2M

Monday March 13, 2000

Wow do I have a cool thing to show you!  Yesterday I preached in Wiscasset (very friendly welcoming congregation!).  Cindy Wheeler (OMC member) handed me a plastic bag with two scrolls inside.  They are from a woman named Joanna Bardo.  They are very long black and white photos of Camp Manitou - the high school camp that met prior to the purchase of Pilgrim Lodge.  One is from 1936 and the other is from 1934!  Very cool to look at.  I'd say this is pretty clear evidence of the Maine Conference's longstanding commitment to youth and outdoor ministries!

I'm focusing first on the photo from 1934.  The first thing that struck me is how stern the adults look.  I believe that was considered proper for formal photos at the time.  (I also considered bringing back the tradition of men wearing suits and ties while at camp - what do ya think?)  But then I took a good look at the faces of the young people.  (mind you these young people are today between 80 and 83 years old).  They look the same!  Every face could easily be a PL2K camper.  This one looks mischievous and full of energy, that one looks lovelorn, a third is clearly having a life changing week, another looks bright and full of promise. 

While I know there are some techno-seniors out there, many of them will only see this if you show them.  Do you have a parent or grandparent that was a member of a Congregational church in Maine and in high school in the early thirties?  Might they have attended the conference youth events?  Take a good look.  You might be surprised.

This picture is so big that I had to scan it in three separate sections and then splice them together on the computer.  My problem is this:  If I scan it to download in a reasonable amount of time, it is too small to make out the faces.  While scanning I could really zoom in on the individual faces.  Of course that first composite was over 8 megs. (About twice the size of my first hard drive).  So here's my solution; the photo is on the site twice: once it is entered as a small scan in the historical photos section.  Go there to get the scope of the photo.  The second copy is scaled down to 160 KB, so it takes a while to download, and I probably won't leave it up forever.  You can make out some of the faces.  I linked it here and to the "recent news" section. 

Next I'll do the same with the 1936 picture, but I've played enough for one day.  Enjoy!

Tuesday March 21, 2000

Happy Spring dear cybercamper!  The snow is melting at PL is beginning to awaken from its long hibernation.  I've put an update to the rebuilding of cabin five on the fire page.

Sunday I preached in South Portland.  What a great community!  Very upbeat feeling and a very warm group of people.  We do have some great churches in the Maine Conference. 

The Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA) board meeting in Oregon was great.  I love these people!  Among other tasks we continued working on the OMA Consult to be held at the same camp next spring.  (Interested?  Let me know, I'd love the company).  Camp Adams was just beautiful.  It's a rain forest with lots of wet and juicy moss growing all over everything.   Several bridges over the streams, together with the bridges in nearby Portland that prompted us to adopt the theme for Consult: "Bridges That Connect."  Of course, I asked the question "You mean, as opposed to bridges that... do what?"  I can be such a pain in the neck.  The OMA site currently features a photo of just such a bridge at Camp Adams with me and some of my cohorts.  You can see it at http://www.oma-ucc.org/consult/,  I don't know how long Jeff (our esteemed chair and webmaster) will leave it up.

Meanwhile back in Maine, I am getting ready for the rebuilding of Cabin 5, a new camp wide septic system, and the installation of woodstoves into six of the cabins.  Plus, I am working on a new counselor handbook, new registration software and the 2001 budget.  If you're a dean, don't panic, I will be communicating with you soon.  If you're a prospective staff member, don't panic, I'll be communicating with you too. 

Thursday March 30, 2000

Where to begin?  Let's see.  I am about to call an excavator to contract the septic project; I am in the midst of finalist interviews for camp staff; this afternoon I am meeting with architects on rebuilding cabin 5; tomorrow the engineer is coming to inspect the chimneys in anticipation of the woodstoves, installation beginning April 11; I am drafting a letter to the deans to keep them up to date on all the changes and to help them hook up with counselors and CITs. 

The good news is that in the midst of all this I am not feeling overwhelmed or frantic.  This is due to the excellent help of my assistant Mr. Eric C. Smith who, as fortune would have it, is on school break this week and working some extra hours.  It is also because the winter was relatively calm and I was able to adequately prep for all the above projects. 

This past Sunday I was at the Westbrook Warren church.  They gave me a great welcome and were very receptive to hearing about PL.  Many of the adults and the children wore their PL shirts.  Very nice building, very warm congregation.

Yesterday I went to a meeting of the Rockcraft committee.  They invited me just so we could get to know one another and brainstorm some ideas for working together.  It was a very interesting and enlightening meeting.  I was really glad they asked me to go. 

Web news: I received a photo in the mail of the PL staff 1981 and have posted it under "previous staff" gallery.  Also, I changed the format of the old log page so that now you start with the first entry and go chronologically forward.  The page is getting big so next week I will start another one with this entry

Finally I have to tell you about this amazing concert Deb and I attended.  It was a special honors recital of 8 students at USM who auditioned and won the honor.  Featured in this auspicious group was one, Benjamin S. Bigney (known in PL circles as Music Resource Person, Store Manager and Former Nature Dude).  He walked out on to the stage looking so comfortable and self confident.  He sat down and made that Steinway sing with such tremendous soul.  He was phenomenal.  He may be great at camp songs, but when it comes to jazz, he's a virtuoso.  Deb and I had to miss his senior recital due to our trip out west so we were very pleased to be invited to hear this concert.

Thursday April 6th 2000

There are some definite signs of spring: The ice is gone from Lake Cobbosseecontee; The amazing pink geraniums that were under the bell last summer,  are currently in our dining room and are blooming; Dave Lenz is back at PL; Jack Steeves and I are planning mission camp. 

Dave began digging holes for the new cabins posts.  It's like soup down there.  We're getting final approvals for septic system, set to begin as soon as the roads are not longer posted.  I just typed a letter to all the deans that should go out next week.  I loaded the new registration software (written by UCC camp director Charles Stark of Slumber Falls camp in Texas) down at the Pennell Center. 

The news, however is that the report from the engineer who looked over each chimney told us they really are not worth saving.  This is sad since they are so very charming.  But he said the mortar on top had turned to sand.  We have decided to pull them out.  This means the stoves will not be vented through the chimney but through the roof.  We will put some of the stoves in and then remove them later when we pull the chimney's out. Unfortunately it's going to look kind of silly in the meantime with the pipe going in front of the chimney. 

Cabin 1 is about to get a makeover by the people of the Waterville church.  I have a breakfast scheduled with them Saturday morning.  They are going to convert into a model cabin.  They'll pull out the chimney and put in a shower, not to mention all the maintenance needed.  They have already raised $1000 for this project.  If your church wants to adopt a cabin, just hold off a little and we'll have estimates on costs and labor by tracking this first adoption. 

I'll be photographing the progress on cabin 5 et. al. and posting them on the site. Some of the photos listed on the photos page will be removed in the next couple of months to make way for summer 2000 photos so if you want to save any of them, now is the time.  Also there is an open invitation to my installation service posted to the recent news page.  Lots more to write about, but not much time left.

Thursday April 13, 2000

The best laid plans of mice and men.... 

Cabin 5 is on hold.  The ground is just too soupy to adequately pour the fittings.  After three frustrating days of averaging about a footing a day, (we need 15) the crew decided to focus on repairing the damaged cabins (4 and 6) instead.  This of course means that next week's mission camp will not be able to focus on Cabin 5, but if you're in that esteemed group of mission campers, fear not.  We have plenty of good work that needs doing!  The cabin 5 plans look great.  I updated the floor plan on the Cabin 5 update page.

On Monday brothers Ron and Steve Tracy came for the day.  Ron has been here everyday since.  Rev. Gill Healy of North Yarmouth has come every day as well.  On the one hand, it is a shame we haven't been able to use their talents in the framing of 5, but they certainly have been hard at work with Dave Lenz.  And they all seem to have such a good time!  They and Dave have pulled out the cabin 6 fireplace, resided the building and stripped off the burnt half of the roof and are currently replacing it.   Last evening Rev. John MacDuffie showed up and he's helping install the shower in Cabin 1 and he is helping Dave by turning on most of the water system for the season. I started pulling down cabin 4's fireplace. 

The official report came back from the engineers.  It, and my own experience at demolishing cabin 4's chimney, tell us the time has come.  In fact, on Saturday, while meeting with the men from Waterville, we were standing in front of the cabin 1 fireplace when I was asked "Are you sure these have to come down?"  I reached behind me and grabbed a stone from the fireplace at random.  I gave it a tug,  pulled it out from the wall, held it up and replied "yup."

In the meantime, we now have new woodstoves installed in the dining room of the lodge, Forester, and cabins 3, 6, 7, 8 and 12.  "Cabin 6?" you say.  Yes, I figured out how to put the stove in the smaller cabins, and keep all 8 bunks (within code, thank you) and wanted to try one out.  The stoves that are installed in front of the fireplaces with the chimney going up in front of them look pretty silly, but we'll get the fireplaces out soon enough.  We will probably put a stove in cabin 1 as soon as the crew from Waterville pull out that chimney and board it up.  The Waterville gentlemen are excited for the project.  Jim Wright made us a great breakfast and offered a very touching grace. Most of the work will be done during Jump Start Weekend.

In the meantime office work continues: we only need one more nurse (For July 23-29) so you know anyone interested, send them our way. I am working with Mark on the budget for 2001.  Tuesday was our first staff meeting in the "new improved Chez Pennell."  Have you seen it yet?  Nicely done!   

Next week I doubt I will write a log entry as I will be busy being the co-dean for April Vacation Mission Camp.  But the week after I'll offer a full report with photos.  Until then, rise and shine and give God your glory (glory).

Wednesday April 19, 2000

As Bryan mentioned last week, he will not be in the office this week to update his log since he is very busy with April Vacation Mission Camp.  But I couldn't wait for you to see some of the work that our 6 senior high campers and several adult volunteers have accomplished in just two days.

Bryan will have lots to share with you when he returns to the office next week.  Until then, check out these photos from yesterday...

This log entry was secretly forged by                                            Eric C. Smith, Assistant to the Director

Wednesday April 26, 2000

A big thank you to our mission campers!    Sarah Bigney of Bangor, O'Riley Cornish of Richmond, Brian Erickson of Mt. Dessert, Tom Francoeur of Westbrook, Matt Lathrop of South Portland, Matt Stobbs of Kittery.

Last week's mission camp was GREAT.  We had lots of fun, got to know one another, and got lots of good work done.  Since Cabin 5 is (still) on hold, we focused our efforts on repairing the burned cabins 4 & 6.  We pulled out the chimney in cabin 4 and replaced the siding.  We re-roofed cabin six and built screens, did some finish work on it, we hauled rocks from the downed chimneys and shingles from the roof, we emptied and cleaned the former staff lounge and insulated it.  We cleaned out fireplaces and built inserts to keep groups from using them. 

We went out one night for pizza, bowling and ice cream, we watched movies, we worshipped each morning (except one because we all overslept, all but Jack of course), we held a service of Tenebrae on Thursday ending with a silent night hike that led to a HUGE bonfire. 

I love these smaller camps when you can really learn about your fellow campers. This is just a record of what we did.  I am planning to write a more detailed account of the week, including the gifts of the people involved, for an article in June's MaineStay.    I'll post it here when it comes out. 

A big thank you to my co-dean, the talented Rev. Jack Steeves (always a pleasure!); and to our Nurse/cook Linda Carroll who luckily had no occasion to use role #1 and was exceptional at role #2; to Jonathan Doughty, the great spirit building counselor; to Deborah Breault for a feast on Monday night; to Ron Tracy, who spent three more days on cabin six, to OMC co-chair and former PL manager Rev. John MacDuffie, who spent the week turning on the water so Dave Lenz could focus on other things; to Becky Lenz for lending a hand and watching the fire; to Eric C. Smith for all kinds of errands and support and for keeping the office alive in my absence.

In the meantime, those wonderful wacky Waterville men are at it again.  The chimney in cabin 1 is gone, and the cabin is level (meaning "not crooked" NOT "demolished") thanks to OMC co-chair Peter Godfrey.  OMC member Jim Wright has torn out the wall of the lodge staff bathroom to make way for a media closet to protect all our wonderful new audio visual equipment. 

I took Monday off after our van died, really died, on the way to church on Easter morning - no vehicular resurrection is expected.  I spent yesterday  at the new improved Chez Pennell with Mark working on the camp store accounting system and with Cathy on the new registration software.  More glitches, but we are making progress.  Today I attended a special meeting of the Maine Council of Churches on the development of youth mentoring programs.  Tomorrow I will work with Dave to prep Jump Start Weekend.

Sadly, the weather is not looking too good for Jump Start.  Can it be as bad as it was two years ago in the driving rain?  Let's hope not.  I am sure we will find work for everyone, even indoors if need be.  So... don't bag out if you're planning to come.  We'll warm your bones by our new woodstoves.   If you have not registered and just want to come up for the day on Saturday, please do!  A call would be helpful (207-724-3200) so we can be ready to put you to work and feed you.  Lunch is free on Saturday.

After JSW I need to start working on the service of installation scheduled at PL for the next Sunday.  In the meantime I am waiting for two more sets of paperwork, and then I will announce the camp staff for the coming season. 

I hope I see you this weekend, dear cybercamper.  Look for JSW photos to appear on the site early next week. 

Demos gracias el Senior,  Demos gracias

Sunday April 30, 2000

Many thanks to the 80 + people who made Jump Start Weekend a grand success!  Later this week I will write up an entire page about all the great work accomplished in the past few days and the faithful people who worked so hard!  For now though, take a look at the 15 Jump Start Weekend photos I just posted.  Oh the Lord is good to me!  I also added several photos to the April Vacation Mission Camp gallery.

Wednesday May 3, 2000

A quick note to say the the camp computer is acting a little funky so it's going to the doctor's for a few days.  The site is not hosted from the office so it should be fine, but I won't be able to update again until next week sometime.  Hope to see you Sunday.  Later,

Bryan

Thursday May 11, 2000

Things are starting to get nuts, but it's all good stuff.  The installation was lots of fun and very touching for me personally.  It felt right.  It's been a long time since I have been able to write liturgy.  Thank you to everyone who came and thank you to Ted Ruark and people from Old South church, Hallowell who put out the INCREDIBLE spread.  I intend to put up a page about the event once I get the pictures back.  In the meantime, check out the new photos and the story of the Cabin 5  construction and the updated adopt-a-cabin page.  I also put up a story about the new woodstoves and the reason for the demolition of the old chimneys.

Also, be advised: registration is way up this year, and as of June 1 campers may register for a second camp, so if you, or someone you know hasn't registered yet, now is the time.  This really is a busy time, but I anticipate a good long update next week.  Until then, thanks to everyone who has been working so hard here at Pilgrim Lodge (clap clap).

Thursday May 18, 2000

If you've been to the recent news page lately you've seen the photo of the new "PL Millennium Bears" available only this year from the PL store.  They come in green and yellow (like the lodge.... get it?) and are $6 each. We have a limited supply so git 'em while they're hot. 

I also posted a new feature "The Photo of the Month" This month's priceless treasure is a fine portrait of The Reverend David R. Gaewski taken by his lovely wife Sueli.  Sueli will be working on staff this summer as our camp photographer so you'll be seeing lots more of her work as the summer progresses.  In fact, some of her photos are posted on the page I just finished on the installation service of May 7.  I think there are about twenty pictures total.  To see them all you have to go to the installation gallery.  You got'a go look, just to see the amazing cake!  (Thank you once again, Old South Church!).

I've got a few last minute curve balls concerning staff, and as soon as those are ironed out (how many metaphors can I mix in one sentence?) I will post the summer staff list on the site.  

Cabin 5 progresses, as does the new summer office.  I'm told the ground is almost dry enough (never mind the pouring rain outside my window right now) to begin the septic field.  The baby birds on the picnic table have hatched and mom is working hard.  The rental groups seem to be having a fine old time.  Dave Lenz seems to be catching up (he has been working incredibly hard this spring) and Eric is done with school so he will soon be working full time again.  I am starting to get really excited about the PL2K season.  I hope you are too!  

I'm runnin' and I ain't weary... 

Bry

Monday, May 29, 2000

Happy Memorial Day!  Single Parent Family camp just left and WOW was it a great weekend.  Really nice people!  The different age groups of children blended very well.  On Saturday the camp did a great work project: they planted flowers all around the lodge.  Thank you to David Gaewski for heading up the project and for working on it all weekend.  Thanks too to my outstanding staff: Ben Bigney, Sueli Gaewsky, Jessica Doughty, Leigh Phillips and of course the amazing culinary artist, Kristyne Bouley.  Pictures of Single Parent Family Camp are posted

There is a new page to promote YARRR (spoken like a pirate please).  That's short for "Young Adults: Returning, Reacquainting, Renewing"  For two and a half years I have been hearing young adults mourn the loss of the PL experience.  So... here is a  three day camp just for you.  Please sign up and bring a friend if you're post high school and under age 25.  Imagine coming to PL and not having to get up at any particular time!  This is going to be a nice three days and I hope you'll consider coming.  Check out the page.

By popular demand I have included the sermon written and delivered by David Gaewski for the installation service on May 7th.  You can get there from the link on this page, or from the installation page.  Speaking of which, I meant to thank my father, Richard L. Breault, for taking a good deal of the installation photos. 

I have (finally) updated the Mission Project page, including some photos I took in Turkey over ten years ago.  The page includes links to other sites to learn more and an update of last years project. 

Cabin 5 continues to go up, go check out the updated photos.

I'm goin' home!  Let me know if all these changes have created any glitches in the website.  'night now.  B

Sunday June 4, 2000

Hey happy camper! It's June, and you know what that means: time for camp!!  I'm trying to get out from under the deluge.  I actually felt on top of things until about two weeks ago when it just exploded.  Lots of good calls from parents, and deans, lots of rental group stuff to deal with and lots of staff prep work.

The new summer office is coming along nicely, the siding is done, the ceiling is up (thanks to Jack Steeves and Dave Lenz), now it's the floor and the cabinets and counters that have to be built (any cabinet makers out there with time on their hands?).  Cabin 5 is on hold for the moment.  The septic system should break ground this week; the trees are already down (a moment of silence please).

Jackie Davidson, dean of Vintage Ventures had a family situation come up so she will not be deaning VV (starts tomorrow, Monday).  Stepping up to plate will be the new deans: Deborah Breault and Wanda Dunlap.  A big thank you to both of them for hearing and responding to the call. 

We now have a new digital camera, and as soon as I figure out how the heck to use it, we'll have some digital photos up.

I have changed the Photo of the Month.  You can still access last  months photo from this months page.  I think you'll like it.  It's actually a photo series containing five images of a 'lovingly built' home. 

Registration is WAY up.  We already have over 800 campers signed up, which is 100 more than the total for 1998.  I credit a lot of this to the efforts of the Outdoor Ministries Committee who have been tirelessly working on publicity.  (Did someone come to your church?).  So far the only camp that is full and closed to registration is "Make A Joyful Noise" for 4th and 5th graders on July 9-15.  But sign up soon!  OMC met yesterday, good meeting, new evaluation forms are ready for the summer!  (Thank you to Jim Wright and Cindy Wheeler for the leg work).

Staff starts coming in tomorrow.  I have posted a list of camp staff 2000.  They'll be coming in all week.  So... stay tuned to the site since we plan to update regularly. 

One last thing, when saying your prayers, please remember us here at Pilgrim Lodge, and pray for a happy, healthy, safe and meaningful summer.  Thank you!

Onward Christian campers;  marching as to play; with the cross of Jesus, showing us the way!

Sunday June 11, 2000

Greetings!  Many thanks to last minute Vintage Ventures deans Deborah Breault and Wanda Dunlap for stepping up to the plate.  It was a really nice week.  Photos from Vintage Ventures are posted. I really love the new digital camera, I think the photos look really good.  I took them, but Eric got them on the computer and then the website.  We also gave out our first totally PL produced digital group photos and they came out really nice.  By printing our photos here we will save big bucks and be able to put a title on the photos so years from now, participants can tell what camp the photo represents.

There is one somber note to last week.  One of our Vintage Venturers, 93 year old Charles Higgins from Mt. Desert Island, died of a heart attack in the Augusta hospital last Tuesday morning.  His daughter Terri Lanpher and her mother in law were present.  Our prayers go to Charles and his family as Charles enters the Church triumphant.

Last week was run by a skeleton crew of a staff, and they did a tremendous job!  At one point I sat at a table in the lodge and looked at them working like a well oiled machine in the kitchen and gave up a heartfelt prayer of thanks for their dedication to this ministry.  We are really blessed with good people here.  This weekend we have the Second Christian Church of Kittery here on their annual retreat.  I expect the bulk of the staff in tonight and tomorrow, with the rest trickling in during this coming staff training week.  

In my usual trolling of the net for any PL reference I came upon this page by Rev. Diane Bennekamper of the Cumberland church about their weekend here earlier this month.  Take a look. 

Big news! The new septic system was (finally) started this week.  The space looks HUGE!  It will be a great field when it's all done.  I've been working on that project for almost a full year so it is very satisfying to finally see some actual physical work being done.  The project is being completed by Sylvester Excavating, Inc. from Manchester. 

In addition to training staff we are continuing to work on the summer office, get the camp in shape, work on the new store accounting system, and try to rest up and prepare ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally for the coming season.  Once it starts, it's like Mr. Toads Wild Ride until August.  If I get a chance I'll put up some photos from staff training week.

Onward..

"When I'm at Pilgrim Lodge, I sing a song to Thee..."

Thursday June 22, 2000

Oh my dear cybercamper, you must be feeling so neglected.  I'm really sorry so much time has past since our last chat, but, as you know, the flesh and blood campers are here now and they do require a bit of time.

It is so wonderful to have this camp filled with the laughter of children.  Today (actually yesterday, but it's 12:30 AM on Thursday so it still feels like today) we registered our first young campers of the season.  The half week camp "Discovering our Gifts" of 3rd and 4th graders is here.  They seem to be having a great time.  No homesickness to report.  There are already photos from Discovering our Gifts on the site.

Earlier this morning our young adult half week left.  There are photos from Young Adults: RRR posted as well.  It seemed like a really nice, mellow camp.  I think it was a big success for the 8 young people who came.  They really seemed to bond well.  Thanks to deans Jeorge Yankura and Bruce Burnham for their faith in a new program and their hard work.  And thank you to the whole group for all the good work they did painting cabins 4 & 6.  The day they arrived, last Sunday, was the last day of the new camp for the Women of the Maine Conference, and yes, you guessed it, there are also photos from "Women In The Wilds" on the site.  That weekend was a huge success too, thank you to dean Ann Withee-Heald.  I sure hope these all become annual traditions.

Remember, the full set of photos will only last about two weeks, after that they are cut down to about 8 photos to make room for the new camps. 

Hey - Sr. High's only a few days left to register for Arts Alive, and it is shaping up to be a great camp: I would recommend this one!  And speaking of registration, it is through the roof!  We are already up about 8.5 percent from last summer!  (let the people say 'AMEN!').

A quick plant report:  The summer office is almost ready to start the building of cabinetry, cabin 5 has half a roof, and the septic field is well underway.  The new field is HUGE.  The trucks have been carting fill in for two weeks.  I will get a page and photos up soon, but right now it's just a bunch of dirt.  Still, it will be a great asset when its finished. 

Finally, I must say how wonderful my staff is this year.  Every single one of them works so hard and with such a great attitude.  I have posted some photos from staff training week as well.  The Maine Conference is really blessed with dedicated people.  Both returning and new staff are blending well and all of them understand their work as part of a greater whole.  I offer up a daily prayer of thanksgiving for them. 

"Thank the Lord, for the food that we eat, thank the lord for the friends that we meet"

TTFN, Bry                               Happy Birthday Pam!

Thursday June 29, 2000

Great weather pattern!  Thank you to Pastor Dianne Graham and all the counselors from "Discovering Our Gifts."  It was a great half week camp.  All the campers I spoke with are eager to try a whole week next year.  Camp this week was a great experiment, and a successful one I might add.  Arts Alive combines both middlers ("Genesis") and seniors ("Revelation"). They have time with their own age group and time together and the blending is going really well.  Earlier today I posted 15 more photos in the Arts Alive gallery. 

Worship has been very rich this week.  Thanks to deans Sally Colegrove and Eric C. Smith, this is one of the smoothest camps in which I've participated.  This morning at cabin check, I went through and not only were the cabins cleaned, but each was decorated with a theme.  Stuffed animals were all intensely reading their Bibles, symbols of faith, hope and love abounded.  What a joy to turn a simple daily chore into a means of creative expression.  I just love these campers! 

One of the new things I'm really enjoying is the digital technology.  The camp 8X10 photos are being printed here in the office and not in Augusta, They are coming out much better than last year, (I always thought they rushed our prints) plus we put a date and label right in the picture.  Then, we take all the photos and show them in a a slide show using the new computer projector and finally have them showing on Saturday morning on the television for the parents to see.  It's great!  Parents have also told me how much they enjoy seeing the camp photos as they happen.

Be forewarned, I'll be removing some of the photos for YARR, Women In The Wilds, and Discovering Our Gifts on Sunday so as not to cram up our server.  If you want to download any of those, do it now. 

The projects continue, but I'm more jazzed about how great camp has been so far.  Perhaps next week I'll put up some photos of the work that's getting done around here.  Thanks to all our volunteers. 

Evening is here, the day was good...

B.                                          Happy Birthday Scott, Parke and Frank!

Sunday, July 9, 2000

Happy Birthday Dad!

As far as I can tell, today marks the beginning of the biggest camp in the history of Pilgrim Lodge!  116 campers are snuggled safely in their beds.  We've got lots of extra counselors and CIT's. We are packed to the brim, and it's great!  The Deans are Tim and Irene Hall, and this is their first time deaning.  So far I see they have the two key ingredients in abundance: organization and enthusiasm!  Pictures are already posted for Make a Joyful Noise!

Last week was great too.  Deans Jim Verrill and Amy French were both long time PL staffers so they know the ropes well.  They made it look easy (through lots of hard work and planning.) and were a joy with which to work.  The camp made really good use of the Independence Day theme. Look at the photos from Friendship Week this week before they are reduced in number.  So far this season has been tremendous.

I apologize to the parents of Friendship Week campers who were upset that the store was not open until 10:30 on Saturday morning.  I had an important issue to deal with that needed my whole staff.  If you wanted to purchase some PL merchandise, just give me a call at 724-3200 (leave a message if need be) and we will get you what you wanted by mail.  One thing that really upset me was that somebody stole one of our long sleeve T-shirts (green, medium I believe) right off the store display wall!  They are really high quality expensive shirts. It wasn't the loss that upset me, just the idea that a PLer would forget the 8th commandment.  Oh well, still work to do in manifesting the Kingdom of God.

We are so blessed with good people here.  Staff, counselors, deans and campers.  The Maine Conference is brimming with good souls.  Please remember us and our campers in your prayers, and while you're at it, remember to pray for our young people and adults who are attending the United Church of Christ National Youth Event in Iowa this week.

"Thank the Lord for the friends that we meet!" 

Friday July 28, 2000

At annual meeting, we hope to release the new CD of PL songs titled "Gathered In Song."  More on that in a few weeks, but I met with Matt Small on Thursday and he is hard at work producing this work of art.  I've heard a few rough tracks and they are astounding!

Before I left I was privileged to witness the first half of the aptly named "Middler Spirit."  Tom Hancock and Paula Smith did their usual phenomenal job.  The photos say it all.  I really have not been at all involved in Divine Discovery, but have gotten glowing reports from my staff.  Luckily Deb Letourneau and Kathy Dunklee are seasoned deans and did quite well with the absence of both me and (for the first half of the week)  my assistant Eric C. Smith.  I just walked around the camp and checked in with some campers and they are all having a terrific time.  I am told by the deans and the nurse there was some homesickness this week, but that goes with the territory.  Eric was representing the UCC at a meeting of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable in Miami at the beginning of the week.  On Sunday he leaves for The National Gathering of the UCC Coalition and will then attend the ecumenical welcoming movement event titled WOW 2000 in DeKalb, Illinois.  In the absence of both Eric and I, the rest of the staff has risen to the occasion and served our counselors, deans and campers without a hitch.  They are the embodiment of the Pilgrim Lodge spirit and I thank God for them.  Eric helped the process by dividing up our responsibilities.  In addition both my supervisors, David Gaewski and Mark Schussler have been tremendously supportive.  They helped out by completing the registration process on Sunday.

In addition Cabin 5 is nearing completion thanks in large measure to the volunteer labor of Gil Healy (formerly a carpenter, now the minister in N. Yarmouth).   Gil's work is a blessing, as is  his attitude, smile and joyful presence.  Thank you Gil!

Help us Lord Help us Lord in thy way!

Monday August 3, 2000

What a switch!  We went overnight from Sr. High schoolers to 3rd and 4th graders.  The Sr. high group was a very successful camp.  The group was a lot more mellow, in spite of being larger but still with great spirit.  I loved the worship services!  Everyone in camp also helped around PL.  Thank you to everyone for painting cabin 5, preserving the picnic tables and filling up the woodshed.  (You can see evidence of all this work in the photos).  Many of our campers had been coming for seven or eight years!  You can read some articles from the Inspired by Fulghum newsletter here.  Thanks to our deans Marc Precourt and Donna Muise.

Assistant Eric is still away, he comes in tonight (we missed you Eric!).  Our challenge director Karen has left for home in North Carolina, we send her with our blessings!  Thanks for all the great work in mission, group building, mulch moving, trip camp prep and a variety of other aspects to your ministry Karen.  It's hard to fathom this is the second to last week of our regular season.  This week we host First Fellowship With God, our week long camp for 3rd and 4th graders.  Everyone is doing well this morning (they are so very cute) and the weather is predicted to improve.  The first photos are already up.  Luckily both dean's Steve Kimball and Karen Clancy are OMC members.  Steve is a former staff member.  There are also three OMC counselors.  That makes this week very easy for us.  They have an experienced and outstanding counseling staff as well.  The kids are having a ball. 

Advanced news: I had been kicking around the idea of buying a CD writer so I could make CD-ROMs of all these wonderful camp photos.  I can produce a CD of each camp's 200 to 300 photos and sell them to campers and parents for approximately $15 (don't hold me to that - more research to do).  Well, Steve and Missy Tracy of Wells got wind of this and have donated the writer!  I will wait until summer is over so I can research all the possibilities and purchase one best suited to our needs.  Then, I will advertise on the 'recent news' page of the website.  If you want photos of your week (or you child's week) at PL, you will be able to order them on-line.  Pretty nifty, huh?  Please don't email your order yet, as I am not yet ready to produce them and I really need to finish up the season before moving my head in that direction. 

Thursday, August 18, 2000

Tomorrow is the last full day of camp.  Zikes that was fast!  This week is going very well in spite of several last minute counselor cancellations and a rather badly timed bout of illness on my staff.  I just finished updated the photos of Gifts All Around Us to 34 photos.  Deans Ann Withee-Heald and Bruce McFarland have done very well, especially since Bruce has doubled as a counselor and Ann has had to care for her (extremely cute) baby. In order help out, Ann's sister, fomer PL staff member Jen Withee has been lending a hand as a third dean for the week.  Thank you Jen!  Also thanks to David Gaewski and David Lenz for helping out in cabins at night, and to OMC member Joanne Bartlett and former OMC member Joyce Ingrisano for dropping everything to come help out. 

Though the camp staff is exhausted, and those that are left are having to pull double duty, there is very little complaining.  They are amazing.  On Saturday, the Gaewski's are having the staff over for a Brazilian dinner.  Everyone is looking forward to it.  Then  NO ONE works on Sunday, though several staff will be here relaxing or packing up. Next week I am keeping a skeleton crew on to get camp ready for rental season and to continue work on cabin 5.  In case you're keeping track: cabin 5, the septic project and the new office still remain unfinished though all three projects are creeping toward that goal. 

As I sit here, Jack Steeves just drove out after yet another day of volunteer work.  He is an honorary member of staff. 

Family camp is coming!  I will be at a wedding in Connecticut, but I have a great staff lined up headed by Eric C. Smith.

Praise God for a magnificent summer!

Sunday August 24, 2000

You'll see it all over the website cause I'm so excited about our new Compact Disc of Pilgrim Lodge songs! "Gathered In Song"  is being released at the Maine Conference annual meeting on September 15-17.  Click the CD cover to the left for more information and a play list.  We are now accepting pre-release orders through US Postal mail and will mail out the CD as soon as they are in our hot little hands.  What a great resource for Sunday School! What a great Christmas gift!  What a fun way to support PL!  Many thanks to the countless volunteer hours put in by producer Matthew Small.  Because of his hard work and dedication we have a truly professional product. 

The last few days of camp were a little hairy because of staff sickness, but we made it!  After everyone left Saturday, and the staff took off for the Gaewski party, I was the only one left at camp.  I stood on the porch of the lodge mesmerized by the incredible and commanding silence.  It was almost as though you could feel the whole place in the midst of a deeply satisfied sigh. 

The Gaewski's had an incredible Brazilian spread.  It was great to celebrate the summer.  Perhaps the greatest testimony to this staff's tight bonding was the fact every single one of them (except Karen back in N.C. naturally) came to the party.  During the year Sueli, Eric and I culled out the many photos of staff, so we sat down and enjoyed a recap of the entire summer through 450 slides.  Nice day!  I miss them and if any of you read this THANK YOU for all your hard work and love of PL and for all the support you showed Deb and I.  WE LOVE YOU!

This past week we had a skeleton crew on.  Dave  and Ron continued to work on cabin 5.  I've updated the cabin 5 page so you can see the progress and look at a photo of the almost completed structure.  I hope to have a family in it this weekend for family camp.  We'll see.  Meanwhile, Eric, Shelly Lisa, Ben, and Jonathan worked painted the kitchen.  This really needs to be done every year and is an incredibly huge project.  EVERYTHING gets hauled out into the main room, the concrete floor must be scraped, and treated and scraped and cleaned and scraped and stripped and did I mention scraped?  The prep work is a nightmare.  Having done it myself, I can vouch for how frustrating it is because as soon as you finish, it starts to get scuffed, scratched and dirty.  In addition you're always under the gun because that next rental group is on their way.  Here are some photos of the project.

That next rental group was the church in Saco.  I was pretty dead to the world from lack of sleep, but they sure seemed to have a good time.  I think they had the best weather of the whole summer!  I love when Maine UCC churches use the site.  This site does belong to all of us collectively after all!  It seemed a very relaxed and enthusiastic retreat. 

I received a few more photos of Wilderness Awakenings and have posted them.  I would like to go on that trip one day.  Sure looks like a wonderful time!

Finally, my quest for photos of all the former staffs has come closer to reality thanks to former staff (and current counselors) Rocky Ackroyd and Allie Rimkunus.  They gave me some old staff photos to scan. I have posted them to the previous staff gallery. In addition I also scan the photos at incredibly high resolution and save them on a disc for archival purposes.  We are currently missing 1984-1987 and every year prior to before 1979.  From the stamps on the back, we used to use an photography outfit called "Norton Studio" in Augusta.  They're not there anymore and I'm wondering if anyone out there reading this might know what became of them and their archival material. 1979 was the first summer I spent on staff at a UCC camp so it was kind of trippy to look at the Pilgrim Lodge crew who were up here doing the same thing at the same time.

Well, if you've read all this, thank you.  You are probably a big PL supporter, just the kind to purchase our new CD "Gathered In Song." (did I mention it?).

Pass it on cybercamper, pass it on.

B

Thursday September 7, 2000

Imagine my surprise when a local resident called and asked about camp after "reading about it in the paper."  When I asked what he meant he told me there was a great article about Pilgrim Lodge in The Capital Weekly.  Of course, I picked one up on the way home.  After reading the two page spread titled "CAMP DIARY: An insider's view of a week at Pilgrim Lodge" I went back and bought out the rest of the copies at the store.  JAIME WINCHENBACH attended our Senior High School week "Inspired By Fulghum."  Jaime spent her summer as an intern at The Capital Weekly and wrote the ariticle.  I emailed her and she suggested I call the editor Robert Long.  I  asked him if we could reprint her article here on our website and he graciously agreed.  Unfortunately we could not get copies of all the great photos in the article, but I posted a link to our photos of the camp.  Enjoy the article! 

Thank you to the OMC for recommending I accept a request from a former youth group member, allowing me to perform his wedding ceremony in Connecticut this past weekend.  Not only did they suggest I go, they came and personally filled in at Family Camp for me.  Thanks Peter, Jim, Laurie, and Karen for coming to PL over the holiday weekend.  Thanks of course to my continually wonderful staff who worked hard to make it a good time for all.  It was fun to be away and use a friend's computer to see photos of Family camp while it was still happening.  I was sorry to miss it but all the reports have been great. 

This weekend we are getting ready for the Woodfords church annual retreat.  If the weather holds, it should be absolutely beautiful.  In the meantime I'm prepping the annual meeting and doing some preliminary financial projections for the end of the year. 

I'm off to shout it from the mountain top ("Hey World!").

Friday September 22

Leave of absence; Annual meeting;  and Gathered In Song

Summer is officially over around 7ish tonight. Sounds like a good time for a rest. As of tomorrow, September 23, I am officially on extended leave. During my absence, Eric will be here on weekends to keep our rental groups happy. He will have only a few days a week to devote to PL, and will not always be in the office, so please don't expect things to run as they would when I'm on full time.  During the week the phones will be forwarded to the Pennell Center (thank you Conference staff).  Dave Lenz will be here through October and then in and out as he begins his tour of duty at Rockcraft. I'll be returning for some OMC meetings (we have to schedule next summer if we want our material out by January), for SYC's weekend, and for the workday on October 28. After that I will be taking my accumulated vacation time. My schedule is posted on the log's front page.

On the other hand, it is really hard to leave! I've got so many exciting projects that are in process. (the new CD, the possibility of creating digital photos on CD-Roms, adopt a cabin, new counselor manuals etc.) It's hard to put them on hold. When I get back I'll be consumed with brochure production and year end financial work so everything else really has to put on the back burner. It's not easy leaving because I love this place and this ministry. But I think taking this family time is what will ultimately be best for all involved.

I had a ball at annual meeting. The meeting started Friday morning with a Coordinating Council meeting at which Mark Schussler and I reported a projected surplus this year, in spite of some fire damage overruns. The council was very supportive and voted to let us use the extra funds on a new lodge roof because as many of you know from first hand experience, when it rains outside - it rains in the lodge. Now, because of the input of that meeting, Don Isham has inspected and told me he thinks the existing roof can be repaired at least until Spring.   Let's hope!

Next I set up the PL booth. I sat down to put together the slide show for that night and hyper focused on my little computer. Seven hours later (after bordering on rude to anyone who tried to talk to me - sorry) I looked up to find the whole display room had been set up all around me. That night, I addressed the conference and introduced Matthew Blake Small who released the new CD "Gathered In Song." We played about four tracks and showed slides from the whole summer. I was pleased all the technology behaved and the presentation went well. Thank you Eric for driving up to help out. The bad news was that the CD itself did not arrive as scheduled. Still, we took orders and sold 150 of them! (the CD's were ready on Monday morning at 10:00!) I had heard a few demo tracks, but the final product even exceeded my (very high) expectations. It's a great album. I keep playing it over and over in the office - and I hear these songs ALL summer long! Over the break I am going to be brainstorming some marketing ideas to move this product beyond just PL.

I was very blessed to be provided unlimited help by the OMC members who were at the meeting. Joanne Bartlett, Peter Godfrey, Laurie Mooney, Cindy Wheeler and Jim Wright all took long shifts and the booth and represented PL with grace and style. In addition Matthew Small and summer staff member Leigh Phillips both took turns at the booth. Jim got his laptop out and OMC entered all the CD orders into a spreadsheet so this week I just had to run labels and was able to single handedly fill all the orders by Wednesday.  Many thanks to Karen Choate of Lewiston for volunteering to weekly fill mail orders for Gathered In Song while I am away!

The highlight of the Maine Conference annual  meeting itself was worship. The conference youth offered a worship on Saturday night that was extremely powerful. We are blessed with some amazing ministers in this conference of all ages. Jean Alexander and David Gaewski's sermon on Sunday was another highpoint.

I've updated several pages on he website including, Mission Page (did you know we collected over $4,600.) The fall work day, the cabin 5 rebuilding page the contact page to update new OMC members, and I've put up a few photos of the annual meeting (taken by Sueli Gaewsky). The website will be updated minimally by Eric, but as I mentioned, he has a full plate. So the site may be a bit more stagnant than usual for the next two months.

In the meantime, have a wonderful autumn, enjoy the leaves, buy our CD, and take good care of yourself.

Sunday, November 12

Fall Work Day; Gathered In Song Update; Close of Camp

Almost all of the leaves are on the ground, the deer have returned to the ball field, and the glorious pink and blue sunsets are happening earlier all the time.  Winter is getting close, and Pilgrim Lodge is buttoned up and shut down.  We had a terrific turnout for our Fall Work Day.  Dozens of volunteers did all sorts of cleaning, moving, and heavy lifting to prepare for the coming snow and ice.  The woodshed is restocked, the boats are stored, the docks are onshore, the picnic tables are up, the cabins are empty, and the kitchen closed.  Thank you to all of you who withstood the wind and cold, and even the lake water, to help out.

Cabin 5 was dedicated during the work day to the Glory of God, with many thanks to the firefighters who responded to the fire and all of the volunteers who worked to build the new cabin.  There was song, and there was prayer, and there was much rejoicing.

Gathered In Song has been a tremendous success.  OMC members and many others have been selling the CD in their churches, it is available at the Maine Conference Resource Center in Yarmouth, and orders continue to pour into the PL office as fast as our wonderful volunteer, Karen Choate, can ship them out.  We have almost sold out of our first print of 500.  Don’t worry, we have ordered more to be sure we can fill all of your orders for Christmas.  Make sure you order early though, and allow a week or two for us to process it with this much volume.  Yes, PL millennium bears are still available when you order CDs!  Those are not guaranteed to last through Christmas, so order soon.  Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Maintenance Supervisor Dave Lenz worked for two weeks after the Work Day to finish some of the important details like draining the water system, boarding up windows, and turning off power supplies.  I have made a few last trips this weekend to move food and other supplies that won’t withstand the cold from the Lodge to the Farmhouse.

So now it’s just you and me here in the office for a while.  Bryan will return from his leave in a few weeks and will update you on his adventures.  In the meantime your patience is appreciated while I maintain minimal correspondence from the office.  The wonderful, lovely, and ever popular Conference office staff at the Pennell Center in Yarmouth is still answering calls during the week.  Thank you Cathy, Mary Ann, and Cheryl.

Keep watching for updated photos of PL through the winter, and lots of news about the upcoming 2001 season.  We will keep you posted.

Peace, not as the world can give, sweet peace,

Eric C. Smith

Friday, December 15, 2000

Pilgrim Lodge is blanketed in soft white as is the thin layer of ice on Pinkham sound.  This sure feels like a different place than when I left two months ago.  It's quiet and peaceful unlike the exciting hustle and bustle of camp, rental groups and work days. 

Thank you to Eric who kept the office moving along and took care of all the groups through October.  Thank you to The Outdoor Ministries Committee who met three times (I returned for two of these meetings) and kept the 2001 program in development.  We are almost all set for the 2001 season.  Because of my absence I have decided to push the publication date for the new brochure from January 1 to February 1.  This will insure a quality brochure and keep my sanity (such as it is) intact.  Fear not though, we will publish the summer schedule on-line by the first week in January so you can look up the dates for particular age groups. 

A preview of some of our exciting new program items: We will be offering a new Grandparents/Grandchildren Weekend being led by, what else, a grandmother and her grandchild: Nancy and Sara Godfrey.  Toward the end of the summer we will offer a special one day camp for 1st and 2nd graders and their parents to give little ones a sense of what camp is all about so they'll know what to except when they reach third grade.  There will also be a special day for counselor and CIT training.  The deans this year are being asked to attend a full weekend Dean's development event at Rockcraft on March 2-4.  Rev. David Gaewski, conference minister, is planning this event together with me and the OMC.  This promises to be a fantastic leap forward in our youth ministry programming.  I thank all the deans in advance for agreeing to this event.  This will be well worth the time.  The Maine Conference is richly blessed to have a conference minister who shares such a deep commitment to youth ministry!

In November, our maintenance supervisor David Lenz  left his position to pursue other opportunities.  We wish him well and thank him for his service to PL and the Maine Conference. 

During my leave we SOLD OUT of all 500 copies of Gathered In Song!.  Fear not: I ordered a second pressing and they have arrived in time for Christmas.  The album was released just before I left.  I hope you have had an opportunity to hear this amazing production.  I am very grateful to volunteer Karen Choate for coming weekly to the farmhouse to send out the orders.  Remember, you can order one through the mail using this order form, or you can pick one up from Annette at the Pennell Center in Yarmouth. 

My focus these next few weeks is simply catching up and performing all the year end financial work (store inventory, reports etc.).  After the holidays I will begin work on the 2001 camp brochure.  Hard to believe I'm beginning my fourth season at PL, but...  here we go!

There is a personal matter that I have been reporting on in these pages.  Based on several developments in that situation,  my wife and I have decided it is best not to post photos or information on the worldwide web.  If you know what I'm writing about and would like an update, please email me and I will let you know what's going on.

Sorry the website has been somewhat of a cobweb lately.  I updated the cabin 5 dedication, and the fall work day, and Eric offered a 'first officers log' (below) but that's about it.  I'm back and will be 'refreshing' the site weekly.  Stay tuned. 

"We are lost, and we are found, and we are a part of the family." 

Bryan 

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2000

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Safe travel, Peace in your heart,  and blessings to you and your family.

Go to 2001

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