Sunday, February 1

Minute for Mission: Camp and Conference Ministries

The Lord’s Day

Youth participate in a candlelighting ceremony around Lake Susan.

This year more than 35,000 people will come to Montreat Conference Center from over forty states and more than 1,500 churches. Some come as youth to hear the gospel being preached in exciting and energetic ways and to talk about living a countercultural faith in a culture-driven world. Some come as choirs, singing joyous praises, and learning new music and new instruments. Some come as families, going to the barn dance, rock hopping through Flat Creek, and enjoying a day at Robert Lake Park.

Some come as college students, searching for what God is saying in conversations about the rest of their lives, coming to the college conference in January and to help orchestrate the madness of the summer season at Montreat. Some come as elders for training in how to be better church leaders. Some come as recent seminary graduates, searching for how God is calling them to serve. Some come as pastors and church professionals in need of Sabbath time. Some come as retired clergy, reconnecting with former colleagues.

As one of the national conference centers, Montreat continues to touch more lives of more Presbyterians each year than almost any other ministry serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As you think about your life today, think about how Jesus is teaching and healing you, and how the camps and conference centers of the PC(USA) can help you in your journey.

—John R. Richardson, vice president for development,

Prayer
God of the mountains and the sea, we thank you for the many ways in which your Spirit continues to teach us and heal us. Thank you for the mission and ministries of our camps and conference centers. Guide us and encourage us as together we work to strengthen churches, build relationships, and grow disciples in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lectionary and Hymns
Deut. 18:15–20
God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens
PH 268

Ps. 111
How Great Thou Art
PH 467

1 Cor. 8:1–13
All Creatures of Our God and King
PH 455, HB 100, WB 282

Mark 1:21–28
Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit
MH 264

Daily Lectionary
Ps. 108, 150 Ps. 66, 23
Isa. 51:9–16
Heb. 11:8–16; John 7:14–31