NEWS FROM SAINT COLUMBA
FALL 2016
DEAR ST. COLUMBA FAMILY,
“Summers have come, summers have gone, but memories of them still linger on” is
a lyric from the closing song I sung at my childhood summer camp. How truly these
words apply, especially this summer at St. Columba.
For the umpteenth time, July’s Mud Camp had record enrollment, continuing its
steadily increase in the number of summer campers whose parents were urging
them to get muddy, climb, zip, have fun and make new friends. In all, 750 campers
and over 100 staffers celebrated childhood and all of the adventures it holds. We also
served 20 more campers with special needs and diverse abilities at Camp Able in
June. You will find enclosed an article written about this amazing experience by local
writer and friend, Dan Conaway. His words better describe what I want you to know about this
transformational program and help us to know there is most certainly a place for us all at camp.
Please “like” and “follow” our
Facebook and Twitter pages
for St. Columba Episcopal
Conference and Retreat Center:
saintcolumbamemphis.org
SaintColumbaMemphis
@SaintColumbaMem
I continue to give thanks for all of those who celebrated the 5th Annual Feast of St. Columba
with us on June 4 and for the groups that have been with us to meet and retreat. Whether it is a
solitary walk in the woods or an overnight retreat for your church or workplace, we built a place
in the woods just for you and I hope you will find time soon to come out and experience this very
special sanctuary.
Brad Thompson, Executive Director
“SUMMERS HAVE COME, SUMMERS HAVE GONE,
BUT MEMORIES OF THEM STILL LINGER ON”
by Dan Conaway
As published in The Memphis Daily News,
July 1, 2016, and in The Memphis News, July
2-8, 2016
June 30th, 2016. A friend called and asked
me to lunch and a show.
After lunch, we went out to St. Columba, the
Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee’s place
in the woods, for the performance that marks
the end of Camp Able, a very special week for some very special kids
and counselors. These are kids with challenges of various kinds and
my friend’s son is one. This week is all about each one of them, each
given very special attention, and the whole of the effect of all of that on
all of them.
Here they are seen as they should be everywhere, as I saw them see
themselves, as a sign I saw at St. Columba said:
“Different But Not Less”
A friend called and asked me to lunch and fed me so much more.
THIS IS MINISTRY, BABY.
Sometimes we don’t see the difference we can make right where we are.
Brian McLaren – pastor and celebrated theologian, activist and
prolific author – was here a couple of weeks ago and he
shared some thoughts about his visit in The
Huffington Post:
“If I were home, I’d probably be watching cable
TV. I’d be sharing in national grief over last week’s
Orlando gun massacre. I’d be watching with
disbelief as politicians and gun manufacturers
speak once again of ‘thoughts and prayers’ for
the victims while doing absolutely nothing to
prevent others from becoming victims. I’d be
mad and sad and all “riled up.”
“But I’m not at home. I’m at the St. Columba
Episcopal Conference and Retreat Center in
Memphis, Tennessee. And there’s no TV here.
But there is something better. There’s love here.
In huge quantities. Camp Able is happening. This
amazing project, birthed by my friend Fr. Kyle
Bennett (Marco Island, Florida), makes ‘kids with
diverse abilities,’ as Kyle calls them, the center
of attention. Technically, these are kids who differ
from the ‘neurotypical’ because of autism, Downs
Syndrome, and other conditions. Often they’re
stared at, made fun of, excluded, and bullied. But
here, this week, they’re celebrated.”
I read those words as I was on my way to St. Columba to see the kids
at Camp Able close their amazing week in celebration, doing the things
they’re not supposed to be able to do – singing, dancing, reciting,
sharing unbridled joy and finding confidence – assisted by the amazing
counselors/best buddies who spent every moment making every
moment count.
“I watched Jean sit with Corwin, a little boy who rarely speaks,” McLaren
continued. “After playing basketball with him for a while, she noticed
that he was interested in the bugs on the court. So for ten minutes or
so, she joined him on hands and knees, watching ants and pill bugs and
little beetles make their way across the cement. She simply joined him
in silent concentration, reverent curiosity, and timeless wonder.”
FedEx saw the wonder, and sponsored Camp Able at St. Columba. The
wonder is palpable, and there’s room for more in these woods.
“Back home, I know people are grieving, not to mention blaming,
arguing, pointing fingers, analyzing, and seeking needed solutions. If
I were there, that’s what I’d be doing,” McLaren concluded. “But here,
this week, we’re entirely focused on some kids with diverse abilities.
I’m watching caring young adults seeking to shower their campers
with love, to celebrate their dignity, to fill their emotional tanks with
affirmation and joy. We’re seeking to make this little corner of the world
bright and safe and holy … and praying that more people will do the
same everywhere.”
Episcopal priest, Jerry Crook, served
as chaplain for Camp Able and saw the
difference the week made in these children,
and Jerry is blind. He could see it because
he could feel it.
“This is ministry, baby,” he said to me,
beaming.
I’m a Memphian, and, yes baby, it is.
See more at: http://www.
wakesomebodyup.com/ranting/
different-but-not-less/#sthash.
ALRb19LD.pdf
A FEAST TO REMEMBER
MUD CAMP &
NEW CIT PROGRAM
This past July Mud Camp had nearly 750
campers, a brand new record! The ASCEND
High Adventure Course was extremely popular
along with the mud hole, water slide and newly
expanded nature exploration program.
The CIT (Counselor-In-Training) program for 7th
and 8th graders filled up extremely quickly and
taught nearly 90 young people valuable skills
that will come in handy when they become staff
members in the near future. St. Columba also
premiered a new overnight version of the CIT
program, which featured immersive leadership
training and mentoring, glow stick ziplining
and other unforgettable adventures. All CITs
participated in service projects at either ARK
Farms or the Memphis Botanic Gardens.
If your child will be in 7th or 8th grade this
upcoming summer, please be sure and sign
them up early at memphismudcamp.org!
Every year the Feast just gets bigger and better! This year 230 guests gathered to raise
nearly $50,000 through ticket sales, a live and silent auction, and a delicious outdoor
dinner. Auctioneer, Canon John Burruss, and Bishop Don Johnson led the crowd in joining
together to raise funds to support St. Columba’s camp and hospitality ministries. A surprise
challenge gift of $5,000 was tripled when guests in attendance quickly joined together to
raise the matching funds. The staff was immediately overwhelmed with dozens of pledges
worth hundreds of dollars to support the great things happening at St. Columba! Next
year’s Feast will take place on June 3 and is not to be missed. See more pictures or make
a donation at: www.saintcolumbamemphis.org/feast
THISTLE & BEE
During 2016, St. Columba has been proud to partner with Thistle
& Bee, a nonprofit created to employ survivors of trafficking and
prostitution. Thistle & Bee has been overseeing 13 honey-producing
beehives and growing herbs, flowers and other plants in a former
soybean field at St. Columba. In the late summer of 2016 these
products provided employment for two survivors at a Thistle & Bee
event and has now positioned Thistle & Bee to be able to employ four
women for fifteen hours a week working in the gardens, marketing
and sales.
In September, the honey harvest yielded 10 gallons of high quality
honey, which will be used in lemonades and other treats for sale in
the Memphis-area. You can learn more at www.thistleandbee.org.
THE FOOD HERE AIN’T NO JOKE
As any conference center, hotel or even restaurant can
attest, you can’t please everyone. St. Columba has
certainly risen to the challenge over the last two years
with the hire of Laura Williams, Head Chef. “Guests
have different preferences, diets, palates, and allergies
these days,” said Laura. “We are constantly challenged
to plan and prepare menus that not only everyone can
eat, but menus everyone will like.”
When she was hired in early 2014, Chef Laura was charged with changing St. Columba’s
philosophy about food. “Food service was regarded as a job, not a ministry, and I just
thought we could do better,” said Williams. Staff were retrained and menus were rebuilt
from the ground up. “Every group eats differently, so I set out to help our staff to match the
menus with the group we were serving. That was the first step.”
Meals coming out of the St. Columba kitchen these days are carefully chosen and reflect
the growing diverse tastes of our groups as well as the seasons. “Recent meals include
Israeli tabouli salad with homemade falafel cakes, roasted chutney pork tenderloin, and
tilapia nicoise salad,” said Williams. “We are very excited Fall is here because we get to
serve more cold weather dishes like Cincinnati chili and wonderfully comforting desserts
like apple crisp. Groups have always chosen us because of our natural setting and beautiful
retreat facilities, but the upgraded food has given guests one more reason to know they will
be well cared for at St. Columba.”
Come and try all the adventure on October 30 from
1:30–4:30 at our Sip n’ Zip! $10 per participant.
Sip n’ Zip:
• October 30, 2016
St. Clare’s Silent Women’s
Weekend Retreat:
• October 21-23, 2016
St. Clare’s Silent Women’s
Day Retreats:
• October 14, 2016
• November 4, 2016
• December 2, 2016
• January 6, 2017
• February 3, 2017
CALENDAR OF
UPCOMING EVENTS
4577 Billy Maher Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38135
(901) 377-9284
High Adventure
Course
The ASCEND High Adventure Course
is not even a year old and has already transformed
our youth ministry as well as enhanced our offerings
for groups of all kinds. If you haven’t checked out the
climbing tower, ziplines or tree hugger and would
like to book, give us a call at 901-377-9284 or visit
www.saintcolumbamemphis.org.