Page –1– October 2012 water update A s we shared in August, this year Highlands has purchased over 140,000 gallons of water, spending over $10,500. In early September, as we began closing down our summer water system, we discovered a major water leak that could not be identified at surface level. This has led to a major water line repair between the Bike Shop and the Chapel. This project will do several things. First, we believe that this water leak may have existed for many months and contributed to the water shortages we have experienced this summer. Since closing our summer water system and stopping this leak, we have begun to see recovery in our wells, and sufficient water for our weekend guest groups with mid- week recovery. Second, this project will make the Chapel a year- round meeting space that will not require winterization of the water. Highlands has traditionally closed our summer water lines between September 15th and May 15th to prevent freezing in these lines. Each winter, we have drained and winterized the water line to the chapel. Use of the chapel was limited to a few times a winter . . . primarily for the Sr. High and Middle School retreats. As our retreat ministry has grown . . . and we’ve filled all three dining rooms and the conference room at the Retreat Center, we are now finding that on many winter weekends we have guest groups using the Chapel. We are grateful to the leadership of Michael Hanray, Facilities Director in repairing and winterizing this line. We are also grateful to the hard work of Austin Perhamus and Ernesto Giron and volunteers Bill Barnes, Colton Hanray, Fred Morse and Tucker Paridge. You are cordially invited to . . . The 2012 Highlands Christmas Party & Silent Auction Saturday, December 1 st , 2012 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join us for a wonderful afternoon of great food, good friends and lots of fun as we recognize volunteers and bid on beautiful hand-made items! R.S.V.P. to [email protected] or call 303-747-2888 Dear Friends of Highlands, I recently read a remarkably simple and profound sentence. It was, “Gratitude must always come first.” Not after the problem has been solved, the crisis has past, the transition is complete, but first. Gratitude comes first while the process moves forward with not only questions unanswered but often with problems only partially defined. Gratitude comes first seems to be a defining principle of those who work at Highlands. Led by Maria Shupe, our Executive Director, this exemplary staff begins each complex day with gratitude for blessings of place and people and faces each challenge with confidence and cooperation. All of us can also remember this sentence. Our prayers of gratitude can come first when we consider Highlands and ways that we can support this ministry. Thanks be to God, now and always. In Christ, Sandy Prouty, Moderator Highlands Commiee
Transcript
Page –1– October 2012
water update
As we shared in August, this year Highlands has purchased over 140,000 gallons of water,
spending over $10,500. In early September, as we began closing down our summer water system, we discovered a major water leak that could not be identified at surface level. This has led to a major water line repair between the Bike Shop and the Chapel. This project will do several things. First, we believe that this water leak may have existed for many months and contributed to the water shortages we have experienced this summer. Since closing our summer water system and stopping this leak, we have begun to see recovery in our wells, and sufficient water for our weekend guest groups with mid-week recovery.
Second, this project will make the Chapel a year-round meeting space that will not require winterization of the water. Highlands has traditionally closed our summer water lines between September 15th and May 15th to prevent freezing in these lines. Each winter, we have drained and winterized the water line to the chapel. Use of the chapel was limited to a few times a winter . . . primarily for the Sr. High and Middle School retreats. As our retreat ministry has grown . . . and we’ve filled all three dining rooms and the conference room at the Retreat Center, we are now finding that on many winter weekends we have guest groups using the Chapel.
We are grateful to the leadership of Michael Hanratty, Facilities Director in repairing and winterizing this line. We are also grateful to the hard work of Austin Perhamus and Ernesto Giron and volunteers Bill Barnes, Colton Hanratty, Fred Morse and Tucker Pattridge.
You are cordially invited to . . . The 2012 Highlands Christmas Party & Silent Auction
Saturday, December 1st, 2012 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Join us for a wonderful afternoon of great food, good friends and lots of fun as we recognize volunteers and
bid on beautiful hand-made items!R.S.V.P. to [email protected] or call 303-747-2888
Dear Friends of Highlands,
I recently read a remarkably simple and profound sentence. It was, “Gratitude
must always come first.” Not after the problem has been solved, the crisis has past, the transition is complete, but first. Gratitude comes first while the process moves forward with not only questions unanswered but often with problems only partially defined. Gratitude comes first seems to be a defining principle of those who work at Highlands. Led by Maria Shupe, our Executive Director, this exemplary staff begins each complex day with gratitude for blessings of place and people and faces each challenge with confidence and cooperation.
All of us can also remember this sentence. Our prayers of gratitude can come first when we consider Highlands and ways that we can support this ministry. Thanks be to God, now and always.
In Christ, Sandy Prouty, Moderator Highlands Committee
Page –2– October 2012
Dear Friends,I’m a long range-thinker and enjoy looking down the
road and thinking about what is coming. As the aspens turn gold and then begin to lose their leaves, my thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Christmas . . . and my heart overflows with gratitude.
If you read our newsletter and follow our reports at presbytery, you know that this has been a challenging year for Highlands. It has also been a challenging year for me personally, with the loss of three friends and my father. The Friday after Thanksgiving would have been my father’s 90th birthday. I’ll plan to spend that day with my mom . . . whose memory is fading and probably won’t know that it’s Dad’s birthday.
But in the midst of many challenges . . . the loss of Dave, the injury of Buddy, drought, water leaks and broken water lines, and my personal grief, God has been faithful and good. Highlands has been surrounded by a faithful community of people who pray regularly for us. Highlands has been sustained by thousands of hours
of volunteer time. Highlands has been supported by the financial gifts of many; and so many of you have also surrounded me and my family with prayers and love. My heart overflows with gratitude!
So . . . Thank You! Thank you for your service to Highlands, your prayers for Highlands, and your generous gifts to Highlands. I hope you’ll join us for the Annual Highlands Christmas Party. It provides a time for us to gather together, to remember, to celebrate, to eat great food and to give thanks to God for this amazing community and ministry!
I also hope you’ll keep Buddy Jones in your prayers. He had a second surgery on his shoulder in mid-September and now is in the midst of six to nine months of rehab and therapy. Finally, I ask you to continue to be faithful with your generous gifts of time and financial resources. We have many projects this fall that can use your help . . . and are working hard to end 2012 in the black. Your gifts can help to make both of these a reality.
Grace, Peace and Deep Gratitude,Maria Shupe, Executive Director
message from executive director
thank you to our volunteers!Volunteers are an important part of the ministry of Highlands . . . and our Annual Christmas Party is a time set
aside to honor and thank our volunteers. If you have served on a committee, volunteered for summer camp, helped at a Work Day, joined us for painting, been a weekly volunteer or a volunteer driver, created a beautiful item for our annual auction . . . or any of the many other ways folks participate in our ministry, we hope you’ll join us for this year’s Christmas Party. Each year, we recognize Distinguished Volunteers. The folks below have already been honored, and most continue in their service to Highlands. Join us on Saturday, December 1st to meet the 2012 Distinguished Volunteers!
2011 Tom & Stevie Hoffman
Andrew Bentley2010 Roman Miller Phil Miller Ruth & Don Lewis2009 Mark Kenning Geoff Noble Rev. Sue Spencer Rev. Janet Schlenker2008 Annely Noble
2007 Sandy, Matt, Nathan & Ashley Safford
Tom Phillips, Special Service Award
20062005 Bev Webber Ron & Sarah Baxa
2004 Mark Sears Zelma Hall Jim Nussbaumer Terri Anderson2003 Robbi Telfer Mark & Diane
Kenning Patricia Welker1998 Brad Rohwer1997 Mac Mc Donald Ray Hauser
1996 Bill Francis Fran Mitchell1995 Ken Husbands
Dates Undefined: Karol Hunt Bernice Baker Bob & Libby Miller Mark Hutton Bob Jacobs
*Please let us know if you can fill in any of the gaps in our records!
plan for your year-end giving now . . .
Your year-end gift is important to the ongoing ministry of Highlands! According to information
on the Colorado Dept. of Revenue web site, “the tax credit is not available for tax years 2011 and 2012” because of limits imposed by the state budget. That does not mean there won't be a credit for contributions made in 2011 and 2012. The credit should be claimed for contributions made in 2011 and 2012 and forms submitted to the Department as
required, but the credit cannot be used until 2013 and after. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
Did you know that you can donate electronically to Highlands? Simply go to www.highlandscamp.org and use the “Donate Now” button.
Thank you for your generous support of Highlands!
Page –3– October 2012
leaders transforming – leadership retreat
November 16-17, 2012
Featuring Louisville Presbyterian Seminary President Michael Jinkins, “Leaders Transforming,” is a retreat for church elders, pastors, and other
church leaders produced in partnership with Denver Presbytery. Dates & Times: Friday, November 16 at 4 pm through Saturday, November 17
at 3:30 pm. Cost: $62 for full lodging and meals from Friday night through Saturday
afternoon; $32 commuter price for those who will not need lodging; $17 Saturday only, for those driving up for Saturday’s events.
Transportation options from Denver and limited scholarships will be available for this event. Visit www.highlandscamp.org, or call Scott at 303-747-2888 for more information.
highlands middle school retreat Save the date! March 1-3, 2013 – Grades 6-8
This year’s planning team is putting together a fantastic retreat that will focus on issues of bullying prevention and self esteem; two very important issues to today’s middle school youth. Fun keynote talks will tie these issues to
the Gospel of Jesus Christ while using illustrations from the lives of comic book heroes such as Spider Man, The X-Men, and others. It promises to be a super weekend! Save the date now and look for more information coming soon. Call Scott with questions.
Rev. Dr. Michael Jinkins (Photo by Ralph Homan,
courtesy of Louisville Seminary)
Ephesians 4:12 “...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
would you like to donate to our auction ?We are still gathering items from artists who would like to create
something wonderful to donate for this year’s auction. The auction will not only raise some much needed funds for Highlands, but it will also create a lot of fun for those looking to buy a special gift for a loved one or themselves. We are looking for all types of handcrafted items such as quilts, quilted items, artwork, photographs, knitted or crocheted items, woodworking items, etc. If you are interested in donating an item for the auction, please contact Maria or Kathy Griffee.
We would love to have your wonderful item in hand before Thanksgiving to facilitate the set-up for the auction. All of the proceeds from this auction will be used to continue Christ’s ministry at Highlands.
2013 highlands partnership day camp
Highlands’ highly successful Partnership Day Camp program is growing in 2013!
Our plan is to expand to two full day camp teams reaching up to 14 different congregations next summer. Partnership Day Camps feature a VBS style program produced in partnership with volunteers in your congregation and Highlands’ highly trained staff members. Your congregation should have already received an application in your church office for a spot in our 2013 Day Camp program. If you’re interested in applying, please check in with your pastor and/or call Scott for more information. Hurry, the application process closes November 30th.
summer staff 2013
Are you a teacher, counselor, or seasonal employee who has their summers free? Know someone who
does? Then we have an opportunity that we’d like you hear about . . . We are expanding the reach of Highlands Summer Programs next summer in new and exciting ways. In addition to expanding our day camp teams, we’ll also be hosting new mission work camps on-site (more information coming soon!). The expansion of these programs creates a need for highly skilled and mature leadership staff! We are particularly looking for young adults who are 25 or older, have a mature faith, experience working with children and youth, and the capacity to spend a summer working on Highlands staff in a fantastic work environment. We need your help in sending qualified candidates our way! Please contact Scott to learn more about these leadership positions.
Page –4– October 2012
P.O. Box 66Allenspark, CO 80510
Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage
PAIDOmaha, NE
68102Permit No. 1951
For more information about Highlands Presbyterian Camp &
Some years ago, Highlands auctioned off items from cabins. Dave and Sue Strom purchased a Round Oak Chief Wood Burning Stove that was originally in Bluebird. As
Sue prepared to move off-site, she donated this stove back to Highands. We anticipate putting it up for auction or sale on the internet by November 1st. If you are interested in purchasing this piece of Highlands’ history, please watch our Facebook page and website for the dates of when this item will be put online. If you would like to be contacted when we put this online, please email [email protected] and we’ll let you know!
what’s inside:
Water Update ................................................................................. 12012 Highlands Christmas Party ................................................ 1Note from Highlands Committee Moderator ........................... 1Message from Executive Director ............................................... 2Thank you to Our Volunteers! .................................................... 2Plan For Your Year End Giving Now ......................................... 2Leaders Transforming - Leadership Retreat ............................. 3Highlands Middle School Retreat............................................... 32013 Highlands Partnership Day Camp .................................... 3Summer Staff 2013 ........................................................................ 3Would You Like to Donate to Our Auction? ............................. 3Round Oak Chief Wood Burning Cook Stove .......... Back Page
MISSIONThe mission of Highlands is
to provide gracious hospitality and quality Christian programs in a majestic mountain setting
and to nurture spiritual renewal and transformation in a safe and inclusive environment.
