This past week additional air conditioning was installed in the Biddle Hall.  And the Board of Trustees is making that building our 2023 Camp Meeting Project.  You will have the opportunity to give a Love Gift to be used for the many things yet to be completed.  

Weds., July 26 at 6:30 we will gather for the first time, at the Kane Memorial Prayer Garden and pray together in Thanksgiving for all that has been accomplished.   We want to thank Elizabeth Davis and all who have helped her (including her grandmother) in the design of the area so we can invite others to a quiet place to come to our Pocket of Peace. 

Then at 7 PM we will go to the Collins Building for Prayer and Praise led this week by Jackie Brandt.

Thursday, July 27 at 10:30 AM, the last of the Women’s Bible Study for this season will consider Romans 8:28.  Remember “You were born for such a time as this”,  as we conclude the Book of Esther.

Friday evening July 28 at 7 PM we will join together in the Tabernacle, under the fans for a night of music with Lisa Fenstremacher and her band.  She is well known in the area and looks forward to sharing her music with us. *** EDITED TO UPDATE: This event will be held in the Biddle Hall due to extreme heat.***

Saturday, July 29 at 7 PM in the Tabernacle we will hear the joyful sounds of a Southern Gospel Trio, Mercy’s Well.  They are coming from North Carolina and will adapt to our setting, without compromising the message they present, which makes them a favorite wherever their music is shared.  

Sunday, July 30 we will gather in the Tabernacle at 11 AM for what historically was called “Little Sunday ”.  Mercy’s  Well will provide special music and then Pastor Purchase will preach on Isaiah 40.

President, Betty Purchase

for the Board of Trustees and Auxiliary

From Chester Heights Campmeeting to Brandywine Summit Campmeeting

“INVITATION to please join us at Chester Heights Campmeeting’s for our 1st Concert in the Woods 2023 this SUN. JULY 16, 6pm featuring the ROCKDALE BOYS!! They are a great Gospel Bluegrass Group and just performed at Rose Tree Park. Come at 4 and bring your picnic dinner and enjoy our picnic grove and outdoor games. We are on the Natl Register of Historic Places. We have been an important part of Delaware County and Chester Hgts Boro’s history since 1872. CHCM has won various DELCO HERITAGE COMMISSION AWARDS. We are a work in progress and would love any volunteers or groups or youth who need service hour projects to help and contact me. Carpentry, weedwacking, landscaping, painters, etc etc etc CHCM is located at Smithbridge and Valleybrook Rds. At light turn into Hunters Lane and turn right at 1st street drive up behind the new townhouses and you will see our large gazebo. cottages and picnic grove. This is a free event, a freewill offering is taken. Love to see you there for an enjoyable evening right around the corner.”

The Women’s Bible Study was introduced to the summer staff and volunteers that are working on landscaping and beautifying this sacred place! Ladies, join the bible study Thursday mornings at 10:30AM, studying the life of Esther.

Standing are (L to R) Rich, Ellie Davis, and Kip.

Celebration time is here. Today, June 30 marks the end of our fiscal year.   All of your Annual  Reports  will reflect the last years Camp Meeting and the beginning of this year.   The Annual Meeting is at the end of   this years  Camp Meeting, August 7th.  We will Worship together (at11)  have a meal together (12:30). and then meet to do the Lord’s Business at 1: 30 or so.  Jacki Barycki, Diane Janes and Betty Purchase are going off the board and a new slate of Trustees will be presented.

Keep in mind you became a vital part if this ministry when you asked to fill out an application.  2 work days in the Spring and 2 in the Fall , paying your ground rent on time,  are all a small part if your  being in this community.  There is much more to your decision.  Ministry means a commitment in your ongoing relationship with the Lord and His Church,   as we meet on this Holy Ground.  

This weekend begins on Sat.  with an Auxiliary Meeting at 10:30 with an opportunity for crafts to follow,  the  Covered Dish is at 5:30.  Bring a dish to share and then we welcome the Rockdale Boys at 7 P M in the Tabernacle.

 On  the 4th of July we will have a picnic in Biddle Hall at 12:30.  Bring a dish for 8, to share.  Grilled chicken will be provided.  The sharing at these meals is an important part if our life together in this community. 

Wednesday Evening Prayer and Praise has been a wonderful time of sharing, singing, praying  and praising at 7 P M in the Collins Building. A different cottager each week has taken a turn at leadership.  If you can’t be with us in person you can look at  the Psalm we are   considering for that night. The Psalm parallels the date for that day.  For example this week we will look at Psalm 5, since it will be July 5th .  Join us one way or the other.  If you have a prayer need, please let us know.

On July 6th and every Thursday in July, we will meet for the Women’s Bible Study at 10:30 in the Collins.   We will study the Book of Esther.  Max Luca says, ” The headline of the book should read;  Relief will come,   Will you be a part if it?”.  Betty Purchase will lead us again this year.

So,  you can see ….. we have a full week planned as we seek to:

Revive our soul,  Restore our soul,  Renew our soul.   All with God’s help. 

Make this summer one that will make a difference in your life and the life of the camp.

See you soon.

Betty

Click here to head over to the newly confirmed 2023 program season! We’re looking forward to another faith-filled and refreshing time at this special sacred space in God’s Creation.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,  and sing praises to His name”. Psalm 92:1

In a time of enjoying the camp for it’s beauty, even though there is work to be done,  we want to sing praises to the Lord for what He has given us to care for.  Any verse in Psalm 92 does exactly that.  Praise His Name.

This week is a reminder of what it means to be good stewards of the Holy Ground we have been given.  It is a good time to evaluate what you would like to do now or even get ready for next Spring.  This year we did a few things on our cottage,  like our brick walk on  the side of the  cottage which  needed to be taken up and leveled after  tree roots came out   .  As each cottager looks around their cottage and sees what needs to be done to preserve it, to make it more attractive,  to make it more inviting,  we also begin to work on common areas.  Every ( yours and the Camp owned)  cottage needs the leaves and debrie raked away from the foundation.  There will be lists of work that need to be done in the Biddle on Sept.24th and also Oct 8th, and you are needed. Some have already come to grounds and worked on special projects, which are all a part of the lists of work to be done. There are those who believe this is a part of their offering, their giving  to the Lord.

We continue to pray for those on our prayer list, those who are dealing with long haul Covid, and our children as they return to school.  

We seek Spiritual Wisdom in all things.

Betty

The 2022 Annual Meeting was held after a ” Groaning Board” luncheon, as they used to say.   Wonderful meal with wonderful cottagers preparing the meal.  It was a hot day but pleasant to be together in the Biddle Memorial Hall and for the most part in harmony, led by President George Philips.  The election was held with Alan McCarrick, Sarah McGovern and Simon James receiving the most votes.  They will join the rest of the Trustees: Jim Pierson-Perry, Marie Marhty, Ezequiel Hernandez,  Jacki Barycky, Jacki Brandt and Betty Purchase.  Thanks giving was expressed for the outgoing Trustees.  Both the excellent work on the pool this season and serving as Secretary John Krulick and the leadership of George Philips as President for the last 3 yrs.  was gratefully recognized. 

The Auxiliary held their Annual Meeting this past weekend and elected Mildred Hernandez, President for the coming term. Thanksgiving was given for Lori Policastro and her leadership.

Weds. at 7 pm Prayer and Praise will be lead by Simon James, in both word and song.  Prayer had been a part of the Camp Meeting long before the first services and we will keep lifting up  our hands in prayer, as we go forward.

Sat. at 5 pm will be a Covered Dish Dinner.  Be sure to bring your fresh veggies.  Share any extra produce you have with others.

These are exciting days in the life of the camp, as we continue to Walk in the Light, going forward.

See you at camp – dates for work days are coming!

Betty

Cottagers,

Our Camp Meeting Program Week begins this Friday, July 29 with a coffeehouse at 7PM in Biddle featuring Caitlin Jane.  It will be an uplifting evening of music.  Bring a snack to share.

Saturday, July 30, we will be celebrating Christmas in July.  Decorate your porches for Christmas.  We will encourage folks to walk the grounds after service to see the decorations.  Please bring Christmas desserts to the covered dish in addition to your dish to share.  Our evening concert will be a Christmas program at 7:30PM with comedian and musician, Mark Cable.  It has been a few years since he has been with us.

Prior to our service on July 30 at 7PM our Money Tree event will return to the Camp Meeting.  This is a children’s event, so have your children and grandchildren ready to collect dollar bills, ring the bell and hang the dollars on the tree.  This is a perfect beginning to our children’s programming for the week.  Of course, the adults will need to be ready with the dollar bills.  All money collected this year on the Money Tree will be used to replant trees that have been removed from the grounds.

Mark your calendars, invite family and friends and plan to attend!

Being a part of Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting this season has been a joyful experience for many. The Quiet Day lead by Sarah McGovern, with Marie Maharty, RuthAnn James and Judy  Stang as the support  team, provided a breath of fresh air to the many who attended.   Taking time to ” be still” meant a lot as we scattered all over the grounds.  Out of the 19 attending, 5 were new to being on grounds.  All reveled in our “Pocket of Peace”.

Tuesday Women’s Bible Study is studying the book of Ruth.  Although she was a Moabite and not a Hebrew, she is recorded in the line of Jesus and rates a mention in the book of Hebrews.   She made things happen and brought glory to our God.

HOPE will be the name of Jesus we pray this Weds. at 7 P M in the Collins Building.  He is our hope and our glory.  Betty Purchase will be the prayer encourager this week.

Our IGNITE weekend is finally here.  The camp Young Adults have been planning this for almost a year and look forward to all the cottagers helping to host this event.

• Friday, the 15th at 7 P M we will have folk music with Simon James, in Hilltop Pavilion.  The pool will be open.

• Saturday, the 16th a Continental Breakfast will be available from 8 – 11  and activities will begin at  9 A M in the area around the Museum. There will be 2 possible times for participation : 9 A M and 10:15 A M.  Nora Nickels, of the Brandywine Conservencey and Longwood Gardens Staff will lead a Nature Walk over the camp.  The bike hikes will be lead by Simon James, Ian James and José Cruz. 

• Lunch will be  provided by the Auxiliary at the Hilltop Pavilion,  with the making of your own  Walking Tacos.

• Concerts will begin at 2:30 P M and will include a number of Praise Bands, a Comedian and keep an eye out for a juggler, maybe.

• 5 P M Supper will be a hot dog roast with all kinds of food brought as covered dishes by the cottagers.  

• The evening Praise will begin at 7 P M. Come for the joy if it. 

• Sunday at 11 A M we will Worship in the old open air Tabernacle.  Ezequiel Hernandez will be our Worship leader for the morning. 

• Take note: the Pool and Corner Store will be open off on during the weekend.

Cottagers are reminded to park near their cottages, because we want to use any available space for parking for others. Keep all Fire Lanes open. 

Special thanks go to all the cottagers who are  making this weekend come alive. 

Try to have lights lit in your cottages even if you can’t be here, as we Walk in the Light.