Please follow this link to answer questions in a brief survey about what you are looking for in the BSCM Bible Study for 2024.

Supporting document is found here: list of 59 “One Another” Scripture references (some of the commands are duplicated because they are referenced in more than one Bible verse).  

Sound System Operator:  

We are looking for individuals to be trained in how to set up and monitor the sound system in the Tabernacle. Volunteers for this task should be available throughout the season (June – August) to take turns for various worship services and events, particularly on weekends.

Hospitality Crew:

Will you join us in extending hospitality to our community, visitors, and invited speakers/musicians throughout the upcoming program season? Please consider assisting the Program Committee in this way– undertaking even one duty at one event would be greatly appreciated. 

Duties may include:

• *welcome speakers/musicians–show them to the Parsonage; attend to other needs if necessary
• *greet visitors at various events–hand out a brochure, find out names and contact info if they are willing
• *usher to collect the offering
• *provide food (homemade or bought)
• *set up a fellowship event (Biddle, Collins, Hilltop, Tabernacle)
• *serve food or manage a buffet line
• *clean up following events

Events at which Hospitality Crew is needed:

• *concerts and worship meetings
• *camp-wide picnics (5/17/24 and 7/4/24)
• *Refresh Day luncheon (6/28/24)
• *Coffeehouses (usually Friday evening)
• *Camp Meeting week (8/2 – 8/10)  coffee/bagels before morning Bible study
• *various community-building events

Please contact Sarah McGovern @ 609-932-5557 (voice or text) or sarahbmcgovern@gmail.com  if you have an interest in participating in any of the volunteer opportunities listed above and specify how you would like to serve. Thank you.

The camp meeting has had some tree damage during the last two storms.  A storm in early December brought a tree down on Cottage #35 (the old cottage treasures) and did some damage to the roof and back side of the cottage.  A work crew of volunteer cottagers worked with Grounds to remove the tree, secure the roof with tarping, and contact the electrician to work on damaged electrical lines that were also damaged.   

The storms last week brought down more trees with the most significant damage to the upper restroom roof and a few other camp owned structures had minor damage to their roofs as well.  We had a tree also fall alongside Turtle Lodge and thankfully did not cause any damage to the structure. Many thanks to Alan McCarrick for being the first to assess and report on the damage, and Bob Cloutier and John Krulik for tarping and securing all damaged structures.  Simon James, Grounds Chair, will be meeting with our insurance company to review the damage and see how they can help cover some of the losses.  Alan McCarrick, our Sales and Rentals Chair, also notified any privately owned cottage owners who may have had damage to their cottages.  Simon has also secured an approved tree company to begin removal of the dead trees and the Grounds Committee is working on a plan for coordination of a work party/contractor to start the needed repairs of our structures over the winter months. 

Thanks to Jackie Brandt, Simon James, and RuthAnn Purchase James for photos!

Brandywine Camp has faced challenges for years with the process of adopting new cottagers. The simultaneous goals of having Christian individuals and families join and refurbish empty cottages and the goal of them becoming a living part of our community are often difficult to achieve. Christians have busy lives with family, church and outreach ministries added to work requirements. Does everyone have the desire to add an additional “family” to their lives? It is true that BSCM offers a retreat to a more natural setting where we can feel closer to God, but that is not the central purpose of our camp. We are to function as a Christian community interacting, helping, supporting and praying with and for each other.

To insure that prospective members recognize the goals of BSCM and wish to participate, we have enlarged our application process to one full year. We expect that applicants should participate in various activities such as small group Bible studies, preaching services, musical events, dinners and work days. The sum of those activities represents the range and flavor of camp life.

In addition to the year’s activities, we require that each applicant have a “sponsor” – one who befriends and personally helps them understand camp life and its policies (written and unwritten). Applicants are invited to rent cottages in order to stay on grounds. Prospective members are also expected to be involved in their local “home” church. References are required and checked as well as their pastor’s reference. This longer process has seemed frustrating to some applicants who wished to buy a cottage “immediately.” We have experienced cases of folks who give valid testimony, but find that they choose not to be involved in camp life. We hope and pray this new process will allow families who really wish to and can be involved in camp life to apply. Continue to pray that God will bring new families to us.

Allan McCarrick,

Sales and Rentals, Board of Trustees