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

Leaves have fallen! It’s time for a leaf cleanup day at camp. This is especially important for fire safety, not just aesthetics. The scheduled day for leaf pickup is Saturday, NOVEMBER 11. Please plan to have leaves raked around your cottage and brought to the outside circle road of camp (not interior walkway) on this date.

Reminder: water is not on any more at camp, so plan accordingly. No bathroom facilities are open.

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor” – Ecc. 4:9

2023 Autumn Work days are set for September 30 & October 14 from 8:00a to 3:30p

Bring family, bring friends and invite your church members or any volunteer groups for many hands make for light work..

• A light breakfast and lunch are provided for all volunteers.
• Indoor and outdoor projects available for all age groups.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate busy schedules.
• Please remember that these days are set aside to work on common tasks to improve our campgrounds, not our personal cottages.

Cottagers,

Please remember the Covered Dish Dinner this evening at 5:30 PM followed by a Cottagers Meeting.  One goal of the meeting is to build our committees with cottager volunteers.  If you are unable to attend, please reach out to the committee chair where you would like to serve.

George Phillips (for the Board of Trustees)

As a reminder, the following are committee chairs:

Sales & Rentals- Alan McCarrick  

Grounds- Simon James.

Publicity- Elizabeth Schrock

Program- Sarah McGovern.

Friday, August 25th, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm  We will be having a plein air art event on the grounds of Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting.  Come with your art supplies to capture the beauty of God’s creation present at the camp meeting.  Lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP to Beth McCarrick 484-432-5527 so food can be planned.  It is our hope to use the artwork produced for a new BSCM Aux. Calendar for 2024

It is a Joy to greet all of you this much cooler Sunday morning.   We have had 2 evenings, both Firday and Saturday,  of wonderful praise thru excellent music and witness.   I don’t know how much time you spend praising the Lord.  It can be a lifestyle decision, but some of us  have begun that process.  Last night someone suggested ” it is Well With My Soul”  as our theme next year, after hearing the story behind the song and all it exceptional words.  Take time for Praise……!

Camp Meeting Week is a good time to Revive your Soul, Restore your Soul, Renew your Soul.   Are you ready to begin anew with your Saviour and Lord? 

The Corner Store will be open a half hour before and after all services 

Sunday morning at 11 A M the trio, Mercy’s Well will be with us and Richard Purchase will provide the message on our  theme, Isaiah 40.    We deliberately set the time so you can attend your own local church service and then join all of us.

Sunday evening at 7 P M we will begin a week of preaching, teaching and wonderful music.  

  The music  will be provided by pianist David Zipse and your voice, as we have an opportunity to sing the  old camp songs.  The preaching will be by Dennis Brice, who comes to us from Scotland and many other places and cultures.   This fall he will be in Portugal bring the Word.of the Lord.  

  The teaching will be every morning at 10 A M with Ethel Guy sharing from the Book of James, the Wisdom Literature of the New Testament. 

On Wednesday at 6:30 P M we will.met in the Kane Memorial Prayer Garden, led by Sarah McGovern.   Prayer is an essential part of our camp.  

  Our special guest that evening is Jim Hughes, a friend of the camp for many years.  He will share through music and drama, Seeking the Cross.  Please come and invite others to hear and see thus unusual presentation of the gospel.

On Friday we will transition into our closing weekend.  Friday night,  Dan Ziegler will bring the message at 7 P M.  Then he will provide the Saturday morning Bible Study at 10 A M.   Sunday worship at 11 A M will include Simon James with music and Dan preaching.

   Saturday night the Covered Dish Dinner will be at 5:30 P M.  Bring a ( full) dish to pass and share this fun time and maybe meet some new folk. 

Walk around, an old tradition in many Camp Meetings,  is Saturday night beginning at 7:30 P M.  ☆☆☆ Take note of the change in time.  Jean Watson, a Celtic violinist will share her talent but also her message of faith.  During the day  we all put candles out,  reminding all of us and our friends of the Light of Christ, how He lights our path and our responsibility to provide a light for others.

Luncheon on Sunday will follow the Worship Service,  in Biddle Hall and then around 1 P M  we will hold the 157th Annual Meeting which will review the  past year and elect 3 new Trustees.  All cottagers are expected to be here. 

Remember this is what we became cottagers for and also gives us opportunity to share our faith with those we love.  

See you at the Summit.

Betty

Due to extreme heat, Lisa Fenstremacher and her band will be in the Biddle Memorial Hall at 7 P M Friday night (July 28) for sharing the joy of Worship music.

Lisa Fenstremacher and her band will be in the Biddle Memorial Hall at 7 P M Friday night ( July 28) for sharing the joy of Worship music.

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.