When I first read this prayer, I felt surely it was written just for Valle Crucis. It is very easy to look out over this valley and sense God’s awesome work and to nod and say, “Yes, this is very good.” God has given us a beautiful place. What a gift this place is to all of us who live here and come to visit here! We have much to celebrate. As Christians I feel we also want to say “yes” to the responsibility of being good stewards of this place. Our hope is that we might co-create with God a place that is protected from real estate development so that we might continue to nurture the spiritual development that has thrived here for over 150 years. Our board is exploring conservation easements and other ways to protect this land for future generations. We welcome your ideas on how we might accomplish this, how we might thoughtfully hold this place in trust. We hope you are planning a visit here at the Valle Crucis Conference Center soon. Come sit on the porch, look out at the valley and thank God for being so very good.

Keep up to date on all of the happenings at the Valle Crucis Conference Center with our Schedule of Events.

This summer, with the help of the Writers Gathering participants and under the guidance of Board member Jaan Ferree, another labyrinth was built here at the Center. This outdoor labyrinth is a 3-circuit labyrinth and is located next to Crab Orchard Creek off of Lower Crab Orchard Road and can be walked at any time. The circuits are outlined with beautiful local stones. Please ask in the office for directions.

- Lao-tzu

As the end of the year 2000 fast approaches, all our home mailboxes are stuffed with requests for contributions. There are many ways that you, our loyal friends, supporters and readers, can help the Conference Center. Your tax deductible gifts are always appreciated and you can make your gift to our regular annual fund; designate it for our sewer fund, our Apple Barn restoration fund, our library fund, our landscaping /garden fund; or you can donate to our rocking chair fund to purchase a rocking chair for one of our porches. All of these gifts can be in memory or honor of someone; you can also remain anonymous if you wish. Thank you for your continued generosity. We appreciate each gift both large and small.

This year the Conference Center handled the parking concession for the Valle Country Fair for the first time. With the help of the Shawneehaw Volunteer Fire Department we were able to park 2,574 cars and realize $4,499.00 after expenses. All of this revenue will be used for our various outreach and scholarship programs throughout the year.

A resolution was submitted by the Board of Directors of the Valle Crucis Conference Center, the Vestry and Congregation of Holy Cross Church, Valle Crucis, and the Liturgy and Music Commission of the Diocese of Western North Carolina to the 79th annual Convention of our Diocese held at Kanuga, November 9-11, 2000. This resolution which passed overwhelmingly said:

"Be it resolved that this, the 70th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Western North Carolina recommend the celebration of Holy Eucharist in the parishes, chapels, and conference centers of this diocese on December 8th, each year, in commemoration of the saintly life and example of the Rev. Deacon William West Skiles, monastic, evangelist, teacher, and healer, and;

"Be it further resolved that this convention request the Bishop and the Liturgy and Music commission of the Diocese to issue a collect(s), readings, proper preface, and a brief biography for this purpose, and;

"Be it further resolved that this convention urge the Executive Council to endorse and pursue the inclusion of the Rev. Deacon William West Skiles in the Calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Episcopal Church."

We will have more on this remarkable man in our next issue.

This fall in the first week of October our staff was busy stripping and cutting the seed heads off our cane. Our crop was not as large as we had in 1999, but the sweet smells of wood smoke and boiling molasses filled our valley with their richness. We were able to make 21 gallons which you can taste on a delicious hot homemade biscuit in our dining room.

Please help us use our resources wisely by letting us know if you are receiving more than one copy of our newsletter, or wish to be removed from our mailing list.

Our special thanks to these individuals and organizations for their generosity in giving to the Center in recent months:

The mission of the Valle Crucis Conference Center is to inspire, by loving example and service, those who break bread with us and share in the quest for spiritual renewal, Christian community, and stewardship of the sacred place.

The Right Reverend Robert H. Johnson
Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina

David Yates, President
Diana White, Vice President
Billy DuBose, Treasurer
Ann Holtz, Secretary

The Rev. Ken Asel
The Rev. Brian Cole
Tom Eshelman (ex officio)
Jaan Ferree
John Huie
The Rev. Tim McRee
Nina-Jo Moore
Judy Teele
Ralph Tilden