I learned this prayer from my good friend, Doug Bailey, the rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis. It is one of his favorites and has become one of mine, too. It reminds me that I need to trust more and worry less. I need to constantly row out from my safe shores and venture more often to the edge. It reminds me that we are called to "push the envelope" (as they say in the corporate world) in all matters of our lives - in work and in play, in worship and in service.

We are trying new things here at the Center through increasing our program offerings and exploring new ways to fulfill our misson of hospitality and stewardship. We want to exceed the expectations of our friends and guests. We are committed to working in every way possible to protect this sacred land and practice good stewardship of all God's gifts given to us. We are pleased with what we have accomplished in the past few years, but we don't want to get "too pleased" with ourselves that we start to dream too small. Please hold us to high standards and continue to work with us and support us as we continue our journey here. This we ask in the name of our sure captain, Jesus the Christ.

• Exploring the Sacred Self Through the Art of the Mandala - December 3-5, 1999 - Discover your innate talents for creativity, spirituality, and healing through the art of the Mandala. With Laura Lanier & Dorrie Pratt.
• New Year's Eve Retreat with the Labyrinth - December 31, 1999 thru January 2, 2000 - Join us for a worldwide celebration and gather for prayer, meditation, creative expression, and walking the Labyrinth.
• February Quiet Day: Can These Bones Live? - February 7, 2000
• March Quiet Day: The Way of the Cross - March 20, 2000
• April Quiet Day: Forgiveness - April 3, 2000
• Holy Week Silent Retreat - April 17-21, 2000 - We will observe times of Greater and Lesser Silence. Morning and Evening Prayer will be read at the Center; Noon Day Prayer, Wednesday evening Healing Service and Eucharist, Maundy Thursday foot washing and Stations of the Cross on Friday will be offered at the Church of the Holy Cross, adjacent to the Center.
• Honey in the Heart: Drum Building Workshop - April 28-30, 2000 - Drumming is an ancient and powerful practive which all cultures have used through the ages to create community, celebrate personal and community milestones, facilitate healing, and guide spiritual growth. You will have the joy of creating your own West African-style drum.
• Labyrinth Volunteer Training - April 30 - May 2, 2000
• African Drumming and Dancing - May 5-7, 2000 - a weekend of drumming and dance.
• May Quiet Day: Quiet Day With the Labyrinth - May 22, 2000

More information on all of these programs may be obtained on our Schedule of Events.

Does anybody remember E.C. Wall, a student at the Mission School in 1936 and 1937? Our Archives Committee, Diana White and Ralph Tilden, has discovered several beautiful paintings of hers and we are having them framed for the Center. If you remember her, please contact us as we are eager to learn more about her and her great talent.

Please let us know if you are receiving more than one copy of the newsletter or if you wish to have your name removed from our list. If we are mailing the newsletter to the wrong person at your church or organization, please let us know the name of the correct contact. This is one more way we can be good stewards of our resources. You can write, call, fax, or email us. All those numbers and addresses are found on the back cover of this newsletter (or the bottom of this webpage).

Once again we grew sorghum cane and made our own molasses with this year's excellent crop. Thanks to the expertise of Mac Townsend and the help of our maintenance crew - Dale Townsend, Mitch Townsend, and Charles 'Chief' Davis - and assorted friends, we have a great batch. If you're staying at the Center, you'll find the molasses available at meals (try it on a hot biscuit with butter - yum!). You can also purchase the molasses if you come by the office. It's $3 for a half-pint; $6 per pint; or $12 for a quart. Store-bought molasses just doesn't compare!

March is a great time to book a visit to the Center with skiing at one of our area's four resorts as one of your activities. It is often the best month of skiing here and the rates are lower. Why not bring your group for a weekend or for spring break? Call the office for more details.

Much to the heartbreak of the staff and many of our longtime guests, October 1999 brought the retirement of Irene O. Meyers. Irene began her work in the housekeeping department at the Center in 1980. She had worked in the Center's kitchen and as a nanny in the years prior to that. She has many talents and has been an incredible member of our housekeeping staff.

Debbie Rupert, head of our housekeeping, shared, "Irene and I started work on the same day - and in our 19 years of working together, we have never had one cross word with each other. She is that kind of person."

Irene always has a smile and a kind word for everyone. She walks in the door and everyone's spirits are lifted. And what a hard worker! Our rough estimates calculate that Irene has helped make over 17,000 beds, not to mention all the other housekeeping tasks. We miss her very much, but we do wish Irene the very best as she retires to spend more time with her family.

Until we meet again, Irene! Let it be soon!

If you are a fan of Public Radio, I am sure you, like I, are always glad to see - or should I say 'hear' - the end of pledge week. I'm always happy when they reach their goal so they can return to the regular format.

And indeed, I will be ever so happy when we reach our goal for the funding of the sewer and septic system so you and I won't have to think about waste water (and other things which shall go unmentionable!) any longer. But in the meantime - yes, it's me again, asking you to consider a year-end gift to help us reach our goal. Giving us a donation may mean that you will qualify in giving Uncle Sam a little less come April 15 and it means we come closer to completing our fund drive for our new septic/sewer system.

If you're not interested in "throwing your money down the drain" (speaking figuratively, of course), we would welcome a gift to our general fund. If you would like to give a gift in memory or honor of someone, send us their names and addresses and with each gift of at least $20 per honoree, we will send them a beautiful card acknowledging your gift in their honor or in memory of their loved one.

Your donation really helps us to grow towards being the facility we are striving to become. Thanks again for your continued generosity.

- Tom Eshelman

• Crosses (to hang in individual guest rooms);
• Books for the library in Crab Orchard Hall;
• Writing tables or small desks for guest rooms;
• Loveseat or small sofas (in good condition).

Why not do a little holiday shopping from the Valle Crucis Conference Center? Select from these wonderful gift items. For more details and color photographs, please visit our pages for T-Shirts, Gifts, and Publications.

We now offer three different T-shirt designs: one with our famous porch rocking chairs (color photo on a white shirt); one with our logo (green logo on a white shirt); and the newest with the Labyrinth design (purple print on a gray shirt). Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Cost: $9 for sizes S-XL, $11 for XXL plus shipping.

While supplies last! Our homemade molasses - a delicious gift. Half pint: $3; Pint: $6; Quarts: $12. Sorry, we cannot ship this item but it is available for puchase in our office.

A Missionary Life in Valle Crucis

by Susan Fennimore Cooper
Cost: $10 plus shipping.

Valle Crucis

by David Yates and William Bake
Cost: $25 plus shipping.

History of an Uncommon Place

by Harding Hughes
Cost: $15 plus shipping.

Embossed Labyrinth cards: $3 each.
Three-panel illustrated Valle Crucis, by Carol Wallace: $1.25 each.
Box (ten cards) of the Inn at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, by Jerry Miller: $6 per box plus shipping.

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
Ann Holtz, Secretary
Billy DuBose III, Treasurer

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