Western North Carolina trip

[image:Phillip Chitwood]

A few days ago I made my way to the western part of North Carolina for a Vice-Moderator visit. If you have never been to Western North Carolina with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop or visited Asheville, NC I definitely recommend you make a visit! 

I drove over from Raleigh this past Saturday and stayed at "Presbyterian Heaven" (a.k.a Montreat Conference Center). I was hosted by my friends Ginny Soll, Director of Christian Education at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and Bill Buchanan, Associate Pastor at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville. All three of us were in school together at Presbyterian School of Christian Education back in the '90s. We went to dinner at the always famous My Father's Pizza and had ice cream for dessert at Kilwin's.

The next day (Sunday) I went down the street to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church to preach two worship services. The early one (8:30 a.m.) was the informal, contemporary service named FirstLight and the 11 a.m. traditional service was packed! In between services I spoke to the Biblical Perspectives adult Sunday School class on my time as Vice-Moderator and what have I seen about the church to date. The class again was full and the members asked some great questions. Rev. Karen Haak, interim pastor, has done a great job the last two years and in a week she will give way to the newly called pastor, Rev. Shannon Kershner. It was great getting to know Karen and I wish her well in the next stage of ministry.

Later on in the afternoon, I was the Keynote speaker for the Presbytery of Western Carolina's High School Rally back at Montreat.  Under the direction of Beth Gunn, they have a really organized Youth Council that is very talented and friendly. The rally's theme was "Righteous Obedience" from the Book of Esther. I did two keynotes there and after it was over I was pretty tired! Beth and Bill took me to dinner in East Asheville to a wonderful Greek/Italian restaurant named Pomodoro's Cafe. I spent the night at the Glen Rock Apartments and was a guest for breakfast at a Montreat pastor's breakfast before heading back to Raleigh.

I had a great time in Black Mountain/Montreat and thanks to all who made it wonderful. And the Presbytery's Youth Council ROCKS!

[image:Princess Stand in the Rain]

 

Comments

[David LaMotte]

Sure sorry to have missed you in WNC, Byron. I would have loved to have crashed that My Father's Pizza run. Bit of a commute from Australia, though. ;-) Thanks for the good voice you're providing and the good work you're doing.

Peace,

David LaMotte

[Byron Wade]

Hey David - thanks! It would have been great to meet up with you at My Father's ;-) By the way, you Dad is a great man and funny too! Peace be with you in Australia!