In this issue:
• If These Walls Could Speak
• Honouring Arthur
• Big Four – sustainability
• Timothy Trek - register today
• Beyond Summer
• Own It Gala
• Partnership
• Technically Difficult
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 If These Walls Could Speak
At this year’s family camp I had an incredibly rich moment as I remembered a time in Cameron Cottage where we were having a staff meeting. Cameron Cottage was blue and it was the leader’s lounge at that point in history, became the ‘watering hole’ for leaders to find silence and then became a pile of rubble when the new building came into being. Today, if you park in our Main Lodge parking lot, you will be on the hallowed grounds of Cameron Cottage.
The family camp memory came as I watched one of the campers, a Mom of two kids. I watched her move throughout the week, encountering God and moving lovingly throughout the hum drum of camp as she loved her kids and husband, built community with her friends and celebrated living in the Kingdom of God as a whole person. The thing is, I remember being in Cameron Cottage one summer and hearing a story about a young girl who needed financial help in order to come to camp to begin her journey through the LTD program. That summer staff team was moved by her story and responded to the invitation to give as we cobbled together enough tuck money to cover her costs. That girl is the family camp Mom: fully grown, a source of peace for her family and a light amidst a darkened world.
I knew that girl well when she was young and have watched her grow into the woman that she is today. I know of how her life has touched others and I am moved by the compelling way in which she is living her life now. All of this is evidence of God’s power to transform, ability to make incredible out of our ordinary and constant beckoning for us to join in what He’s about. It is such an honour to see how our staff meeting has over time come alive in one Mom and despite Cameron Cottage being but a memory, I no longer wonder if its walls speak. I can tell you, they whisper through her living today.
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 Honouring Arthur
This is a tough article to write. A friend of Gull Lake’s died tragically on July 19, 2009 at the age of 30. Arthur Dethmers beloved husband and best friend of Spring Dethmers of Calgary, went to be at home with his Lord. The paper says it so well: Arthur’s life demonstrated a journey of fellowship with his friends, family and God. His passion to excel in every aspect of life affected everyone he came in contact with. His personality was electrifying and his devotion to his work not only provided satisfaction but opportunities to share his faith. Arthur was always generous, giving above and beyond, whether it be campers at Gull Lake, his clients as well as his own family and friends. Those who have been touched by Arthur, will remember his relational and artistic approach to life.
Arthur was one of Gull Lake’s most creative supporters, offering his landscaping services to clients for free if they simply sent a cheque to Gull Lake. He also gave us creative ideas, challenging comments and high expectations in order to ensure that we served campers exceptionally. When he came to share a week of his summer (which he did year after year) he would always take some camper under his wing. Typically, this kid needed great patience and Arthur shared his freely.
One of Arthur’s friends has asked if I would invite you to join him in honouring Arthur by sending a cheque to Gull Lake for a project in Arthur’s memory. I cannot yet tell you what the project will be but can assure you this: it will add to the camper’s experience. The reason I cannot yet identify what the project will be is because Arthur and I agreed that we should not spend what we do not have so the memorial will match the money raised. If we receive $10,000 then we will spend $10,000 to make a difference in the camper’s experience. If we receive $50,000 then we will spend $50,000 – you get the idea. So, please consider sending a cheque to Gull Lake with ‘Arthur’ in the memo line and we will decide how to creatively remember him in a way that demonstrates a journey of fellowship and excellence. To that end, I invite you to please be generous and give above and beyond.
I continue to be profoundly saddened by the loss of Arthur and ask that you please continue to keep his family and friends in your prayers as the long journey of grief continues.
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 Big Four – sustainability
To monitor Gull Lake Centre’s health we evaluate four key markers. I like to think of these as the four red or black chips that equate to success in the game connect four. If we can align these as an organization, then we are taking care of business so to speak. Here is a comparison between 2009 and 2008 to help you know how we are doing:
- Campers – we have now registered 77 more campers than at any year in our history, exceeding last year’s totals by 12% with room for up to thirty six more over in our final camp, Sr. Teen’s which runs from August 23-29. Each camp thus far has been at full capacity.
- Guests – we have served 1,230 overnight guests (compared to 800 in the summer);
- Investing – our private donations are up 38% over last year but our church giving has dropped by 41%. When taken together we are $17,614 behind schedule.
- Profit/Loss – to date, we have a net profit of $25,000 whereas last year we had a loss of $7,300. Our total revenues are up by 39% while our expenses are up 32% (while serving 66% more people).
Obviously we are concerned about investing, especially as we face a growing need to subsidize camp for kids who cannot afford to come. Please remember that for every $1 a camper pays to experience Gull Lake we must find a matching $1 in 'investments' through churches and individuals.
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 Timothy Trek - register today
The Timothy Trek is our running/walking fundraising event on Saturday, September 19th. August 31 is the Early Bird Registration Deadline. All those registered by this time will be entered in a draw to win an iPod Shuffle. This is an ideal day for: runners who want a personal best; grandparents who want to take their grandkids for a walk; parents who want to stroller their infants and volunteers of all ages!
>> Register Today
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 Beyond Summer
We will be holding our second Live at the Lake Fall Camp on November 20-22. Last year over 100 campers from grades 7-12 joined us for an incredible weekend retreat. Registration is open so make sure you register before we are full.
The Advent Retreat will run again this year on November 27-29, preparing families to encounter the Advent season. Our hope is that this is a retreat for people of all ages, where three generations from one family come to gather with Grandparents sharing their stories of Christmas with their grandkids while parents bridge the gap as the mystery unfolds.
>> Register Today
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 Own It Gala
A group of Calgary, friends of Gull Lake are gathering alumni to join us for an evening of food, drink and live entertainment by Cara Luft to celebrate Gull Lake's past and propel it into the future as investors. The evening will take place at the Naturbahn Teahouse (at the top of Canada Olympic Park) and will be a remarkable evening to re-engage Gull Lake and invest in the future.
>> For More Information
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 Partnership
This year we had the opportunity to form a partnership with Crossroads Church on the west side of the QE2 in Red Deer. They elected to forego their day camp and instead bring their kids to Gull Lake for camp and served as our speaking team for the camp. It was an incredible partnership that will continue to grow as we share our mutual strengths. We had the chance to create a space for them to connect with their kids and they took on the task of sharing the great story of God in legendary ways. As the week ended, Pastor Mike (Children’s Ministries) shared that kids were calling him by name for the first time and that the week had given him a chance to get to know them and fall in love with his kids. Contact us today if you think that this can be a model for your church as we partner to create a space to connect.
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 Technically Difficult
A funny story for you: a cabin leader shared a story that during our age 6-10 camp one of the campers referred to her as ‘technically difficult’ when she meant to say that she was experiencing ‘technical difficulties’. The cabin leader went on to share that in a way, technically difficult is more appropriate, that we all are technically difficult. We are complex and struggle with all manner of dysfunction, weakness, fear and insecurity. It is this state of 'technically difficult' that invites God’s ongoing work of transformation.
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Creating Space to Connect
SUMMER CAMPS
Jr. Teen's #2:
11 spots remain
Sr. Teen's:
36 spots remain
UPCOMING EVENTS
Timothy Trek
September 19
‘Own It’ Gala:
September 25
LTD Fall Retreat
October 16-18
Live at the Lake
November 20-22
Advent Retreat
November 27-29
90th Year Begins
January 1
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