 Exploring Your Faith with Lewis and Clark - A Primetimers Event |
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The Primetimers program of GBGM offered an event entitled “Exploring Your Faith with Lewis and Clark” for older adults to explore how their own faith journey parallels that of Lewis & Clark on this 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery. The event took place August 29 - September 3, 2004 at the Alton Collins United Methodist Retreat Center in Eagle Creek, Oregon. Thirty-four older adults gathered together for an event, including Ron and Hazel Clark of North Little Rock, AR, who share their reflection on the event: Our experience grew out of two desires: to visit Oregon, and to learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition. What a thrill to discover that Primetimers had planned just such an opportunity for us to be able to make these goals a reality! It was with great anticipation that we boarded the plane in Little Rock and set out for Oregon. Upon arrival at the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center the dreams opened up even more! Here was this picturesque setting, in a forest of red cedars – and many other species of trees and undergrowth we were introduced to later in the week by a forestry expert. What a marvelous way to think of Lewis and Clark covering the wilderness, when here we were in a near-wilderness setting. The location, however, was only the beginning! The other persons who had come to share in the event were truly remarkable. Retirees, not quite retired, one 93-year-young, and some much younger, laity, clergy - all made up a group who also shared a desire to worship, share scripture and sing praises to God as we were brought face to face with history in a creative way. They were warm and genuine, almost new-found family by the time we parted. Worship was integral to the week in many ways. Each day was begun with a time
of worship, led by members of the group. Those moments were both refreshing
and comforting, plus giving us the nourishment for the day ahead. We sang hymns
on our bus journeys, as well as shared in a devotion or two en route to our
destinations. The last evening together was highlighted by a Service of Holy
Communion, served in a setting of a circle of chairs. The building of a new ‘plank house’ in the manner of the original ones at the time of the Lewis and Clark excursion held particular interest to both of us. It is hard to imagine the size of the 40 feet wide by 80 feet long building constructed of gigantic scale timbers. Some of the plankhouses were large enough for six or eight families, though most were for three or four. The enormity of the project, even in our day, was awesome. Trying to think of how it was accomplished in those earlier times without our hydraulic equipment was staggering. We left feeling we had seen community at work. The nights were filled with person-to-person guest speakers which included a Native American storyteller, his son who was a member the Black Lodge Drummers, a geologist, and representatives from a United Methodist Church which has a major ministry among Native Americans. We also had a food historian who prepared for us a meal which would have been familiar to Lewis and Clark, it included a Jefferson Salad(which would have been served by Jefferson during his stay in the White House), buffalo ribs, fresh salmon (caught that day by Native Americans from the Columbia River), a Winter Stew, and fruit dessert. The food historian had researched each item for its time period! The entire group was especially pleased with our setting, the leadership of Dr. Larry McClure, the staff of the Center, and all the guest presenters. Everything which could be done to help make our week together special, rewarding and meaningful was done. We are looking forward to more Primetimers possibilities!
Date posted: Nov 23, 2004 |
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