Silver Lake News Briefs
What's New, and What's Brief.
Two Church Auctions Will Benefit Silver Lake Building Campaign
SHARON (03/08/2010) -- Two Connecticut Conference churches will hold auctions this weekend benefiting the Now, for the Future Campaign for Silver Lake Conference Center. Silver Lake, the Conference's outdoor ministry center in Sharon, has been raising funds for significant new retreat center facilities to enhance its summer and year-round programs.
The First Congregational Church UCC of Guilford's Live Auction of Time, Talent and Treasure on March 13 honors the memory of Rachel Garcia, whose all-too-brief twelve years were signficantly marked by the spiritual nurture and awakening she found at her church and at Silver Lake. Her father, Carlos Garcia, will serve as auctioneer for the event. He is pictured at right with Associate Pastor the Rev. Susan Murtha.
The New Haven Register covered the story on March 12:
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/03/12/news/shoreline/b1-guauction.txt
Instead of goods, the "items" for auction in Guilford consist of skills and services offered from the community. Rev. Murtha reports that over $45,000 worth of volunteer time and talent has been contributed to honor Rachel.
On the same day, the United Congregational Church UCC of Tolland will hold an auction of goods and services; items range from a home-baked bread or dessert each month to an electronic organ. Silver Lake alumni Dan Broderick and friends will close the night with an evening coffee house of great music, accompanied by beverages and desserts.
For more information, follow the link below.
Summer 2010 Silver Lake Poster Extends Invitation for Great Experience
SHARON (03/01/2010) -- 
Silver Lake Conference Center has produced a flyer and poster inviting young people to its summer conferences program, offering "Fun, Faith, Friends for Life!" The flyer arrived via email in local church pastors and office staff mailboxes early this week.
Silver Lake, the Connecticut Conference's outdoor ministry venue for over fifty years, has thirty-eight conferences available this summer for young people in 4th grade and up, families, and alumni/ae. Themes include sports, the arts, the environment, community, and even radio and video production. One of the conferences will take participants to a rural mission site in Orland, Maine; the pre-camp "Pioneer" conference gets the facility ready for the first week of camp.
The PDF file is suitable for printing and display on church bulletin boards as well as inclusion in worship bulletins and in church newsletters. To download it, follow the link below.
Silver Lake Honors Roxbury Pastor for Service
ROXBURY (02/24/2010) -- 
When the Roxbury Congregational Church UCC celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Rev. David Peters' ordination on February 7, he received as well a special recognition for his long and distinguished service to Silver Lake Conference Center, the Connecticut Conference's outdoor ministry facility in Sharon. Co-Directors Tim and Anne Hughes and Site Manager Dave Kobersmith presented him with a cross fashioned from the boards of retired cabins. Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree was also present to extend her thanks.
A native of Wallingford, Peters first came to Silver Lake as a conferee, but in the years since has been the long-time dean of the pre-camp Pioneer conference, helping to prepare cabins, kitchen, and waterfront for the summer season. He serves as one of the co-chairs of the Now for the Future capital campaign for Silver Lake, and on days off can frequently be found on site with tools in his hands.
In the photo, from left to right: David Peters, Davida Foy Crabtree, Tim Hughes, Anne Hughes, Dave Kobersmith.
