Search PNC News for stories of people and churches in our UCC Conference:

 

Groups using camps through the year are partners

Instead of considering groups that rent the camp facilities in the spring, summer, fall and winter “user groups,” N-Sid-Sen Camp and Conference Center for the Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ (UCC) on Lake Coeur d’Alene refers to them as “partners.”

Pam Peterson and Mark Boyd speak at Annual Meeting. Puget Sound Guitar Workshop at Pilgrim Firs Warrior Pathh healing events at Pilgrim Firs

“They love the camps as much as we do,” said Mark Boyd, former director at N-Sid-Sen, now director at Pilgrim Firs, the conference’s camp at Port Orchard. “The groups are introduced to the United Church of Christ when they come to the sacred oases we offer.”

Pam Peterson, his successor as director at N-Sid-Sen since April 1, said N-Sid-Sen is a gathering point of community, for community and with community.

Some of the groups using its facilities are Lady of the Lakes square dancers, Inland Northwest Sufi Camp, a quilters group, Dances of Universal Peace, Casting for Recovery (fly fishing group healing from breast cancer), and the East Side Fire District which has a boat house at the waterfront with emergency response boats.

The Pride Picnic drew about 120 to celebrate Pilgrim Firs’ Pride Garden, established in recognition of many in the LGBTQIA+ community, said Mark.

At the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop melodies fill the camp day and night beginners to nationally recognized artists alike learning, teaching and jamming.

Mark said the Warrior Pathh Progressive, Alternative Training for Healing transforms those experiencing PTSD—Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—by giving those experiencing that PTSD “Permission To Start Dreaming.”

He added that both camps offer clergy retreat spaces.

“Healing happens at camps and partners are introduced to the UCC, seeing the camps aas sacred oases for creativity,” he said.

For information visit pilgrim-firs.org or n-sid-sen.org.

 

Pacific Northwest Conference Summer United Church News copyright © June 2023

 

Share this article on your favorite social media