Four Corners UU Annual Retreat at Pine Song
Four Corners UU Retreats Held at Pine Song
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango has had a tradition of holding some type of summer weekend retreat gathering for its members and friends in the Four Corners area for many years. There was not a consistent retreat location until
1995. In February that year new members Ken and Lois Carpenter were present when the question of where to hold the retreat for the coming summer was raised. The Carpenters volunteered use of their forested property on the banks of the Pine River, a short distance from the dam at Vallecito Lake. There is space for attendees to camp with portable toilets supplied for their use. In addition a guest cabin on the property can be used by guest ministers/leaders and their families.
Participants who do not wish to camp may rent cabins in the Vallecito Lake area or simply drive out from Durango (20 miles) for the Saturday activities, return home that night and drive out again for the Sunday breakfast and service. Besides the UUFD congregation, participants generally come from UU groups in Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, and Salida, Colorado and from Farmington, NM. Occasional participants have come from Grand Junction, Dillon and Denver, CO well as from Albuquerque and Los Alamos, NM. Our early retreats numbered about 25 to 30 participants. In recent years attendance has ranged between 90 and 110 people of all ages.
After several summers with inadequate tarpaulin shelters for the group gathering, sturdy tent tops were rented and erected for shade and shelter. Then in 2004 the Carpenters had a concrete-floored pavilion built that has electric lighting, a sink with potable water and cabinets with a long countertop for
serving. Several members led by John Schwob built a number of picnic tables with attached benches. Shade shelters and tent tops are on hand for children’s activities. A sound system will be available for the pavilion in 2014.
It has been customary to invite a UU guest minister or leader to present a Saturday morning workshop and a Sunday worship service. Additional workshops or discussion groups may also be held on Saturday, and the UUFD Religious Education leaders plan activities for the children that correspond with the adult program times. There is always some free time on Saturday as well as a social hour before the potluck dinner that evening. If weather conditions permit it, a campfire with marshmallow roasting and singing is held after the dinner.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango has had a tradition of holding some type of summer weekend retreat gathering for its members and friends in the Four Corners area for many years. There was not a consistent retreat location until
1995. In February that year new members Ken and Lois Carpenter were present when the question of where to hold the retreat for the coming summer was raised. The Carpenters volunteered use of their forested property on the banks of the Pine River, a short distance from the dam at Vallecito Lake. There is space for attendees to camp with portable toilets supplied for their use. In addition a guest cabin on the property can be used by guest ministers/leaders and their families.
Participants who do not wish to camp may rent cabins in the Vallecito Lake area or simply drive out from Durango (20 miles) for the Saturday activities, return home that night and drive out again for the Sunday breakfast and service. Besides the UUFD congregation, participants generally come from UU groups in Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, and Salida, Colorado and from Farmington, NM. Occasional participants have come from Grand Junction, Dillon and Denver, CO well as from Albuquerque and Los Alamos, NM. Our early retreats numbered about 25 to 30 participants. In recent years attendance has ranged between 90 and 110 people of all ages.
After several summers with inadequate tarpaulin shelters for the group gathering, sturdy tent tops were rented and erected for shade and shelter. Then in 2004 the Carpenters had a concrete-floored pavilion built that has electric lighting, a sink with potable water and cabinets with a long countertop for
serving. Several members led by John Schwob built a number of picnic tables with attached benches. Shade shelters and tent tops are on hand for children’s activities. A sound system will be available for the pavilion in 2014.
It has been customary to invite a UU guest minister or leader to present a Saturday morning workshop and a Sunday worship service. Additional workshops or discussion groups may also be held on Saturday, and the UUFD Religious Education leaders plan activities for the children that correspond with the adult program times. There is always some free time on Saturday as well as a social hour before the potluck dinner that evening. If weather conditions permit it, a campfire with marshmallow roasting and singing is held after the dinner.
Guest leaders/ministers for past retreats at Pine Song
1995 MDD District Executive Ken Wheeler and the Rev. Rick Klimowitz, DRE, First Unitarian Church, Albuquerque, NM
1996 MDD District Executive Ken Wheeler and the Rev. Katie Kandarian, newly ordained minister from the Denver area 1997 The Rev. Brandoch Lovely, retired, Pasadena, CA 1998 The Rev. Brandoch Lovely, retired, Pasadena, CA and his brother, the Rev. Rupert Lovely, Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, Palatine, IL 1999 The Rev. Laurel Hallman, First Unitarian Church, Dallas, TX 2000 The Rev. Michael Corrigan, DRE, First Unitarian Church, Denver, CO 2001 The Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, Traverse City, MI 2002 This retreat had to be canceled due to the Missionary Ridge Fire in the area. The Rev. Peter Morales, senior minister of Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO had been scheduled to be the guest minister. 2003 The Rev. Ellen Johnson-Fay, All Souls Unitarian Church, Colorado Springs, CO 2004 The Rev. Dennis Hamilton, Horizon Unitarian Church, Carrollton, TX |
2005 The Rev. Liz McMaster, retired, Albuquerque, NM
2006 The Rev. Michael Dowd and his wife Connie Barlow, who have an itinerant ministry dealing with education on evolution 2007 The Reverends James and Nan Hobart, retired, formerly of First Unitarian Church, Denver, CO and then associated with Meadville-Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL 2008 The Rev. Stephan Papa, Special Assistant to the President for Growth Funding at the UUA 2009 Dr. Charlie Clements, President and CEO of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee 2010 The Rev. Tim Worthington and his wife the Rev. Kathryn Timpany, UCC ministers from Sioux Falls, SD 2011 The Rev. Olivia Holmes, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, VT and Denny Davidoff, Senior Consultant and Director of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs for Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL, and former UUA Moderator. 2012 The Rev. Burton Carley, First Unitarian Church, aka Church of the River, Memphis, TN 2013 The Rev. Fred Wooden, Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids, MI |