Lake Junaluska Housing Reservations:

• Download our Annual Celebration Flyer 2023 for complete housing information!

COVID-19 Safety Measures

The health and safety of our members and attendees is a top priority for United Women in Faith. We all want to meet in person, and experience the special gift of sharing time together for our retreat. To do that, we will continue to lean into doing no harm, and making efforts to keep everyone safe. With that in mind, the following COVID-19 safety measures will be in place for our retreat. Please confirm below that you will follow our COVID-19 safety measures:

• Up to date COVID-19 Vaccinations are recommended (but not required) for all participants. Click to see CDC Guidelines related to being fully vaccinated and up to date.
• Mask wearing will be by personal choice for participants while inside buildings. Appropriate social distancing will be encouraged.
• Participants agree that they will stay home if they have any symptoms of illness, have tested positive, or have a known recent exposure.

Program Highlights:

Keynote Weekend Speaker:  Rev. Holly Cobb McKim, Pastor of Hudson UMC, in the Appalachian District

Mission Speaker: Julie Marie Wilson, Missionary, Open Arms Community Center, Winston Salem

Music Leaders: Dr. Craig Estep & Catherine Ritch

Other highlights:

• Workshops
• Hosting Missionaries for Lunch
• Saturday Night Entertainment
• United Women in Faith Choir
• Fellowship with your United Women in Faith Sisters
• Inspiration Point, Rose Walk, Susanna Wesley Garden, Biblical Garden, Corneille Bryan Native Garden, Lakeside Walking Trail

Hostess District:  Yadkin Valley

Keynote Speaker:
Rev. Holly Cobb McKim
Pastor, Hudson UMC, Appalachian District

Rev. Holly Cobb McKim has been in vocational ministry since 2005. Holly was born in Greensboro, NC and grew up on the family farm in rural Ruffin in Rockingham County. It was at her home church, Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, where she received her call into pastoral ministry in 1981. A self proclaimed “late bloomer” Holly answered God’s call in January 2002. She has been married to Rev. Dana McKim for four years. Between them, Dana and Holly have four adult children, two daughter in love, two sugar gliders, two churches, one beautiful beagle and one gorgeous granddaughter, and “a partridge in a pear tree”. Holly’s passions for ministry are preaching the Gospel, serving in the community of Caldwell County on The Smart Start Board and The Caldwell County Clergy Crisis Support Team. Holly has served with the wonderful people of Hudson United Methodist Church for 10 years; a Lighthouse Congregration

Mission Speaker:
Julie Marie Wilson
Missionary, Open Arms Community Center, Winston Salem
Read more about Julie!

Julie Marie Wilson is a missionary with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, serving as Church and Community Worker. She serves as Open Arms Community Center program coordinator in Winston- Salem, North Carolina.
Julie grew up in Vermont. She is a deacon in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. She is married to the Rev. Heath Wilson; they have an adult son.

She holds three degrees: Bachelor of Science in biology and secondary education; Master of Education with a focus on diversity issues; and Master of Divinity, plus certification in urban ministry. She is studying for a Doctor in Ministry at Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Julie’s love of diversity also drove her passion to pursue experiences in her faith walk and her educational and professional life that challenged and stretched her. “My drive for ministries of justice and compassion,” she continued, “led me toward ordained ministry as a deacon. The more time I spend with the people of God, the more I want to explore the nature of God and the many ways one can encounter the Almighty.”

Serving as a church and community worker allows Julie to “help those who are hurting, those who are looked down upon by society, those who have been treated unjustly and those who simply need to know that someone loves and cares for them,” she said. She believes that every opportunity that she has had over the years is being woven into a tapestry of preparation for wherever God is calling her to serve. “I am so excited to see what God has planned!” she added.

Our music leaders for 2023 will be: Dr. Craig Estep & Catherine Ritch

Dr. Craig Estep

Graduating from Pfeiffer University with a BA in Music Education with a concentration in choral conducting and Winthrop University with a MMA in vocal performance, William “Craig” Estep has extensive experience on the professional opera and concert circuit. A young artist with the San Francisco Opera Company from 1987-1995, Craig has performed many leading roles with the company that launched his international operatic career.

As a second career, Craig took on the baton and is now behind the podium. From 2006 to 2020 he conducted a 65-member high school choir at Charlotte Latin School, where his choir brought home superior ratings every year in the MPA choral adjudications held annually by the NC Music Educators Association.

Craig has been a United Methodist all his life, having a grandfather that served as a pastor in the West Virginia Conference. Ironically, he received a scholarship to Pfeiffer from the United Methodist Women in 1979. He served two stints as music director at Weddington United Methodist Church and he is now the Director of Music and Worship Arts at Matthews United Methodist Church in Matthews, North Carolina, where he has been a member since 2002.

Catherine Ritch

Catherine Ritch, a native of Matthews, NC, is a published composer and author of inspirational fiction, non-fiction and children’s books with 27 books currently in print, and 7 others currently in process. A frequent speaker/musician in a variety of venues, she has entertained or spoken for audiences around the globe. She was selected as the International Profile of The United Methodist Church for September 2009 because of her continual work and efforts with missions for schools in areas of natural disasters.

A radio personality once said of Ritch, “Catherine’s lightning quick wit and musical talent are
astonishing enough, but combined with her never ending source of positive energy, the woman is a ball of fire that’s sure to inspire.” Put Catherine on a piano, organ or keyboard and from Bach to Broadway to Boogie to the Best of Gospel, she’ll have the audience enthralled with the rhythms of life.

One of Catherine’s most fun ventures is a comedy series featuring Miz Eudora Rumph of Smackass
Gap, NC, which happens to be a real place (where Methodists have The Hinton Retreat Center). Dressed as Miz Eudora, she has entertained doctors and medical personnel, ministers and bishops, teachers and various other groups with “Laughter Is the Best Medicine” through the simple mountain wit and wisdom of her Appalachian grandmother. In Catherine’s words, “People in today’s society take themselves way too seriously or get caught up in unnecessary stresses. A good dose of Miz Eudora is a cure for all that ails you, and also for that which don’t!”

Catherine has been introduced as an author, composer, comedienne, entertainer, teacher, musician,
inspirational/motivational speaker, and volunteer-in-mission, but her favorite way to be acknowledged is “friend.”

Hands On Mission – Annual Celebration 2023:

• Our Hands-On Mission Opportunity for the 2023 Annual Celebration will be: UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kits.
  • UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kits provide basic necessities to support vulnerable menstruating populations. Menstrual Hygiene Kits are distributed during disasters, whether socio-economic or as the result of a natural occurrence.
    • Kit Value: $24 per kit
    • Download: Info / Packing list Sheet | UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit Assembly Instructions and Information | UMCOR article about the NEW Menstrual Hygiene Kits
• Project Agape Christmas Boxes for Children in Armenia
  • See packing list for both male and female children/youth of various ages
  • Download Project Agape Packing List
• Gift to Mission Cards – A Gift to Mission card honors someone in her or his name with an undesignated Gift to Mission of at least $5.00. Gift to Mission is one of the five channels of Mission Giving. Mission Giving supports the total program of mission carried out by United Women in Faith. With your gift, you honor someone, and you make a difference in the lives of women, children, and youth…around the world. Gift to Mission cards will be available in the registration room during Annual Meeting. [More information about Gift to Mission Cards] Celebrate someone special, brighten someone’s day, say thank you…send a Gift to Mission card!
• Gift in Memory Cards – A Gift in Memory honors the memory of a much-loved family member or friend by making possible additional mission work in the United States and around the world. Gift in Memory cards represent a gift of a minimum of $5.00. The cards can be obtained for free, so that they are readily available when needed. [More about Gift in Memory]

UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit Assembly from Global Ministries on Vimeo.

Other Information

• Registration will open at 2:00pm, in Harrell Center.
• Check in time at the Lake hotels is 4:00pm. You are encouraged to register before going to your accommodations, especially if you are arriving before 4:00PM.
• Singing will begin 15 minutes before each session.
• Again in 2023: Lunch on Sunday will NOT be included in the meal plan.
• Dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes. Bring a warm sweater and rain gear, just in case the weather is cool or rainy.
• Emergency Telephone Number: The Assembly’s switchboard number is 828-452-2881. Please leave this number with your family in case of an emergency.

Lake Junaluska is a beautiful place where you can spend some quiet time in reflection, study, and prayer with your United Women in Faith sisters.

Other Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Reflection During Your Stay:

• The Memorial Chapel will be available for personal prayer time.
• The Susanna Wesley Gardens
• The International Prayer Room
• The Junaluska Cross
• Walking by the lake and enjoying the roses.