Sky Lake Winter Retreat
       It may still be summer, however, in just a couple of months you'll be tired of the cold of winter. I have a sure remedy to all! "Sky Lake Retreat 2006" No matter how cold it is outside, inside it is warm and cozy. Last year we arrived on Friday night with the threat of a winter blizzard approaching on Saturday. The temperature was a brisk minus 10 degrees and dropped to minus 12 degrees overnight. (You read that right --- MINUS ---.) The snow started sometime in the morning on Saturday and continued into Sunday morning. The official depth check of the snow was 14 inches as measured by our own official weather watcher Ken Taylor. It may seem to be too cold for a penguin, but not for the United Methodist Church from Peckville. We have established a reputation with the Staff at Sky Lake. When the weather gets bad or is predicted to get bad, the staff doesn't wonder if Peckville will arrive, they wonder how they will get there to prepare our meals. It has never been too cold for us not to get WARM. We have enjoyed the companionship of friends and family as taught by Jesus. We have felt the warmth and presence of a loving and living God through each other and mostly from the children that have experienced the retreat for many years. We have had Bible lessons, plays, songs, fellowship and Youth lead Sunday Services. We experienced the great "outdoor sanctuary" of God's creation, skating on the ice, walking on the path around the shore of the lake, taking the paths through the wood, and wildlife. We have felt the thrill of gliding across the ice on skates and the chill of snow down our back. We have enjoyed sitting down with our feet upon a chair in front of the fireplace and watching the little children, and sometime the not so little, singing to Karaoke. We have enjoyed the solitude in the library while watching out the glass doors at the children playing in the snow, just sitting and thinking "how wonderful this world is, Thank you God.". We have all forgotten our special diets on this retreat. There are usually two or three tables set up all the time with anything from fruit, cookies, chips and "s'more". I cannot tell you what a s'more is, you'll have to come and find out. You may like the simple feeling of not having to cook any meals!!!!! The staff cooks all meals and all we do is serve the food. Everyone takes a turn to be a cruiser (waiter) for a meal. Every age takes a turn.Think your too young or think too old, don't worry you get help from another or everyone at the table. A real sense of helping to serve each other by both giving and receiving. Those in attendance have ranges as young as 3 years old and as young at heart as 90+. I think everyone that goes forgets their age and feels like a child.

     This year the date is January 6-8, 2006. I did not get the contract yet it will be coming in October, so I don't know the price yet. The price last year was $65 for adults and $32.50 for children. I don't think it will go up much this year. Any age is welcome to join. Only request is any student under seventh grade must have an adult go along. Anyone wishing to go please contact me, Ron Lucas or Karen Lucas, as soon as possible. Any questions give us a call or ask anyone who has a smile when you mention Sky Lake Retreat. The UMYF hoagie sales help pay for any active youth and child. Anyone who would like to go but can't afford it, can contact Pastor Sharon or Ron, there is a special anonymous fund to help if it can. I also take anonymous donations for this cause. It has been used in the past and is greatly appreciated by all concerned.

Well, what can I say? The price of the "Sky Lake Retreat 2006" is around $65.00.
To experience what is in the above -------"PRICELESS"

God bless and hope to see you there,
Friend in Christ, Ron