Sunday Morning at Campground United Methodist Church

Sunday proved to be as beautiful as the rest of the week. Attendees commented frequently on just how cooperative the weather had been the entire Festival. Reverend Johnson and the congregation had invited attendees to service and those arriving walked through the warm sunlight into the bright and airy interior of Campground United Methodist Church. It was a pleasant service and featured a stirring and heartfelt rendition of "Blessed Assurance" by Lisa G.

After the service the kind folks at the church served a special luncheon. Tables groaned under the multitude of homemade foods - cakes and cookies, salads, sandwiches, casseroles and even punch. Attendees chatted together, and with the congregation of CGUMC and the meeting room was full of cheerful sounds. It was a wonderful treat by the congregation, deeply appreciated by those from ChristyFest™

After the bountiful feast, things moved back upstairs and all reached for their specially prepared ChristyFest™ Songbooks (prepared by Lisa G with assistance from Debbie R) and sang songs reminiscent of Christy as well as the legacy of fellowship ChristyFest™ has carried throughout the years. Lisa was convinced to sing an encore of "Blessed Assurance" and Pastor Bob Goossen gave an insightful sermon centering on the 2008 theme, A Journey of Faith. At the end, the final strains of "Amazing Grace" died off, leaving everyone happy and content in the moment. Some stayed and chatted for a bit before preparing for their afternoon activities, among them, the Hike with Mike.

Hike with Mike

Mike Hickman [Bird's-Eye Taylor] may not have been born in the mountains, but he loves them all the same. Greeting everyone at the rendezvous point with a big grin and an eager bearing, those attendees going were soon arranged into a caravan and given instructions on how to reach the area. Attendees old and new were looking forward to visiting the special trail and possibly venturing into the swimmin' hole, temperature of the water permitting.

Although called a "Hike" Mike tends to take us up a rather accessible trail which is full of vegetation and views of the water cascading over rocks, or slowly feeding into a pool, or accepting with a 'plunk' a rock tossed in by some person from the path. Butterflies, flowers, and a multitude of greenery filled the eyes. Attendees walked up the trail in shifting clusters, pausing to take photos or peruse the view, or play the new game, 'Spot the Lane' as Lane Batot trotted off the beaten path, making his own way up via the river. Darting from rock to rock with the grace of a mountain goat, Lane soon scrambled up the path, cooled and refreshed by the water before most of the attendees had their first shoe off.

It was a good year in terms of the numbers of people who decide to get in the water at the swimmin' hole. Lane, the first one in, was quite at home in the aquatic environment. Quite a few lasses braved the especially cool water, accompanied by shrieks and laughs. Special mention goes to Kay Ann S, who protests every year that the year before was her last year to get in - yet, with a bit of friendly cajoling, was soon submerged and chatting away with the other wet (yet refreshed) folk in the river. Others stuck in some toes, or legs, or just curious hands - perched on rocks or leaning against trees or staving off shivers in the water, everyone had a great time.

Some damp, all refreshed and amused, eventually the 2008 ChristyFest™ attendees began meandering back down the trail to the parking lot. Those who were now leaving Townsend stood around and talked with their friends, new and old. ChristyFest™ has many different meanings to each individual. The story of Christy was largely taken from the experiences of one woman, Leonora Whitaker Wood. Her daughter, Catherine Marshall, wrote her story, her journey. Years later, this novel and its film incarnations still bring many diverse people together for an entire Festival of fun and learning. It was definitely a Festival to remember!