One Guest Shares Her Story of Joy, Connection and Home
From Karen Hand, Director Lake Huron Retreat Center
As I welcomed guests to Lake Huron Retreat Center recently, one guest said she remembers coming to camp here in her teens. So, I asked her to share her memories with me. It’s our 80th year of ministry at Lake Huron Retreat Center, it is my pleasure to hear stories about this special place along the lakeshore.
Jackie shares her lifetime of memories at Lake Huron Retreat Center.
Jackie Holdsworth, who resides at Chelsea Retirement Community, shared that her first experience at Lake Huron was with Birmingham First UMC for weekends, at mid-winter weekends that the Michigan Conference offered, and at “institute” style summer camps.
At high school camp, she made good friends, enjoyed a sense of freedom and being herself more here than back at school. She felt inspired during camp here by a teacher from Detroit named Elnita Cooper, who led singing at World Friendship Camp. Jackie told me that she felt these were formative experi-ences as religion wasn’t pushed down her throat. The keynote speakers, she explained, asked questions and made you think about what you were going to do with your life.
Jackie returned to the lakeshore for conference youth training, so she could serve as a district officer, and later as a counselor for fourth graders. Over time, she brought groups from the churches she served as an elder. Jackie has even attended Lakeshore Interlude with her neighbors from Chelsea Retirement Community. Her recent visit was as a candidate’s support person as they went through interviews with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
Jackie’s favorite memory of this special place? Getting married to John Kershaw in the chapel with family and friends gathered.
We’d love to hear your story about Lake Huron Retreat Center. Submit your story online or by email.
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