Mark your calendar: Homecoming 2002 A Mid-Atlantic Celebration Cultivating Hope and Courage Saturday, September 28 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

The big white tent is becoming a familiar symbol of Homecoming. It is the first thing you notice upon entering the grounds. It is set among the trees at the far end of the wide green lawn with the Lodge and guest houses off to the right, and it beckons to you to come and see what’s up. Under its shelter Thomas Potter (Nelson Simonson) himself welcomed the crowd to his home, and Rev. John Murray (Rev. John Morgan) joined his friend as they spoke about the significance of their meeting in 2001 and what has changed and stayed the same in the world. It’s there that a day full of soulful music began, workshops were held, and the popular womens’ a cappella group Olympia’s Daughters presented their “gospel” concert. On and off the tent’s stage, which was positioned in the center of a semi-circle of seated and standing listeners, UU ministers Revs. Harry Green, Jaco ten Hove, Richard Speck, Barbara Wells and Lisa Ward brought the day to a close with a tent revival that this year addressed different aspects of UUism, Universalism and the theme of Belonging. It is in the tent that a choir of nearly 40 people from at least a dozen different congregations came together under the direction of Roberta Wallis and sang their hearts out on three musical selections from Spanish, South African and American traditions.

After the Opening, lively inter-generational teams rushed about clutching clues in the form of riddles that led them to various locations where questions awaited them that led them to the next spot, until at the end all the collected words were put in order to discover what the winning sentence was. At the same time, Potter and Murray were having a talk and a worship service with some folks in the historic Potter Chapel, and a tour was going on that unveiled and explained our new outdoor historic Walking Tour. In the afternoon following lunch, while a group took an ecological hike down the Nature Trail, there was a reprise of the Walking Tour, more choir rehearsal, and a large group gathered around the fire in the Fireside Room to discuss appropriate responses to the looming national and world crisis. All the while, crafts and banner-making were offered in the Cone House, and peace banners were created and tied to the trees in front of the Lodge. It was quite a day!

Next year’s theme will be “Cultivating Hope and Courage”. Don’t miss it! You never know who or what you’ll find when a bunch of UU’s come together in contemplation and celebration!

Mission Statement The mission of the Murray Grove Association is to: promote the principles and purposes of Unitarian Universalism; provide facilities for meetings, conferences, retreats and recreation for its members, for persons affiliated with Unitarian Universalism, and for the general public; preserve the heritage of the historical birthplace of Universalism in America as a memorial to the life and labor of Thomas Potter and John Murray; provide a spiritual and moral presence in the larger community ..

The Valley Retreat Center at de Benneville Farm In June, 2001, at a meeting held at the First UU Church Berks County in Reading, PA, the torch of organizing and leading the effort to purchase the de Benneville Farm for the purpose of creating a new UU retreat center was passed to the Board of Trustees of the newly created de Benneville Heritage Foundation, Inc. It is comprised of people in the area and in the districts who are passionate about the project and the promise it represents, including Rev. Duane Fickeisen of the UUs of the Cumberland Valley, president, Steve DeBroux of Berks County, vice president, David Chandler of Main Line, treasurer, former BuxMont minister Rev. Libby Smith, secretary and Jim Hufford and Rev. John Morgan of Berks County. They are now actively spreading the word and raising funds for the realization of this dream. Anyone interested in more information or wishing to contribute to the effort, please contact Duane Fickeisen at dfickeisen@earthlink.net or 717-241-0410.

The Murray Grove Association is supported entirely by contributions, membership, income and endowments. It is an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association and a member of the Council of Unitarian Universalist Camps and Conferences.