by Lynda Hambourger
Spiritfest, UUFR’s annual all-congregation retreat, this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2014, many UUFR members of all ages have enjoyed this event on Labor Day weekends. This year, as in most years in the past, it is being held at Camp Rockfish, a retreat center outside of Fayetteville.
Since its inception Sara Grover has been the chief organizer of Spiritfest. She notes that it began with an idea from Tryst Chagnon, former UUFR Youth Religious Education Director, and was originally held at The Mountain, the UU retreat center in Highlands, NC.
But the distance to The Mountain from Raleigh limited attendance, and a much closer and very beautiful site was found at Camp Rockfish.
According to Sara, over the years people have engaged in many activities at Spiritfest, including boating, swimming, archery, mudwalks, drumming, storytelling, folk dancing, birdwatching, yoga, meditation, stargazing, and writing, music and crafting workshops. And of course, just sitting on the porch.
Every year there is a cabaret/talent show where UUFR members, young and old, get to perform and display their unique gifts.
Sara gives credit for organizing Spiritfest to these Spiritfest Team members from past years: Art Lieberman, Ashley Greene, Laura Donnelly, Richard Kevin, Jane Hunt, Jenn Quirk, Brian Overton, Myra Cosineau, Margit Sande-Kerback, Shannon Sermons, and Rhonda Pyatt.
