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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    Perspectives: Retreat Reflections

    Perspectives: “Retreat Reflections”

    Retreat Reflections: Tending the Soul at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center

    November 21, 2018 / By Nancy Dibelius

    In 2011, as the Director of Tending the Soul, the Conference training program in spiritual direction, I was exploring new retreat center locations for the next session which was scheduled to begin in October 2012.  As I was standing in line at Annual Conference that year, I found myself standing next to Mike Huber (The Upper New York Conference Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries), someone I did not know at …more

    Retreat Reflections: Ladies of the Lake Retreat at Sky Lake

    November 20, 2018 / By Nancy Stockholm

    Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center is my happy place. I have been going to Ladies of the Lake for many years and each year I say, "this was the best year yet" and then the next year it's even better! The Ladies of the Lake Retreat gives you the opportunity to celebrate your connection with God as a group and in solitude. We can be busy all weekend …more

    Retreat Reflections: Our Lady of Lourdes Hospice Business Training

    November 19, 2018 / By Bettye Canestaro

    We, at Lourdes Hospice and Lourdes at Home, have scheduled our staff and volunteer daytime retreats at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center for 10 years. We schedule retreats for both our staff and volunteers to be a source of inspiration and introduce some peace into the work life. We have found Sky Lake a perfect location with its respite, peace, and quietness. We have always gathered at Founder’s …more

    Retreat Reflections: Many times, I’ve retreated at Asbury

    November 15, 2018 / By Carolyn Wrinn

    Asbury Retreat Center is a beautiful place and though I have been there every season, I think I like fall the best. The woods full of color; the leaves crunching under your feet. It is quiet, peaceful, spiritual … where you can connect with nature and converse with God. This place has been important to me for many years … my first camp experience as a teenager, many visits with …more

    Retreat Reflections: Quilt by Faith at Casowasco

    November 13, 2018 / By Brenda Swanson

    Four years ago, friends of mine encouraged me to sign up for a “Quilt by Faith” retreat at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. I attended church camp there for several years when I was younger and knew how beautiful it was. Even though I was not a “quilter,” I decided to sign up. I had no intentions of sewing or doing any of the projects. However, …more

    Retreat Reflections: Trinity Grand Island UMC’s Retreats

    November 8, 2018 / By Kathy DeGlopper

    The lakeside setting at Asbury Retreat Center is the ideal place for a craft retreat. The Trinity Grand Island UMC’s Crafters have been enjoying our retreats there since 2015. Asbury is a gorgeous rustic setting by Silver Lake with small rolling hills for walks and hikes. It is a picturesque place to watch the seasons change. We usually stay two to four nights. The Manor, where our group stays, …more

    Retreat Reflections: SOLID Youth Retreats (True Confessions of a Youth Minister)

    November 6, 2018 / By Mike Mullin

    My name is Mike Mullin, and I am the Minister for Youth and Discipleship at Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY. I started at Asbury First about five years ago, and at that time, the senior high youth already had an established self-led January retreat at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. And as much as I like having full control over a retreat, I decided to see what …more

    Retreat Reflections: Royal Family Kids Camp

    November 2, 2018 / By Nancy Murphy

    Houghton Royal Family Kids Camp* has been hosting campers ages 6 - 12 at Asbury Retreat Center. By providing one week of summer camp to 52 children from difficult family/home backgrounds in mid-July for the last 25 years, we have committed together in realizing the vision of Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC) which is, “Creating positive, life-changing moments for innocent children who have been victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment.”  …more

    Retreat Reflections: The Sewing Room Retreats at Sky Lake

    October 30, 2018 / By Wendy Fairchild and Brenda Contento

    In March of 2008, we had our first retreat at Sky Lake. While our group is called “The Sewing Room,” many of our friends are crafters, not necessarily quilters/sewists, so the mix is a bit different than a traditional quilters-only retreat. We have become a close-knit group and are often asked by others how they can become part of our group, or how to begin a group of …more

    Retreat Reflections: The Women’s Chocolate Getaway at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center

    October 23, 2018 / By Karin Cockram

    “Welcome Home.” That is the greeting that a person receives as he or she arrives at Casowasco, and it is a perfect welcome for this camp and retreat center. Although I have had a wide variety of experiences there, I was asked specifically to write about the Women’s Chocolate Getaway Retreat which is held at the site, annually, the first weekend of March. The Women …more


    United Methodists of Upper New York is comprised of a vibrant network of 677 local churches and active new faith communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."