Family day was a big hit with lots of outdoor games, lunch and inflatable bounce houses for the little ones. Friday evening there was a Bible study with facilitators leading round table style discussions on various strategies for helping to bring about peace and a healthy environment for spiritual growth within our congregations.

This year a hospitality room was set aside for families almost every day of the Feast before services. Kids enjoyed some fun toys and activities which also gave the parents an opportunity to know other families. Preteens also had the opportunity to participate in a scripture memory challenge throughout the Feast. The children would collect scripture cards to add to their individual lanyards by reciting the preselected scriptures to our elders and leaders from memory. Some collected all 15 scripture cards!

Other highlights were service projects where about 70 brethren came together one afternoon to either pick up litter to help keep it out of the waterways or to help improve the Lake Junaluska campus flower beds. Lake Junaluska Conference Center relies on volunteers to help upkeep the landscaping and they were grateful for our help.  The afternoon was a nice opportunity to shine our light to the community and to work together while reflecting on our future role in helping restore the earth. Throughout the Feast, members also donated over $600 and many boxes full of non-perishable food for a local food bank which was received with much thankfulness.   

Overall, this was a Feast of warm fellowship, togetherness, service, inspiration and encouragement!