The Connection
St. Crispin's Conference Center and Camp
Newsletter February 2023
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Greetings from the Directors
Alton and Joy Belew
We are grateful for God's care and provision during the flood in Oakerhater Lodge. Progress is being made on the restoration and we will have partial use of the building by the end of March! Thank you to all who have prayed and been so supportive during this time!
Many first-time groups have made reservations for late spring and this coming fall! It is always so rewarding to share this wonderful place with new groups and see them come to love St. Crispin's as much as we do!
St. Crispin's Summer Camp 2023 is open for registration! See the link below for more information and to get your campers registered!
Welcome to two new staff members to St. Crispin's Staff! Larry Stiles is a long-time Seminole resident who brings years of food service experience to the Food Service team. He will serve as Assistant Food Service Manager. Marie Harjo, a resident of Wewoka, is joining our staff and has experience in housekeeping, and will be serving on the Accommodations, Food Service and Program teams. We are thankful for all the staff that serve tirelessly to provide our guests with great experiences!
It's been a great month for conferences and retreats and we're so thankful to have served the following groups:
Warriors' Rest, Jasmine Moran Children's Museum Staff, EPIOK Missional Cohort, EPIOK IONA, EPIOK Deacon's Retreat, St. John's Vestry, EPIOK New Beginnings, EPIOK ECW Winter Retreat.
Come see us! We would love to host your next retreat or conference!
|  | The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Deacons gathered at St. Crispin's for their annual Deacon's retreat! What a wonderful group of servants! | The Episcopal Church Women and Girls enjoyed a brisk hayride this past Saturday at their Winter Retreat, chauffeured by resident hayride expert and maintenance manager, Thomas Wind! |
ST. CRISPIN’S SUMMER CAMP
is now registering for Summer 2023!
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Friends of St. Crispin's are making a difference as they...
Pray - Share - Give
We are grateful for all who pray for St. Crispin's and share their lives as they come here.
Join us in praying for the following:
- A peaceful and life-changing experience for all who come to St. Crispin's.
- St. Crispin's Summer Camp as they begin registration for Summer 2023. (See LInk Above!)
- Direction and wisdom for the St. Crispin's Board of Directors.
- Restoration work being done in Oakerhater Lodge.
Counting our Blessings!
- The restoration work is going well in Oakerhater Lodge.
- Two new staff hired: Larry Stiles, Asst. Food Service Manager and Marie Harjo, Guest Services/Accommodations/Food Service Assistant.
- Conference/Retreat groups coming to St. Crispin's!
As you pray about your giving for 2023, would you consider giving a monthly gift to St. Crispin's? We can help set up an ACH to give the gift that keeps on giving!
Click the link below to give online.
Type "Friends" in the comment section.
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We've had requests for a portable keyboard...would you like to help?
Check out our Amazon Wish List
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Would you help provide 3 benches at the Waterfront for Summer Camp?
Campers and leaders need a place to sit and put on shoes and to rest a bit during their busy day!
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Opportunities for Support
St. Crispin's...Providing a
Peaceful Space!
We only need 6 more to reach our goal of 25 rockers!
Thanks so much for the following churches and individuals for providing rockers for our guests!
- Given by: Christ Church, Tulsa
- Given by: Michael and Suzanne Shepherd in honor of Megan Shepherd and her years at St. Crispin's
- Given by: St. Crispin's Staff
- Given by: All Saint's Miami, In Honor of the Rev. Kay Boman-Harvey in Thanksgiving for her ministry.
- Given by All Saints', Miami, In Honor of the Rev. Mary Susan Whaley in Thanksgiving for her ministry.
- Given with Thanksgiving from Rick and Angela Brewer.
- Given In Loving Memory of Lois Carter Clark.
- Given In Loving Memory of Emily Alexander Shurley.
- Given by OK Committee on Indian Ministry, In Memory of Reverend Deacon Jim Knowles, Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma
- Given by St. Paul's Holdenville, In Memory of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas H. William
- Given by St Paul’s Holdenville, in Memory of Camille June Gann
Faithful Servant
- Given by St. Paul's, Holdenville, In Memory of Fr. Harry Robinson and his contribution to St. Crispin's.
- Given by The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection.
- Given by The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, In Honor of Ann and David Zuk.
- Given by St. Thomas Episcopal Church - Pawhuska, in Memory of Strat and Bobbie Tolson.
New Rockers this month:
- Given by the Rev. Dion Crider in Thanksgiving for the IONA School of Formation.
- Given by Jeff and Laura Birk with Love and Thanksgiving for Fr. Nick and Teresa Phares
- Given on behalf St. James Church, Oklahoma City
- Given by All Saints' McAlester ECW
Would your family, your church, or your Summer Camp Alumni group consider donating $250 to provide one of these rockers?
You can designate a person, church or family to honor or memorialize, which will be engraved on a bronze plaque.
Other Opportunities to support St. Crispin's:
- Waterfront storage buildings to protect our lifejackets.
- St. Crispin's General Fund
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for these gifts!
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Blessed and Blessing...
St. Crispin's is blessed as we are getting new mattresses for the 22 rooms in Powell Lodge! The mattresses that have been there are good camp mattresses, but do not provide the comfort level that it's counterpart, Oakerhater Lodge provides.
St. Crispin's wants to be a blessing to someone who needs them. We would love to give these to a shelter or ministry that can use these mattresses. Please contact us if you know of a need.
We also have a good piano if you know of a church or ministry that needs one.
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We'd love to hear your "Connection to St. Crispin's" Story!
It is so encouraging to hear other's memories and how they connected with St. Crispin's! Please take a few minutes to share your story! We will feature stories in upcoming editions of The Connection newsletter.
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St. Crispin's would Love to Host your Spring Youth or Children's Retreat, Men's Retreat or Summer Camp in our Comfortable, Clean and Economical Cabins!
We want to invite you to St. Crispin’s for your next Youth or Children's group retreat, men's retreat, staff retreat, conference, or summer camp! Our cabins are clean, comfortable, economical and perfect for your youth or children's group! We are conveniently located one hour east of Oklahoma City and one and a half hours south of Tulsa. Our mission is to provide a peaceful space where people experience hospitality, nourishment, and growth. We pray that the Lord allows every guest we serve to experience this.
Free retreat for you and a guest!
For all new groups, we invite you and a guest to visit us and enjoy a free weeknight* stay in one of our lodge rooms. We will even throw in a continental breakfast!
Come hike our scenic trails, kayak on one of our beautiful lakes and enjoy a cup of coffee on our Dining Hall deck and drink in God’s creation! We would ask for a few minutes of your time to visit and show you around. If there is someone on your church staff that would be interested in visiting our facility, please pass this on to them as well.
Email joy@stcrispins.org to book your retreat or get more information!
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St. Crispin's Staff...
Providing a peaceful space where people experience hospitality, nourishment and an opportunity to grow in God's grace.
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Operations/Maintenance Team
L. to R. Miguel Vasqez, Josh Roberson, Operations Director, Joey Oxley, Thomas Wind, Maintenance Manager
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St. Crispin's Food Service Team
Back Row, L. to R. Elvin Spradling, Larry Stiles, Asst. Manager, Linda Ketcham, Kenneth Ross.
Front Row, l. to r.: Marie Harjo, Tori Helton, Manager, Manuel Musgrove.
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Accommodations Team
L. to R. Marie Harjo, Stephanie Walters, Heidi Little, Manager
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Guest Services Team
L. to R. Marie Harjo, Joy Belew, Director, Cassidy Carter
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