Legend has it that the women of the church prepared the first men’s breakfast and then announced: “You’re on your own.”

For a quarter of a century it was the men’s ministry of Carmel Church.  Virtually all the men who were in leadership roles in the church were members of the group.  We call it a prayer group of recent years but in the beginning not so much so.

About thirty years ago, one morning there were twenty-five or so of us in attendance.   When prayer needs were requested, we struggled and finally found two: One of our members was traveling in Scotland and we prayed for him.  Montreat College had just finished work on the Belk Student Center and we prayed for the bricks and that was all we could think of to pray for.  Or rather if truth be told, that’s all we were willing to pray for out loud.

In that connection, there has been a complete metamorphosis and prayer has become a central part of the Monday men’s group.

In addition to being the men’s ministry of the church the group doubled in brass.  Most of us thought of the group as the pastor’s support group when Wendell Ligon was here.  Any need that the pastor had would normally be focused on by the men of the group.  As a matter of fact, we used that as a crutch to have fall and winter retreats at Wendell’s cabin in Franklin.

We would use Wendell’s cabin as an excuse for the retreat and claim that he needed some repairs to the roof or maybe a carpet in the second bedroom.  We pretended to work but in fact we were mostly enjoying the fellowship of a weekend together.

Wendell’s cabin could only sleep about eight.  The first couple of men got a bed.  The next got sofas.  Anybody beyond that had to find a good place for a sleeping bag.  It was usually Friday night fellowship, Saturday work day, Saturday night steak in town, and Sunday devotional.  That was the genesis for what we call the men’s retreat.

For about twenty-five years the only men’s retreats, men’s dinners, men’s Bible studies and other activities always started with the breakfast group.

The men take turn about with food preparation so the quality of the food on Monday mornings at 7:00am is uneven but the fellowship aspect is still strong and attention to prayer needs is now a central part of the men’s group.  If you have never visited, come on out on Monday morning at 7:00am at the church and literally take pot luck.

Paul Whitfield - 02/15/2010

We’ve been attending Carmel Presbyterian for many years now. During our first Thanksgiving, Wen Ligon, our pastor, told us about the traditional Thanksgiving service and the breakfast prepared by the men’s Monday breakfast prayer group. He cautioned us not to expect a lengthy service… it would only last “until the eggs were done.” Of course the way Wen put it was “until the ‘aiggs’ were done.”

 

Thanksgiving came and sure enough, after about 30 minutes, one of the cooks signaled from the back of the sanctuary. The service was quickly concluded, the final hymn sung and everyone adjourned to the fellowship hall where breakfast was served. This was my wife and daughters’ first introduction to the joys of scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits, stewed apples and grits. (I’m not sure all shared that joy!) Over the years, this has become a family Thanksgiving tradition.

Now I’m a part of the group that prepares the breakfast – another tradition started!

Please join this wonderful Carmel celebration each Thanksgiving morning.

 Ed Mitchell -- 10/18/2009