Shasta Camp Hires Sacramento Couple as New Hosts-Caretakers

1/12/2012


David and Cedar Moss, new hosts-caretakers at Shasta Camp. Photo by Carol Kern.

The United Methodist-owned Shasta Camp, in Northern California, welcomes the Rev. David and Cedar Moss as the new camp hosts/caretakers. 

Before joining Shasta Camp in August, the Mosses lived in Sacramento, where they worked with the homeless. Before Sacramento, Moss, a retired United Methodist pastor, served in ministry in Northern California at Trinity UMC in Chico, Pioneer UMC in Auburn, and Chester UMC.
 
David and Cedar have two sons: Gabriel, who lives and works in Sacramento, and Kabir, who lives in Boston and is planning soon to go into the Peace Corps. David also has two children from a previous marriage: John, a sociology professor at The University of Guam, and Erin, who lives in downtown Seattle.
 
Cedar plans to develop programs that groups who use the camp may add to their own programs, if they choose – such as: activities that will facilitate engaging with the natural world in an intentional and sacred way, expressive arts and crafts, group process, dream exploration, guided imagery and storytelling – telling stories, as well as helping others write their own  stories. She will develop programs tailored to a group's unique needs, as well. 
 
David Moss writes, "As winter sets in, we are beginning a period of hibernation; plenty of time for meditation, reflection, reading, and writing; all inward work, in this beautiful canyon by Scott Creek, as, all around us, Shasta Camp slowly turns into a white wonderland. There will be time to gaze at the fire, time to strap on our snowshoes or X-C skis, and enter the silence of the snows...
 
"God is love. God is the bestower of infinite grace. God is also creator of indescribable beauty, all a free gift to those who stop, look, listen, see...
 
"At Shasta Methodist Camp, love, grace, and beauty are merged in a symphony of praise to God in this ground made sacred by the hand of God. What a privilege to be here!"
 
The Mosses succeed Paul Armantrout, Shasta Camp host and caretaker for many years, who retired in June. Armantrout had been in residence year-round at the camp, and had survived two fires that destroyed his living quarters.

Comments

1. lily/larry loughlin wrote on 1/15/2012 1:12:22 PM
Congratulations! We know you will make it a wonderful place to retreat for young and older groups who want to pray, meditate and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings! lily/larry(TUMC)
2. Christopher Hull wrote on 1/15/2012 4:26:55 PM
Amazing timing! TUMC will be there this summer for its first big family camp in years! Let's set the dates!
3. Gary Estep wrote on 1/15/2012 4:36:15 PM
Bravo!!! What a perfect choice for Shasta Camp Caretakers. This is a blessing for everyone.
4. Ellen Rowan wrote on 1/15/2012 5:11:22 PM
I think this is a great appointment for you. Have a wonderful, magical winter!
5. Pam Beeman-Rabut wrote on 1/16/2012 9:49:09 AM
This sounds terrific! Will have to sign up for Trinity's summer camp. Blessings to Cedar and David!
6. Sandy Shepard wrote on 1/16/2012 1:56:09 PM
You are truly in God's country! Hope to see you there some time after the snow melts a bit.
7. Anna Farrell wrote on 1/16/2012 2:04:10 PM
I'm so happy to know you two will be the stewards of all that beauty. What a blessing for everyone!
8. Nancy Park wrote on 1/16/2012 3:19:25 PM
So great to see the photo of you two in your new environment. I think of you often and will get up to see you this spring - I promise!
9. Chaplain John & Ione Berger wrote on 1/16/2012 5:59:56 PM
May you know and feel the personal prayers we send your way for your stewardship oppprtunity at Shasta. Lord willing, we plan a personal visit when the snows clear.
10. Georgie Summers wrote on 1/16/2012 8:14:40 PM
David and Cedar--You are certainly in the right place to use your gifts and graces. Cedar, I'm pleased to see that you are planning to use your creative teaching methods to help the camping programs that will be coming there. Blessings on you both dear people.
11. Alison Maki wrote on 1/18/2012 1:56:47 AM
I am delighted to hear that you are in such a wonderful place, and I hope to visit you there soon. I went to that camp with my family when I was a teenager, and it inspired perhaps the most intense spiritual awakening of my life. I have always wanted to return to that magical place, now with Chris and our little nature girl, Anya "Goldie." We'll see you there!