Dear CedarS Newsletter family of friends,
We invite you to join as a family in going to God on this Mother's Day and beyond to meet with and daily celebrate Ruth Huff, my amazing mom who (at 98) just recently “changed her address” as she would say. As Mary Baker Eddy says: “Where God is we can meet, and where God is we can never part” (My 131:20-21). So, just because CedarS Camps cherished Founder chose to quickly and quietly “step off” this planet, doesn't mean her adoring family and friends, and the many admirers of her fun-loving, generous spirit, need to feel without her wit, warmth and love or go through any grief of separation. At the passing of others Mom always chose to stay far from grief. At CedarS Hymn Sings Ruth always sang with gusto one of her favorites that says:
“From tired joy and grief afar,
and nearer Thee,–
Father where Thine own children are
I love to be.” (“Christ My Refuge”, 257)
Father where Thine own children are
I love to be.” (“Christ My Refuge”, 257)
Ruth loved to be at CedarS and always will be there with God's own children, drawing ever closer to our true Father-Mother as we live her “living to give” spirit that make it “the happiest place on earth”. Last summer, the 50th since she founded CedarS, Ruth helped to call every Square Dance with pure joy and vigor. She invites us to always choose to join her in the joy of such giving. Much like the “Whos down in (Dr. Seuss') Whoville” who awoke on Christmas morning without any physical presents, we are awaking without her physical presence. Like the Whos, we can join hand-in-hand in singing and in her praises by living the true meaning of her life work. We can unselfishly “pay it forward” by doing “daily good… to Thine for Thee” (as stated in the closing of Hymn 257 below):
“My prayer, some daily good to do
To Thine, for Thee;
An offering pure of Love, whereto
God leadeth me.”
To Thine, for Thee;
An offering pure of Love, whereto
God leadeth me.”
The unselfish, bright light of Ruth's life and of the spiritual sense that she lived to give can never be put out, but will be forever celebrated as we help to pass it along to each new generation. Ruth and I had the joy this week of reading the lesson together (what a treat!) We specifically discuss the 6th section as it applies to Mother's Day. Citation B20 starts the section with the promise of this divine comfort –“as one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” (Isa. 66:13). We also talked about the Bible event at Nain of Jesus giving the best Mother's Day gift — a resurrected son “delivered … to his mother”. By that act Jesus showed us that children are eternally connected to their parents in ways that can continue to bless all parties. (Luke 7:11, B22) The best Mother's Day gift we can give to our Mothers today is to be children who are fully alive to our divinely natural joy and nature.
No public service, but a memorial webpage planned:
Although private services for her immediate family are being held before CedarS 51st season as Ruth wished, her family warmly welcomes written and financial contributions from all who wish to celebrate her by paying tribute to her and her life work. We are very grateful that at last summer's CedarS Jubilee Ruth got to hear from hundreds and hundreds of alumni their testimonials of how much impact her 98 years and 50 full summers at CedarS had on so many friends. We are creating a permanent webpage on CedarS website, “Remembering Ruth” that will feature a collection of the best tributes (with or without names as you wish.) In the interim, comments can be either emailed to warren@cedarscamps.org or posted on CedarS Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cedarscamps
No public service, but a memorial webpage planned:
Although private services for her immediate family are being held before CedarS 51st season as Ruth wished, her family warmly welcomes written and financial contributions from all who wish to celebrate her by paying tribute to her and her life work. We are very grateful that at last summer's CedarS Jubilee Ruth got to hear from hundreds and hundreds of alumni their testimonials of how much impact her 98 years and 50 full summers at CedarS had on so many friends. We are creating a permanent webpage on CedarS website, “Remembering Ruth” that will feature a collection of the best tributes (with or without names as you wish.) In the interim, comments can be either emailed to warren@cedarscamps.org or posted on CedarS Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cedarscamps
Instead of spending for flower or travel, gift for camperships or “Ruth's Run” (“R2”):
At CedarS Jubilee Ruth got a beautiful bouquet of 50 yellow roses to honor her life achievement. Spear-headed by a Matching Grant to further her legacy, CedarS Board, started a “Ruth Huff, Founder's Campership Endowment Fund”. Sending a gift to that fund in lieu of sending more flowers, will support Ruth's enduring love of CedarS and will bring to full bloom in coming generations of Christian Scientists and Bible-lovers (of all ages) the perpetual petals of “an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activity.” (Ruth's stated purpose of CedarS)
At CedarS Jubilee Ruth got a beautiful bouquet of 50 yellow roses to honor her life achievement. Spear-headed by a Matching Grant to further her legacy, CedarS Board, started a “Ruth Huff, Founder's Campership Endowment Fund”. Sending a gift to that fund in lieu of sending more flowers, will support Ruth's enduring love of CedarS and will bring to full bloom in coming generations of Christian Scientists and Bible-lovers (of all ages) the perpetual petals of “an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activity.” (Ruth's stated purpose of CedarS)
“R2” or “Ruth's Run” will be a fun “Back to the Bible”, year-round activity:
Side-by-side zipline rides named after Ruth will take hundreds of children of all ages each day to CedarS Bible Lands Park. Its metaphysical foundation comes from this passage in “Pond and Purpose” by Mary Baker Eddy that was one of Mom's favorites and that is comforting us about her “transition to a new address”: “The encumberingmortal molecules, called man, vanish as a dream; but man [Ruth], born of the great Forever, lives on, God-crowned and blest. Mortals who on the shores of time learn Christian Science, and live what they learn, take rapid transit to heaven…” (Miscellaneous Writings 205:28) Mom especially liked my linking of the “rapid transit to heaven” with the two parallel ziplines planned to go from “Mary's Chapel” campfire to CedarS Bible Lands Park (CBLP) and its heavenly life-lessons. She recently gave a hearty “thumbs-up” to my proposal to name one of the ziplines “Ruth's Rapid Ride” (or “R3”) and the other as “Ruth's Run” (“R2”). “R3” is being funded by her children and a close friend. “R2” funding is up to Ruth's fans. This activity, its funding and naming seem “altogether fitting and proper” given Ruth's three cherished tours to Israel with Cobbey Crisler groups. On her third and last trip she showed her spunky spirit by arranging to surprise the group with a special “spiritual a-ha moment” by catching up with them in Bethany at Lazarus' tomb. On Cobbey's loud, call of the Christ to “Come forth”, Ruth did so, wrapped head to foot in a bed sheet! So we invite you to help us underwrite this activity as a way to have regular fun, reminders of her legacy of quickly going to the Bible for every major decision to seek its divine guidance and its spiritual sense examples of answered prayer. The ride will land near a large rock engraved with the 1st important point or tenet of Christian Science: “As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.” (Science & Health 497) The Biblical basis and life implications of each tenet of Christian Science will be shown on the Time Travelers Trail as time travelers climb up granite risers of Bible characters arranged chronologically from Abraham to Jesus to Paul and the apostles, and then from a platform at the base of 3 crosses across Crown Lake to a crown over an open tomb with the message: “He is Risen!”
Side-by-side zipline rides named after Ruth will take hundreds of children of all ages each day to CedarS Bible Lands Park. Its metaphysical foundation comes from this passage in “Pond and Purpose” by Mary Baker Eddy that was one of Mom's favorites and that is comforting us about her “transition to a new address”: “The encumberingmortal molecules, called man, vanish as a dream; but man [Ruth], born of the great Forever, lives on, God-crowned and blest. Mortals who on the shores of time learn Christian Science, and live what they learn, take rapid transit to heaven…” (Miscellaneous Writings 205:28) Mom especially liked my linking of the “rapid transit to heaven” with the two parallel ziplines planned to go from “Mary's Chapel” campfire to CedarS Bible Lands Park (CBLP) and its heavenly life-lessons. She recently gave a hearty “thumbs-up” to my proposal to name one of the ziplines “Ruth's Rapid Ride” (or “R3”) and the other as “Ruth's Run” (“R2”). “R3” is being funded by her children and a close friend. “R2” funding is up to Ruth's fans. This activity, its funding and naming seem “altogether fitting and proper” given Ruth's three cherished tours to Israel with Cobbey Crisler groups. On her third and last trip she showed her spunky spirit by arranging to surprise the group with a special “spiritual a-ha moment” by catching up with them in Bethany at Lazarus' tomb. On Cobbey's loud, call of the Christ to “Come forth”, Ruth did so, wrapped head to foot in a bed sheet! So we invite you to help us underwrite this activity as a way to have regular fun, reminders of her legacy of quickly going to the Bible for every major decision to seek its divine guidance and its spiritual sense examples of answered prayer. The ride will land near a large rock engraved with the 1st important point or tenet of Christian Science: “As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.” (Science & Health 497) The Biblical basis and life implications of each tenet of Christian Science will be shown on the Time Travelers Trail as time travelers climb up granite risers of Bible characters arranged chronologically from Abraham to Jesus to Paul and the apostles, and then from a platform at the base of 3 crosses across Crown Lake to a crown over an open tomb with the message: “He is Risen!”
To close here are a couple more of Ruth's favorite lines from ymns that we can sing in our lives:
“For all of good the past hath had
Remains to make our own time glad,
Our common, daily life divine,
And every land a Palestine.” (238:2)
Remains to make our own time glad,
Our common, daily life divine,
And every land a Palestine.” (238:2)
“I awake each morn to a brand-new day,
Singing Hallelujah! as I go on my way,
For my heart is fixed on this one guarantee:
The Love that is All holds me tenderly.” (445:1)
Singing Hallelujah! as I go on my way,
For my heart is fixed on this one guarantee:
The Love that is All holds me tenderly.” (445:1)
With immense gratitude, new inspiration and infinite love,
Warren
Warren Huff, Executive Director
The CedarS Camps
Website: www.cedarscamps.org
Email: warren@cedarscamps.org
Tel: (636) 394-6162
Fax: (775) 264-6826
The CedarS Camps
Website: www.cedarscamps.org
Email: warren@cedarscamps.org
Tel: (636) 394-6162
Fax: (775) 264-6826
PS Here's an email passage from Rick Stewart, CS in Germany yesterday before he knew of Mom's passing:
“When a hope, a vision, a dream came to Ruth Huff as a girl scout she was a “non-Scientist.” She was not yet a student of Christian Science. But she dreamed of sharing the glimpse of nature's beauty with all. And as she found Christian Science as a teenager, lived this Science, and founded CedarS each step was a demonstration of the Infinite. As I have thought about Ruth's formulation of CedarS purpose and fundamentals I have sensed that it was clearly not a parochial or denominational vision. Instead I find myself thinking in terms or “Christian Science” or “the Christian Science movement” as our Leader identifies, “God's right hand grasping the universe,” “the laws of Life, Truth, and Love.” I keep reminding myself that we are not drawing our campers or staff from a “limited” pool of Christian Scientists. And we are not dipping from a limited pool of Christian Science supporters for our supply. We are lifting our hearts to the great heart of divinity and we are finding the receptive hearts that will be blessed by CedarS. What a joy it is to read the purpose and fundamentals of CedarS with the unlimited vision of Ruth and of course our Leader. No limits, no barriers, no lack in the Infinite.
“When a hope, a vision, a dream came to Ruth Huff as a girl scout she was a “non-Scientist.” She was not yet a student of Christian Science. But she dreamed of sharing the glimpse of nature's beauty with all. And as she found Christian Science as a teenager, lived this Science, and founded CedarS each step was a demonstration of the Infinite. As I have thought about Ruth's formulation of CedarS purpose and fundamentals I have sensed that it was clearly not a parochial or denominational vision. Instead I find myself thinking in terms or “Christian Science” or “the Christian Science movement” as our Leader identifies, “God's right hand grasping the universe,” “the laws of Life, Truth, and Love.” I keep reminding myself that we are not drawing our campers or staff from a “limited” pool of Christian Scientists. And we are not dipping from a limited pool of Christian Science supporters for our supply. We are lifting our hearts to the great heart of divinity and we are finding the receptive hearts that will be blessed by CedarS. What a joy it is to read the purpose and fundamentals of CedarS with the unlimited vision of Ruth and of course our Leader. No limits, no barriers, no lack in the Infinite.
CedarS' Purpose & Five Fundamental Concepts (from Founder Ruth E. Huff)
“The Purpose of The CedarS is to give each camper an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activity.”
The Five Fundamental Concepts of CedarS are:
1. We regard each individual at camp as a child of God, who reflects alertness, joy, peace, ability, love…
2. We respect each individual Christian Science young person as a future active worker in the Christian Science movement.
3. We stand firm in our desire to use Christian Science in all of our actions and to be good examples.
4. We believe that all have certain interests and talents, and we want to do all we can to further these and at the same time to introduce new activities and interests.
5. We expect to make camping at the CEDARS fun!
Mrs. Ruth E. Huff, Founder, 1962
“The Purpose of The CedarS is to give each camper an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activity.”
The Five Fundamental Concepts of CedarS are:
1. We regard each individual at camp as a child of God, who reflects alertness, joy, peace, ability, love…
2. We respect each individual Christian Science young person as a future active worker in the Christian Science movement.
3. We stand firm in our desire to use Christian Science in all of our actions and to be good examples.
4. We believe that all have certain interests and talents, and we want to do all we can to further these and at the same time to introduce new activities and interests.
5. We expect to make camping at the CEDARS fun!
Mrs. Ruth E. Huff, Founder, 1962
