“Campmeeting,” “Summer Assembly,” “Bible Conference,” “Bible Festival.” - call it by a variety of names, but what happens at the Mt. Gretna Tabernacle each summer has continued to attract many different kinds of people since it was built in 1899. Actually, the campmeeting program that built the tabernacle started in 1892, making this summer, 2008, the 116th summer of activities, programs, and spiritual challenges to all who would come.

Some of the people who come here each summer have many memories of past experiences in the tabernacle-lives changed, prayers answered, wonderfully-inspiring, nationally-known preachers and other kinds of programs. Some who will come this summer will never have been here before. Maybe they too will begin to sense the fact that God is here in the tabernacle, and the programs here are offered to God's glory. We pray that your experience at the Tabernacle this summer will be “a time of Christian spiritual renewal in this unique Victorian setting.”

Because of its unique heritage in the former United Brethren in Christ church tradition-a tradition which later became the Evangelical United Brethren and then the United Methodist tradition-several years ago the Tabernacle was designated a “United Methodist Historic Site” by the denomination's Commission on Archives and History. A plaque acknowledging that designation is mounted on the door to the back room of the tabernacle. Though the tabernacle originated in that tradition, today it is open to many different church traditions, and programs are planned which we hope will cover a wide variety of religious tastes and experiences.

Last year, almost 8800 people participated in the “Summer at the Tabernacle” programs. That's a average of nearly 600 for each program. If you were one of those persons in attendance, we thank you! And we invite you back again this summer, and encourage you to bring a friend with you. The Mt. Gretna Bible Festival committee has tried once again to prepare a schedule of outstanding musical, dramatic, worship, and preaching services. We've included some new groups and preachers this summer. Check out the schedule and make plans to come to Mt. Gretna often this summer and participate in “Summer at the Tabernacle.”