Registration Opens for 2017 Smoky Mountain Jubilee
Registration opened last week for the 27th annual Church of God National Senior Adult Retreat, the Smoky Mountain Jubilee, to be conducted April 25-27, 2017 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
According to Dr. James E. Cossey, Special Projects Coordinator in USA Missions, and host of the retreat, all registration materials are now available on the website www.usamissions.com, under the tab, “SMJ2017.” Registrants may register completely online and pay with a major credit card, or they may download forms to be completed and returned with payment. The per-person cost for the retreat remains just $69 if pre-registered or $75 at the door.
The 2017 Jubilee will begin on Tuesday night, April 25 with a concert by one of America’s favorite Southern Gospel family groups, the Talley’s, along with Larry Delawder, from Branson, Missouri, a dynamic harmonica player and Barney Fife impersonator.
“The Gatlinburg Convention Center will come alive on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am with the 27th annual Senior Adult Talent Competition, featuring all types of musical competition—including vocal solos, ensembles, choirs, and various categories of instrumental competition,” Cossey stated. “A highlight of each Jubilee is the display of tremendous creative art and craftwork and the creative writing entries of the competition.” Cossey said the 2016 Jubilee had more than 160 talent entries from the total of 1,335 delegates who attended.
Wednesday night’s worship service is a highlight of each Jubilee, and this year, special music will be provided by Larry Delawder and Gospel singer/recording artist Willis Canada. The message will be preached by Pastor Mitchell Tolle, lead pastor at the Man ‘O War Church of God in Lexington, Kentucky.
Time has been reserved on Thursday morning for the completion of the talent competition (if necessary), followed by the awards presentations in which trophies are presented to all of the competition winners. Special awards are presented to the oldest man and woman present, as well as to the couple married the longest period of time and the couple married the shortest length of time.
Church of God congregations and state/regional offices from across the country provide several thousand dollars worth of cash door prizes that are awarded throughout the retreat, and a “Grand Prize” of $500 is awarded as the “Grand Finale” on Thursday morning.
The Smoky Mountain Jubilee is not open to the public, but is a designated retreat for senior adults age 50 and older. Exceptions to the “50 and older” rule are made for a spouse who is under 50 married to a person over 50 and to a person under 50 who attends as a caregiver for a person over 50. There are no provisions for infants or children, and all who attend must be a registered delegate.
Registration information is available at http://usamissions.com/smj2017/ or by calling 423-478-7103 or emailing [email protected].
(Source: USA Missions)
