I walked around the streets of every city I visited.

I walked, refusing every taxi and rickshaw driver because I wanted to see the neighborhoods at my own pace.

I walked and got lost time after time, only to find myself again.

Personally and as a congregation, we are about to embark on two new seasons.  Both seasons offer a profound opportunity of discovery, of finding ourselves, our place, and our mission.  Both seasons will begin within a few short days of one another.

Lent is the first season and begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22.  On this day, the ash from the palms we waved in triumphant procession last Palm Sunday will be pressed into our hands and onto our foreheads in the sign of the cross.  The Lenten journey takes us through the wilderness to what truly matters in this one, precious life.  It is the very point where we encounter our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  That destination is the very place of our rebirth.

Sabbatical is the second season ahead and begins on March 1^st.  After many months of careful and faithful preparation, we will fully engage our sabbatical theme Walking with God on Holy Ground. The Sabbatical journey beckons our congregation to discern how walking in the transformative presence of God here in the Adirondacks will guide our future ministry.  That destination is the very place of our renewal.

The Rev. Joanne Bartel will be our Sabbatical Pastor leading us in worship, pastoral care, and moderating the Session.  As Pastor Joanne transitions into our congregation, I will shift from the demands of pastoral ministry to the rhythms of sabbatical through a personal retreat on Cape Cod.  I will begin this time by journaling and walking along the shore where the land and water meet in ever changing ways.  A week later, Amy, Jens, Lydia and I will depart for places of renewal both new and familiar.

The Sabbatical Team continues to diligently prepare for this season.  In late February, look for a special sabbatical edition of the Bellringer in your mailboxes.  This edition will highlight sabbatical opportunities for the congregation, contain a greeting from Pastor Joanne, describe our families’ sabbatical itinerary, and much more.

On Sunday, February 19^th, Pastor Joanne and I will have the privilege of leading worship together.  Then after the 10 a.m. worship service, please extend a warm and gracious Adirondack welcome to Pastor Joanne and her husband Don during our fellowship time.

Journaling will be one of the primary practices during our sabbatical.  Star Livingstone, a member of our Sabbatical Team, has created a meditation guide/journal for our entire congregation to begin both seasons of Lent and Sabbatical.

Please contact the church office for the meditation guide/journal, as well as to find out additional details regarding the Leave Taking / Welcoming Celebration.

Now let us walk step by careful step.

We may feel a bit uncertain by the unfamiliar journey ahead.

I may even take a wrong turn on the Camino.

Yet I deeply believe we will find ourselves, our place and our mission again.

Transformation awaits us as we walk with God on Holy Ground.

This place is called the Holy Mountain or Mount Athos. It is a peninsula that juts out from northeastern Greece facing Turkey across the Aegean Sea. Two thousand monks live among the twenty monastic communities on the Holy Mountain. The communities are accessible to the outside world by water only.  The monks walk everywhere.

The tradition is what draws many of these Christians to choose to live in that place. This continuity of tradition is also in constant tension with change from the outside world.  Electricity and plumbing are very recent arrivals that moved in with no small amount of baggage.  The latest sources of turmoil are mobile phones and the internet.

For all of their differences however, the monks agree on what to eat. They eat two meals a day prepared from home-grown vegetables and occasional seafood. They fast regularly. Oh, and they have a glass of red wine with their first meal at nine in the morning.

A study in 2008 identified the monks of Mount Athos as the “world’s healthiest people.” There is remarkably little cancer and virtually no Alzheimer’s or heart disease. Is it the exercise or the rigorous schedule or their intentional focus on the spiritual life?

Perhaps it is because they experience a bit of heaven every time they sit down to a meal together. These monks continue a Christian tradition that believes we savor a foretaste of heaven every time we gather around a table. Formative first century communities of Christians grew up in Thessalonica and Philippi just over 100 miles away. Jews and Greeks, rich and poor, slave and free who were all followers of Jesus sat down at full meals in these cities. This was nothing short of revolutionary and that was exactly the point. These diverse followers of Christ revealed to the world a glimpse of heaven on earth.

Fellowship around the table remains vitally important for followers of Christ two thousand years later whether on Mount Athos or in Old Forge. In worship, we gather around the table and celebrate the joyful feast of the people of God in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In the Social Room, we gather for fellowship every Sunday to reconnect after as little as a week or as much as a season apart. In the Fellowship Hall, we sit down for feasts that range from the simple to the adventurous.

The New Year offers our congregation and community two great opportunities to rekindle the spirit of the early church around tables filled with food. Returning again this year is the Loaves and Fishes Café. The first café will be hosted by Niccolls in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, January 26 at noon. With our partners from St. Bartholomew and St. Anthony’s Churches as well as the Inlet Community Church, we offer a free and hearty lunch that fortifies the spirit as well as the body.

The good news is that we don’t have to wait until the end of the month to join together for great food and fellowship! On Saturday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m., Jordan and Polly Yesuras will host a feast called A Taste of Greece. The menu begins with Greek delicacies such as Dolmathes, Spanokopita, and Greek Salad before moving onto the entrée of Pastichio. All this is topped off with mouthwatering Baklava and Kouloulakia. Rounding out the evening will be stories of Greek food and culture interwoven with scripture readings from St. Paul’s letters to the churches in Greece.

A Taste of Greece is a fundraiser for the Parkinson’s Unit at the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford.  Since all proceeds will go to the Parkinson’s Unit, the suggested donation is $15 per person.  Please call the church office by Wednesday, January 18^th to make your reservation.

Nurture your spiritual and physical health in 2012 – join us at the table!

Answer – A choir!

The Back Story – Eric Whitacre is a contemporary composer and conductor.  In May of 2009 he received a digital video of a young girl singing one of his choral pieces.  In his own words, “I was struck by the beauty, intimacy, and the sweetness of it.  I thought it would be amazing if we could get a hundred people to do this and cut it all together and create a virtual choir.”

Whitacre took a risk.  He went into a studio and conducted his composition “Lux Aurumque” piece in total silence.  He only heard the music in his head.   After the video was finished, Whitacre uploaded the video onto YouTube.  He sent out a call to singers across the world.

The response overwhelmed him.  185 singers from 12 different countries recorded themselves singing the same piece of music as he conducted them from the YouTube video.  Each of the singers sent their recording to Whitacre who, with a team, set about blending their voices and creating a collage of their images.

Upon viewing the finished video for the first time, Whitacre shared, “When I saw the finished video for the first time I actually teared up. The intimacy of all the faces, the sound of the singing, the obvious poetic symbolism about our shared humanity and our need to connect; all of it completely overwhelmed me.”

Inspired by the first virtual choir Whitacre embarked on a second piece, “Sleep” by again calling on singers around the world.  Over 2000 people from 58 countries combined their vocal artistry to create another phenomenal musical experience!

(Enjoy both of these pieces by typing the name “Eric Whitacre” and the song title into your internet search engine.)

Riddle 2 – What is it called when dozens of people of all ages are inspired to make a sacred story of scripture come alive through paper and paint, clay and crayons?

Answer – A Christmas Story!

The Back Story – Throughout worship this summer, we experienced how “…we are God’s work of art created in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:10).  We are creators fashioned by the great Creator.  We are artists gifted by the finest Artist.  This Advent, we will prepare for Christmas Eve with as much of a sense of collaboration as Eric Whitacre’s virtual choirs.

The difference is this – you are invited to create a piece of art inspired by a scene in the Christmas story as unique and beautiful as you.  You are invited to become a storyteller of this good news of great joy along with every person in the congregation.

On Sunday, December 4, you are enthusiastically invited to a Advent workshop after the 10:00 am worship service.  Everything will be ready for you to create a piece of art.  There will be seasoned artists among us to offer guidance.  Perhaps you will be inspired to make a collage about the announcement to Mary.  You may be drawn to paint a simple scene from the journey to Bethlehem.  You may wish to make a play-doh sculpture of the stable.  Your artwork as well as pieces from others in the congregation will then be united to tell one Christmas story.

This story of God’s great love for us will be featured at our family Christmas Eve service.  While the gospel story is told through the spoken word, the story of Jesus’ birth will come to life as the images of our original artwork are projected for all to enjoy.  The actual pieces of artwork will then be on display for everyone to get a closer look following both Christmas Eve services.

Bring your gifts on Sunday, December 4^th to tell a part of the Christmas story that only you can tell.

Become, once again, a unique part of the greatest story ever told!