Winter has much to recommend it. It is a time of rest and, if you’re the thinking, pondering sort, can be a fine season for contemplation. It is a time of endurance, of strengthening and surviving–difficult for all the creatures of our woodland congregation, but a part of what makes them who they are. In Minnesota, winter helps to keep the riff-raff out and, being no fan of riff-raff, that is important. It is a season of its own special, if muted, beauties–sundogs and pillars of light, red osier dogwoods in white snow; blue shadows on silvery drifts; northern lights and stars that seem more visible and accessible than during any other season; Christmas, of course, and the meaningful winter solstice; ice skating and skiing and sledding; tracking; and the pleasure of retreating into a warm, golden fire lit space–perhaps a log cabin–to rediscover there the comforts of home.

Winter is a fine and dandy season and I like it. Just not as much as the other ones in the top four. During this season at the C.O.T.P. we of course also feed the birds and other creatures of the congregation–even more assiduously than we do the rest of the year, and are rewarded with their beauty and good company. True, we do not hear the incomparable wood thrush singing its ethereal arias in the forest, but we still have Sparky the Cardinal, longtime church soloist. And his companions the chickadees and nuthatches and woodpeckers and crows, and rascally blue jays and a pair of mourning doves who for the last several years, have stayed all winter. The gray squirrels with their fur stoles tossed over their shoulders; the mincing, prancing deer, and occasional visitor, red fox, who causes a stir among those of a less carnivorous persuasion whenever he appears. It is all good and all a part of life in the forest. And we share it together, which is one of the most important lessons and teachings of any church. Yes, winter is an excellent season. Not quite as excellent as the other three, but… the days are growing longer and brighter. And there is a rumor among the congregation that spring may even come again as it has in the past. In something called the circle of life. Or theater of the seasons. That would be fine and excellent, too.

From the cold and only slightly snowy Church O’ The Pines, we wish you Good Sabbath!