GOOD SUNDAY MORNING FROM THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES! You know, here in our humble green chapel there are many things we don’t have. That other fine churches do have. Sometimes we are able to replace these missing ingredients with something almost as good. Or, just as good. Or, even better! For instance, we don’t have stained glass windows. But
EVERY GOOD CHURCH has something special to recommend it. The architecture perhaps. Or the beauty of the grounds. History, tradition. The feeling of spiritual uplift one gets from attending. Our Church O’ The Pines, under the big pine grove by the Mississippi, has all of these. But in truth, my favorite feature is the virtue of the congregation. Oh, I
AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES, it is winter. As it was winter yesterday and will be winter again tomorrow. Winter is a fine season, if you like snow and ice and cold, more dark and less light, fewer birds and no flowers. But it is still a fine season–one of our top four–and I like it. Just not as
ON A LOVELY MAY DAY, it is a pleasure to wander a trail verged with ferns. Here at the Church O The Pines we walk among the graceful, arched Ostrich Ferns, delicate Lady Ferns, sweet Sensitive Ferns and the modest Wood Fern. Along the way, it is good to kneel down for a peek at Jack-in-the-Pulpit as well. It has
THIS MORNING at the Church o’ The Pines, the snowflakes fly and the March winds howl (yeah, I know it’s almost May) and the woodland denizens and congregation must once gain fend for themselves. With help from Caretaker Kathy. I am off to southeast Minnesota—the ‘driftless area’—to guide Road Scholars as we search for spring migrators and ephemeral blossoms. We
AT THE CHURCH O’THE PINES on this Christmas Day it was cold. Below zero as it has been for 147 days and nights without relief. But in the old cabin, near the Christmas tree, it was warm, as Grandma Kathy served up a lovely feast including traditional favorites, perogees and ham and both strawberry and chocolate trifle. Our outdoor congregation