By: Rev. Carolyn Dugan, ARM Outdoor Ministries
Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (NIV)
We are transitioning from summer to fall, from longer days to longer nights, from warmer temperatures to warmer clothes, from vacations to school starting, it is a great time to remember that even though we must navigate the inevitable change in our lives, God’s love never changes as we endure on this earth.
As you look at your schedules for this fall, I would like to ask you to add in a couple of events that also mark change of seasons as well as the enduring of our world and faith. The first event is our Annual Gathering that will be held September 26th and 27th at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Madison. The theme this year comes from Joshua 1:9 – Be Strong and Courageous. It is a great time to reflect back on what has happened in our Region as well as a time to connect with like-minded individuals as we navigate what is coming in the next year. Registration is open and you can find it on our Region website at www.abcofwi.org.
The second event is an Unbe”leaf”able event at Camp Tamarack October 10th and 11th. This is a time to be in creation and bear witness to how the earth handles these changes with the color of the leaves, with the animals shifting their patterns and the sky getting darker sooner. We will be continuing the efforts of Bounce Back fundraising as well as enjoying our new basketball court, taking a ride on the trails in the wagon, having some hot cider and sitting around a campfire. More information will be posted on our Camp website (www.camptamarack.org) and social media soon with sign ups available at the beginning of September.
As we see in Ignatian spirituality practices, during this time of year our inner landscapes are ready for these gifts of change. Are you ready to notice, explore and refresh? To see God’s presence in all things.
I hope to see you at least at one of these events this season. May we grow in a spirit of restored hope, joy and delight together in the midst of changing seasons. Amen
