I was very nervous of course, but it meant so much to me to hear from so many people how well done it was and that they were really leaving with a message. I am going to post this for family, friends, and anyone that wants to read it. We tried to record it but I don't know how it turned out, if it came out ok I will upload it here or somewhere...Enjoy!
Spiritual connections through Outdoor Ministries
By: Joe Turano
Pilgrim Lodge Sunday Sermon
April 13, 2008
Please join me in prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
Often times when we think of spiritual places of worship or places to be close to God, we only think of places such as a sanctuary or a chapel in a Church, your car as you are driving to work or school, or in the privacy of your own home when you pray to God. These are certainly places to be close to God, but we cannot forget the first creation story in the Bible, Genesis 1. God is everywhere and as we grow in our spirituality we learn to define the world around us as a sacred place. This can be experienced through ministry, whether it be the Church ministry or something near and dear to my heart, Outdoor Ministries.
I have found my special place on this rock in the vast Universe in which we reside in. This place is Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner on the shore of Lake Cobbosseecontee. Pilgrim Lodge is the United Church of Christ’s Outdoor Ministry camp for the Maine Conference. Each summer, hundreds of people from children to adults gather in this powerful place to experience God’s creation, fellowship with peers, fun, and for most a very spiritual grounding that is longed for. These experiences are gained through day camps to week long camps and to further this exploration of God’s creation, trip camps to Moosehead Lake as well as Mount Washington. Pilgrim Lodge is a place that no matter who you are or where you are in life’s journey, you are welcome. Pilgrim Lodge offers one the opportunity to explore new horizons that will ultimately allow them to find themselves by being close to God in nature. The peaceful quietness of nature, the birds singing, the squirrels running down the handrail of the boardwalk, the sounds of a gentle breeze blowing through the pine trees, and children laughing, singing, and playing all add to the experience at Pilgrim Lodge. You do not hear the sounds of cell phones ringing, noise from a TV or radio, and to tell you the truth, you really do become disconnected from the outside world and the thoughts of constantly checking emails or catching your favorite TV show are not present at all once you head down the camp road. There is no hate or the passing of judgment at Pilgrim Lodge, only love, peace and tranquility is felt.
When we step back and take a look at today’s scripture lesson, I want to show you how the outdoor ministries help you experience faith in a way that many have never thought of.
· In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was dark God said, “let there be light” and there was light. He called the light day and darkness he called night…the first day.
o At Pilgrim Lodge, yes we have day and night. We have the lights of the boardwalk that lights our way by night, and by day the sun really allows you to see the beauty of this place.
· On the second day, God then created the dome that separated the waters below and above. He gathered the waters into one place and dry land appeared. The waters called Seas and the dry land called Earth.
o Pilgrim Lodge has a sky and land to which we see as we look across the lake to the horizon. The sea is also apparent at Pilgrim Lodge although our Sea is Lake Cobbosseecontee and the land is the wonderful place we call Pilgrim Lodge.
· On the third day God created plants and trees.
o Pilgrim Lodge is full of tall Pine trees and of all kinds of trees. There are beautiful plants everywhere you look. Some pretty enough to touch, but after all this is nature, so be careful.
· The fourth day God created the Sun and Moon and the stars in the sky.
o The sky is nice during the day, but at night this is an amazing experience. I have never before in my life seen so many stars. You are very far from the lights of the city that the complete darkness allows you to see all the stars in the sky.
· God then said let the waters bring forth swarms of creatures from those in the sea to those that fly in the sky, this was the fifth day.
o We get to see this at Pilgrim Lodge when Bryan’s son Eric goes out fishing and reels in a bass from the lake and after a quick smile returns it to its home in the lake. I have personally experienced the beautiful sight of hummingbirds flying from flower to flower to feed. Not to mention the other birds and butterflies that make there way through the sky. Just last year while canoeing with a group of campers I experienced both, an Osprey diving in the water and catching a snake. That did rock the boat for a minute.
· On the sixth day God created plant eating land dwellers and humankind.
o We don’t necessarily see cows and horses along at Pilgrim Lodge, but we do see a chipmunk or a squirrel go running down the boardwalk rail like it was a toll free highway and if you are lucky you might see a deer passing through. As far as humankind, this is an important piece to the picture. When you are at Pilgrim Lodge you are part of a very tight knit and caring faith family. The people you are with when you are there help you experience God’s love through them.
· On the seventh day, God rested.
o One of my favorite things to do at Pilgrim Lodge is early in the morning when most are still sleeping, I grab a cup of coffee and sit in a rocking chair on the front porch of the lodge. I like to rest and relax, take everything in and reflect on what happened the previous day. A couple of other times late at night I went down to the chapel to sit alone and rest while talking to God.
This scripture reading means so much to me because it is the center of my spiritual transformation. My first counseling experience was for Faith Foundations back in 2006. I was standing in the chapel at Pilgrim Lodge for the first chapel service of the short camp week. Something began to happen to me while I was reading my part of Genesis. I began to feel all the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders and I had a strong sense of peace and love come over me. I had no idea at the time what was happening to me and I tried to figure it out for quite a while. During this service I had truly begun to feel the power of this special place. I felt my heart opening up and understanding what the Pilgrim Lodge experience is about. I felt a great change in my life coming over me, a change for the good and a change to serve God. I felt love, not only from God but from every camper, Counselor, and Staff I saw as I was reading. I still was not sure at that point what it meant and I could not put into words what happened.
I also want to comment on member at the Waterville UCC and what she experience in Honduras. She said she was sitting on the roof of the church she was helping to build and she looked around and saw everyone working together, then the feelings I described happened to her, and she described it as almost dream like. That really hit home for me that it was not just me, these experiences are for everyone only if they open their hearts up and let God in. This is exactly where I am coming from when I say that God is everywhere and the world we are in is defined as a sacred place as a whole. I still today am trying to figure this out and I hope by sharing this I can come to grips with it in a way that I can present it to others as part of my witness. I am now a Master of Divinity student at Bangor Theological Seminary looking forward to ordination and one day having a camp of my own. This is the kind of spiritual growth that is offered in the outdoor ministries and places such as Pilgrim Lodge.
Pilgrim Lodge offers so many opportunities to connect with God, from enjoying fellowship with the faith community, to walking the Labyrinth, to singing fun and spiritual camp songs, to just sitting there taking everything in. Taking the opportunity to experience God’s work outdoors is an added feature to spiritual growth. It does it in such a way that you do not realize what is happening until you try it for yourself. There are many camps available at Pilgrim Lodge that will allow those of all ages to have an opportunity to experience this for themselves. There is a family camp, a day at camp, Grandparent’s camp, many camps for school age kids, camps for young adults, camps for women, and camps for men. For the more adventurous teens, there are two trip camps that are offered that really lets you experience God’s creation by hiking, playing, worshiping, and climbing to the top of a mountain to see as far as the weather allows how vast this creation actually is. As the Chair of the Outdoor Ministries Committee for the United Church of Christ Maine Conference I hope you will take this opportunity to share in God’s love and experience Pilgrim Lodge this summer. Remember, that’s how it is with God's Love, once you've experienced it, you spread the love to everyone you want to pass it on. Amen.
By: Joe Turano
Pilgrim Lodge Sunday Sermon
April 13, 2008
Please join me in prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
Often times when we think of spiritual places of worship or places to be close to God, we only think of places such as a sanctuary or a chapel in a Church, your car as you are driving to work or school, or in the privacy of your own home when you pray to God. These are certainly places to be close to God, but we cannot forget the first creation story in the Bible, Genesis 1. God is everywhere and as we grow in our spirituality we learn to define the world around us as a sacred place. This can be experienced through ministry, whether it be the Church ministry or something near and dear to my heart, Outdoor Ministries.
I have found my special place on this rock in the vast Universe in which we reside in. This place is Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner on the shore of Lake Cobbosseecontee. Pilgrim Lodge is the United Church of Christ’s Outdoor Ministry camp for the Maine Conference. Each summer, hundreds of people from children to adults gather in this powerful place to experience God’s creation, fellowship with peers, fun, and for most a very spiritual grounding that is longed for. These experiences are gained through day camps to week long camps and to further this exploration of God’s creation, trip camps to Moosehead Lake as well as Mount Washington. Pilgrim Lodge is a place that no matter who you are or where you are in life’s journey, you are welcome. Pilgrim Lodge offers one the opportunity to explore new horizons that will ultimately allow them to find themselves by being close to God in nature. The peaceful quietness of nature, the birds singing, the squirrels running down the handrail of the boardwalk, the sounds of a gentle breeze blowing through the pine trees, and children laughing, singing, and playing all add to the experience at Pilgrim Lodge. You do not hear the sounds of cell phones ringing, noise from a TV or radio, and to tell you the truth, you really do become disconnected from the outside world and the thoughts of constantly checking emails or catching your favorite TV show are not present at all once you head down the camp road. There is no hate or the passing of judgment at Pilgrim Lodge, only love, peace and tranquility is felt.
When we step back and take a look at today’s scripture lesson, I want to show you how the outdoor ministries help you experience faith in a way that many have never thought of.
· In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was dark God said, “let there be light” and there was light. He called the light day and darkness he called night…the first day.
o At Pilgrim Lodge, yes we have day and night. We have the lights of the boardwalk that lights our way by night, and by day the sun really allows you to see the beauty of this place.
· On the second day, God then created the dome that separated the waters below and above. He gathered the waters into one place and dry land appeared. The waters called Seas and the dry land called Earth.
o Pilgrim Lodge has a sky and land to which we see as we look across the lake to the horizon. The sea is also apparent at Pilgrim Lodge although our Sea is Lake Cobbosseecontee and the land is the wonderful place we call Pilgrim Lodge.
· On the third day God created plants and trees.
o Pilgrim Lodge is full of tall Pine trees and of all kinds of trees. There are beautiful plants everywhere you look. Some pretty enough to touch, but after all this is nature, so be careful.
· The fourth day God created the Sun and Moon and the stars in the sky.
o The sky is nice during the day, but at night this is an amazing experience. I have never before in my life seen so many stars. You are very far from the lights of the city that the complete darkness allows you to see all the stars in the sky.
· God then said let the waters bring forth swarms of creatures from those in the sea to those that fly in the sky, this was the fifth day.
o We get to see this at Pilgrim Lodge when Bryan’s son Eric goes out fishing and reels in a bass from the lake and after a quick smile returns it to its home in the lake. I have personally experienced the beautiful sight of hummingbirds flying from flower to flower to feed. Not to mention the other birds and butterflies that make there way through the sky. Just last year while canoeing with a group of campers I experienced both, an Osprey diving in the water and catching a snake. That did rock the boat for a minute.
· On the sixth day God created plant eating land dwellers and humankind.
o We don’t necessarily see cows and horses along at Pilgrim Lodge, but we do see a chipmunk or a squirrel go running down the boardwalk rail like it was a toll free highway and if you are lucky you might see a deer passing through. As far as humankind, this is an important piece to the picture. When you are at Pilgrim Lodge you are part of a very tight knit and caring faith family. The people you are with when you are there help you experience God’s love through them.
· On the seventh day, God rested.
o One of my favorite things to do at Pilgrim Lodge is early in the morning when most are still sleeping, I grab a cup of coffee and sit in a rocking chair on the front porch of the lodge. I like to rest and relax, take everything in and reflect on what happened the previous day. A couple of other times late at night I went down to the chapel to sit alone and rest while talking to God.
This scripture reading means so much to me because it is the center of my spiritual transformation. My first counseling experience was for Faith Foundations back in 2006. I was standing in the chapel at Pilgrim Lodge for the first chapel service of the short camp week. Something began to happen to me while I was reading my part of Genesis. I began to feel all the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders and I had a strong sense of peace and love come over me. I had no idea at the time what was happening to me and I tried to figure it out for quite a while. During this service I had truly begun to feel the power of this special place. I felt my heart opening up and understanding what the Pilgrim Lodge experience is about. I felt a great change in my life coming over me, a change for the good and a change to serve God. I felt love, not only from God but from every camper, Counselor, and Staff I saw as I was reading. I still was not sure at that point what it meant and I could not put into words what happened.
I also want to comment on member at the Waterville UCC and what she experience in Honduras. She said she was sitting on the roof of the church she was helping to build and she looked around and saw everyone working together, then the feelings I described happened to her, and she described it as almost dream like. That really hit home for me that it was not just me, these experiences are for everyone only if they open their hearts up and let God in. This is exactly where I am coming from when I say that God is everywhere and the world we are in is defined as a sacred place as a whole. I still today am trying to figure this out and I hope by sharing this I can come to grips with it in a way that I can present it to others as part of my witness. I am now a Master of Divinity student at Bangor Theological Seminary looking forward to ordination and one day having a camp of my own. This is the kind of spiritual growth that is offered in the outdoor ministries and places such as Pilgrim Lodge.
Pilgrim Lodge offers so many opportunities to connect with God, from enjoying fellowship with the faith community, to walking the Labyrinth, to singing fun and spiritual camp songs, to just sitting there taking everything in. Taking the opportunity to experience God’s work outdoors is an added feature to spiritual growth. It does it in such a way that you do not realize what is happening until you try it for yourself. There are many camps available at Pilgrim Lodge that will allow those of all ages to have an opportunity to experience this for themselves. There is a family camp, a day at camp, Grandparent’s camp, many camps for school age kids, camps for young adults, camps for women, and camps for men. For the more adventurous teens, there are two trip camps that are offered that really lets you experience God’s creation by hiking, playing, worshiping, and climbing to the top of a mountain to see as far as the weather allows how vast this creation actually is. As the Chair of the Outdoor Ministries Committee for the United Church of Christ Maine Conference I hope you will take this opportunity to share in God’s love and experience Pilgrim Lodge this summer. Remember, that’s how it is with God's Love, once you've experienced it, you spread the love to everyone you want to pass it on. Amen.
