On Saturday, January 6, 2018, amidst the snow and cold, the last of the beds and shelves and miscellaneous items were loaded on trucks and we officially said Goodbye to Pilgrim Hills. There are no words that can express the deep grief, or the emptiness that comes with saying goodbye.
There are many people to thank for their assistance and support in this process. Over time we will do so in a more individual manner. In the meantime, please know that all expressions of help have been greatly appreciated.
Upon a recent announcement of staff restructuring at our National setting, John Dorhauer, our General Minister and President of our United Church of Christ, shared these words and I think they are fitting for us in the Ohio Conference now:
“It will take some time for these wounds to heal. Our fervent prayer is that God’s Holy Spirit abide with us through this. For a season we grieve. May the hope of the Risen Christ, and the deep wells of faith that sustain us, strengthen us for the work to which we are called for the sake of a mission that matters.”
Outdoor Ministries is a mission that matters. As we move forward into our future, I invite you to share your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams, your time, your talent, your skills, your self. There is much work ahead of us and we need your participation. Look for opportunities over the coming weeks and months to speak, to listen, to learn, to share, to promote, to work, to play, to heal, to worship, to support, to connect or reconnect, to engage. Now is the time.
