SUNDAY, JULY 7

SUNDAY, JULY 7:

     Went to a late morning service at a Presbyterian church nearby, called Chapel by the Lake.    It’s affiliated with ECO (not an acronym, but subtitled “A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.”), which apparently was formed very recently as a group of disaffected PCUSA pastors & leaders.  The church is located in a beautiful setting, right on Auke Lake amongst the spruces & pines, and in a lodge-like building.  The wall of windows at the front of the sanctuary looks out on towering trees.  Very much like the chapel at YMCA of the Ozarks down in Potosi.

       The service was contemporary in feeling - music consisted  of a single guitar, words on a screen, & simple choruses; there was a time at the end of the service for folks to speak sentence prayers aloud.   But much of the liturgy was traditional.  And the pastor wore a robe!  Haven’t seen that in a long time!  This is definitely a more flourishing body than the 2 other little churches we visited, as you’d expect from a much larger town.  Looked like about 150 in attendance.  And they have 2 services.  However, they could definitely take lessons in hospitality & friendliness from those tiny churches . ..  virtually no one greeted us, or came over & said  hello to us.  As we were leaving, the woman seated next to me finally greeted me, and then was very nice and friendly.  But she was the only one.  They were baptizing a teenage girl today.  Went through a printed liturgy of baptism during the service, but saved the actual baptism til after the service, when as many as wanted would gather at the lake, and she would be immersed there.  Which is kind of nice.  But cold – brave girl!!!!

     Came home & had some lunch.  Then decided to go on a little road trip north on the main (only) highway in town, which hugs the coastline most of the way.  There were several worthwhile stops along the way, according to my guide book.  And the woman who sat next to me at church recommended one of them in particular, the first place we stopped.  It’s actually a Catholic retreat center.  Built right on the bay, with several log buildings, and lovely, lovely grounds.

 

 

 

 

Several areas with natural-looking wildflower plantings, and paths down to the water.

                                                               

 

                                                                        

                                                                 

                                                            
  And a beautiful little stone chapel built on a little hill, overlooking the water. It’s been the site of lots of weddings over the years.

      We both were thinking the same thought – that this place is probably very similar to where our friend Terry Jones goes in Northern Calif when he goes on retreat.

     We took Pappy with us on this outing, and he thoroughly enjoyed walking the trails with us.  At times we’d let him off the leash, and he’d run like the wind, til he decided to slow down and sniff.  He’s a model in taking time to smell the roses!

     Drove a little further up the road and got off a state park.  This also was right on the bay, across the Lynn Canal from the Chilkat Peninsula, home of the stunning Chilkat Mountain Range.  Walked a path down to the water again with Pappy. 

 

A family, we assume local, were having a picnic dinner there. A haven for birds – eagles, ravens, and seagulls. We love hearing about and discovering these kinds of hidden gems, the kinds of places the locals go to for solitude and tranquility.  It’s a luxury the kind of travelling we’re doing affords – staying in a place long enough to explore these out-of-the-way jewels.  We are so fortunate – a privileged life indeed!