The community if invited to celebrate St.Brigid’s Day on Saturday, January 31st from 1-3 pm at Niccolls Church. We will be given some background on St. Brigid as well as make crosses, have some Irish snacks and practice the “Brat Bride” tradition. Please register by contacting Naomi.

For our last Rest Stop retreat for 2025, we will be listening to a word. For several years, the use of star words, also called “star gifts,”has become a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed on special paper and are arranged face down in a basket. I will pick two words that will be included in your packet. Pick one. If you absolutely can’t see the first word you picked working for you, you may use the other, but you are encouraged to use one of the words to help you become more aware of the presence of the sacred in and around you. This retreat will invite you to work on some practices that will help you listen and be guided by your word.

After the retreat, place your star word somewhere you will regularly see it throughout the year to allow consistent reflection on how Spirit is moving through, around, or in connection to that word.

PLEASE REGISTER BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16.

We will be having a zoom book discussion on Valarie Kaur’s book “See No Stranger: A memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love on Thursday, November 6 & 13 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. If you’ve seen Valarie’s TedTalk on her book you’ll know how important her work is. If you haven’t seen it, check out this link. Valarie is a lawyer, civil rights activist and the founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. In each chapter of the book, she tells a story of her own experience and describes a principle of revolutionary love.

What is revolutionary love? She describes it as “the choice to labor for others, opponents, and ourselves in order to transform the world around us.’ She has developed curriculum that invites us to ‘see no stranger’ and asks us to wonder, ‘are you a part of me I don’t yet know.’

Please contact Naomi if you’d like to attend.

PLANTS: OUR RELATIONS, TEACHERS AND HEALERS

"In Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as the younger brothers of Creation. We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn - we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance. Their wisdom is apparent in the way that they live. They teach us by example. They've been on the earth far longer than we have been and have had time to figure things out.” Robin Wall Kimmerer

Join us for a retreat of learning about our plant relations. We will have cacao tasting, make an echinacea tincture, meditative fall flower arranging and chakra cleaning.

Please contact Naomi to register.

You are invited to a Celtic Contemplative Retreat on Monday, June 30 from 12-4 p.m. Explore the Celtic Medicine Wheel, eat a healthy lunch in community, spend time in nature, learn about Celtic Saint Nan Shepherd and enjoy time in silence, reflection and journaling.

Please register today by contacting Naomi

We have partnered with Exeter Park Produce and Garlic to bring 5 cooking classes to Old Forge.We will make food that’s in season and local, cooking in the kitchen of Niccolls Church, 228 Crosby Blvd. Old Forge. If you’d like to be a part of class, please contact Naomi

Children 2-7 are invited to participate in yoga and ballet. Children ages 2-4 with parents and 5-7 are welcome.

Ash Fletcher, MS.ED and yoga/dance instructor will conduct the class.

REST STOP Contemplate Retreat, Strength for Spring

Monday, March 31 from 12:30-4:30. Rest, create, spend time in silence, reflection, poetry, music. Bring a journal. Soup, snack and beverages will be provided.

Please register with Naomi.

Robin Wall Kimmerer's new book The Serviceberry is a short read with deep meaning. She talks about gift economy: "The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is 'we' rather than 'I', as all flourishing is mutual." (33)

If you'd like to discuss these concepts you're invited to be a part of a hybrid book discussion on Tuesday, March 18 at 4:00 pm. We will meet at Niccolls Church, or you can join by zoom. Books are available at the Old Forge Hardware, Bookshop. org or other sellers. This will be a one time discussion of the entire book. If you'd like to join, please contact Naomi

Robin Wall Kimmerer's new book The Serviceberry is a short read with deep meaning. She talks about gift economy: "The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is 'we' rather than 'I', as all flourishing is mutual." (33)

If you'd like to discuss these concepts you're invited to be a part of a hybrid book discussion on Tuesday, March 18 at 4:00 pm. We will meet at Niccolls Church, or you can join by zoom. Books are available at the Old Forge Hardware, Bookshop. org or other sellers. This will be a one time discussion of the entire book. If you'd like to join, please contact Naomi

October 31-November 1 marks the feast of Samhain in the Celtic wheel of the year and the feast of All Saints in the Christian liturgical cycle (followed by All Souls on November 2nd). So November 1st is like new years because Celts divided their calendar into two seasons; the season of light and doing, and the season of dark and non-doing when new beginnings gestate. As we enter the season of dark, you are invited to a contemplative celebration of our ancestors, of embracing the darkness that accompanies new birth. We will gather at noon and hear poetry, listen to music, have some space and time to journal and share.

You are invited to a Contemplative Walk around Moss Lake. We will meet at 1 p.m. at the accessibility deck for a short centering time, and will be given contemplation prompts. Then you are invited to walk around the lake, or sit in one spot and practice visio divina, sacred seeing.

Bring a camera, the one on you phone is fine, and dress for the weather.

We will gathering again at 2 pm for sharing and a closing.

Our August gathering will be on Monday, August 19th at 4:00 p.m. at the Barn in Woodgate. We will be contemplating the abundance of August.

Celebrate a Celtic Festival of early spring with a sound bath with Andrea Villiere on Saturday, February 3 from 4-5 pm at Niccolls Church.

The Sound Bath offers balance, rest and restoration. Feel rejuvenated for the continuing winter.

Wear comfortable clothing

Bring a mat, blanket, pillow and eye cover.

This event is free and open to the public

Please contact Naomi if you plan to attend email

For many years Abbey of the Arts has been doing a retreat about finding a word for the year. This word is meant to open us to new possibilities and help us be more aware of the sacred all around us. When pilgrims visited the desert monks they would say, 'give me a word.' So in honor of this long tradition, you are invited to spend an afternoon with your word for the year. If you don't have a word, then this time will allow you to discern your word. If you already have a word, then we will use creative arts to expand and broaden our understanding of the word.

Wear comfortable clothing, bring a photo of yourself that you can cut and use to make an icon. (A recent head shot is best.) The rest of the materials will be provided.

SCHEDULE

12-12:30 Greeting, snacks, tea, orientation

12:30-1 Opening, Centering, Qi Gong (meditative movement)

1-1:45 creative art making - Icon and/or collage

1:45-2 pm Break, sharing, Qi Gong

2-2:45 Silence, Journaling, create a poem

2:45 -3 Break, sharing, Qi Gong

3-3:30 Beading (make a bracelet depicting your word)

3:30-4 Sharing, Closing

The retreat will be held at Niccolls Church, 228 Crosby Blvd., Old Forge Please register today by emailing naomikelly58@gmail.com

A Weaving Home Gathering is a time of reflection, making space to listen and hear the wisdom all around us. Our usual formate is: a responsive call to the gathering; a song, a reading of wisdom literature, poetry or prose; chant; an invitation to silence for reflection either walking around the garden or seated contemplation; sharing and blessing. We meet at the Barn in Woodgate. We hope you will join in.

Water Blessing Walk

On Friday, April 21 at 4 p.m., we will gather at the Old Forge Library/Niccolls Church parking lot and walk to the lake front for a water blessing. Following the blessing we will return to Niccolls for a pot luck dinner and a movie described below.

Current Revolution film screening

The Current Revolution film series shows the possibility of a just transition to a clean energy economy where the well-being of workers and frontline community members is valued.

SYNOPSIS

Current Revolution, a series of short films from the American Resilience Project, explores the transition from fossil fuels to renewables with a focus on national security, economic prosperity, and environmental justice. These films show how the nation can embrace smart policies and investments that support grid modernization through distributed renewable energy generation, and ensure that the transition is just and sustainable. The short films are a perfect length for planning discussion. View trailer

The Transformation Cannot Be Stopped, episode 1, 37 minutes long, tackles the challenge of how the utility, auto, tech, and defense industries can help modernize the aging power grid to make it more secure and responsive to the needs of its users while enhancing environmental performance.

Nation in Transition, episode 2, 29 minutes long, explores the coal-to-renewables transition on the Navajo Nation and across northern Arizona through the stories of workers, their families and communities, business and tribal leaders, utility executives, policy makers and environmental activists. The film offers a roadmap for accelerating and navigating just energy transitions for workers and communities everywhere.

Workforce Rising, episode 3, 6 minutes long, The rapid advancement of electric vehicles is disrupting numerous industries and workforces, and the lack of charging infrastructure and grid capacity is lagging behind advances in automotive technology. The already-passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill provides the greatest opportunity to accelerate the transition, as long as the money is spent quickly and wisely.

On Tuesday, January 31st, the eve of St. Brigid's Day, you are invited to a free viewing of the film Love Thy Nature at the Strand Theater, followed by a light supper and discussion at Niccolls Church.

Love Thy Nature vividly illustrates how we've lost touch with nature and presents a compelling case that reconnecting with the natural world is key to improving personal health and ensuring our survival on Earth.

Liam Neeson provides the voice of Homo Sapiens - our collective humankind-reflecting on how in the past several thousand years we have gradually separated from nature, believing we were meant to transcend and to conquer it. The film traces the disconnect between humans and nature from the agrarian and industrial revolutions to the digital revolution. This disconnect has disrupted billions of years of evolution, leading to mass extinction of species and threatening the very survival of the human race.

With the help of engaging experts, the film highlights the restorative power of nature and several hopeful new developments. The emerging science of Biomimicry emulates nature's designs, processes, and systems - rather than simply harvesting its raw materials - resulting in some of today's most cutting edge innovations.

Transversing the globe, Love Thy Nature celebrates the dazzling spectacles of our planet, while also revealing how a deeper connection with nature can transform each of us and inspire us to restore endangered ecosystems, as well as our human family. The film closes with a beautiful montage of simples ways to make nature a bigger part of our lives.

You are invited to participate in a zoom study of the book sabbath as resistance: Saying NO to the CULTURE OF NOW by Walter Brueggemann. This book talks about Sabbath keeping, not as moral rules and laws, but rather as a way to become more whole. He invites us to focus on the what is truly important rather than keeping up with the rush of society to consume more and more. Brueggemann, always the scholar, gives us theological and spiritual reasons for living sustainably. Here is a quote from the book: “The Sabbath rest of God is the acknowledgement that God and God’s people in the world are not commodities to be dispatched for endless production...Rather they are subjects situated in an economy of neighborliness.”If you’d like to think about the importance of rest and simplicity, of compassionate and just living during this season of Advent, please join the group. We will be meeting on zoom on Monday, November 28, Tuesday, December 6, Mondays, December 12 and 19 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. We have one copy available, but you can also order them from Abe Books. Contact Naomi to register.

Sacred Seeing/Visio Divina: Exploring our true self while connecting to nature, a retreat day on Thursday, July 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Florissante Mansion, 4036 Lyons Falls Road, Lyons Falls.

In our rush to do, we often do not leave time to just be. The 24/7, multi-tasking demands of life mask our ability to discover the knowledge deep within our souls. This retreat will engage us in the search for knowing what is deepest within us by hearing stories, reflecting and spending time in nature on the beautiful grounds of the Florissante Mansion in Lyons Falls.

In the beauty of nature we are able to connect with our own deep truth. Visio Divina or sacred seeing invites us to see the world in a deeper way, walking in nature with a camera (or the camera on your phone) gives new perspectives and opens us to imagine what seeing with the eyes of our hearts has to teach us.

Retreat Hosts are Katherine Ziemke and Naomi Kelly. Kathy’s talk will focus on rediscovering the language of the soul and will give us some tools for seeking the inner landscape of our hearts. Naomi will introduce the concept of Visio Divina, sacred seeing. There will also be a tea meditation, with a delicious lunch in grand surroundings. This is a Weaving Home event.

There is limited space and the cost is $45 per person. Dress for the weather, and bring a journal if you like, we will also provide some. There are scholarships available. Please contact Naomi at naomikelly58@gmail.com to register.

On Friday, April 22nd the community is invited to celebrate Earth Day with a walk, game and blessing. We will begin at the George T. Hiltebrant, North St. Pavilion at 4 p.m. Gather for snacks to fuel us to walk, rollerblade, skateboard or bike to the north street bridge. Thea Martin and Tom Vawter will be our nature interpreters along with way.

Please bring a small jar of water from home to pour into the river at the North Street Bridge as a ritual of blessing. Water is sacred and nourishes us creating life on earth. This blessing signifies the importance of caring for the earth and living in harmony with nature.

After the blessing, play a celebratory game of Pooh sticks. On the walk back to the pavilion we will pick up any litter we’ve made or found along the way. This event is sponsored by The Fulton Chain of Lakes Association, LivingADK, Old Forge Farmers Market, Old Forge Library and Weaving Home.

The community is invited to a St. Brigid Day Celebration, on Tuesday, February 1st beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Old Forge Library, and progressing to Niccolls Church focusing on becoming more informed eaters.

During the Solstice Celebration, sponsored by the Old Forge Library, Living ADK and Weaving Home, we pledged to try to live in harmony and balance with the earth. In honoring that pledge, we have been working on learning about the connectional nature of all we do. Legends about St. Brigid, one of Irelands Patron saints, tell of her feeding multitudes of people with milk and butter, connecting her to good food, and offering health and healing. Often, we don’t think of eating as a way to help us live in harmony with the earth, but it is one way that we can become more aware of how our habits effect each other and the earth.

The library will have materials for creating and growing garlic and/or green onions in a jar and instructions for creating and decorating sprouting jars.

At Niccolls, chef Hannah from Banks Farm in Boonville will demonstrate the art of chopping root veggies. Cindy Ball of Exeter Park will talk about Organic gardening, CSAs, delivery programs, and farm stands.

Niccolls Nurses will have a milk tasting table where you can find out which milk you like best and which is best for you.

Star Livingstone, a permaculture gardener, will have information on seed catalogues and which ones offer the best organic varieties of seeds for our local gardens; why growing your own food is fun and basic gardening requirements.

Learn about food that LAUGHS: Local, Affordable, Uncomplicated, Good, Healthy, Seasonal food.

There will be locally harvested root vegetables that will be roasted so you can take home a small sample.

And check out the contemplative corner for reflection and a closing gathering.

This event is sponsored by the Old Forge Library, LivingADK, Niccolls Nurses and Weaving Home.

Evening Prayer, silence, readings, music, meditation on Zoom. Contact for link.

Weaving Home is reading My Grandmother's Hands: Radicalized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Body by Resmaa Menakem. "The body is where our instincts reside and where we fight, flee, or freeze. My Grandmother's Hands is a call to action for Americans to recognize the racism is not only about the head, but also about the body. Menakem introduces an alternative view of what we can do to grow beyond our entrenched racialized divide and takes readers through a step-by-step healing process based on the latest neuroscience and somatic healing methods." This book was published in 2017 and has practices and exercises to help embody methods of healing.

I have two extra copies of the book, please let me know if you'd like one. We are beginning our study on Thursday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Please email Naomi for the link.

Join via zoom as we take some time to move and mediate together.

Wholesome Living & Weaving Home are teaming up for a Peaceful Yoga and Meditation practice every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. via zoom. Each week we will do some gentle yoga practice followed by a guided meditation on peace from our various wisdom traditions and silence. If you’d like the Zoom link, contact Naomi at naomikelly58@gmail.com