Worship in the Wilderness

Important News & November 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-11-02T16:29:00.000-06:00

Greetings All,

Upon seeing the photo above you might say - that's not Santa Fe or WitW and you'd be right. It's an image of the sunrise that I took on Pawleys Island, South Carolina on my 50th birthday recently. Later that day as Anne-Drue, Connor and I were walking on the beach we witnessed a Bald Eagle attempt to steal a fish from an Osprey almost right over our heads - they both lost the fish. I've been going to Pawleys Island for 40 years and I've never seen a Bald Eagle there before so I took it as a good sign.

The important news is that I've accepted a new position (in Episcopal Church lingo it's known as a call) as Priest-in-Charge Under Special Circumstances at Christ Church Chattanooga, TN and I begin December 1st. So November's liturgical hike will be our last together - details in a bit. I grew up near Chattanooga so this will be a bit of a homecoming for me. In fact, Christ Church is right across the street from UT Chattanooga where I was an undergraduate. We are looking forward to being there but will miss Santa Fe and our Worship in the Wilderness friends here. At this point it is not clear how or if WitW will continue in Santa Fe but I am hopeful that "we" might find a way for that to happen. Chattanooga is a very outdoors oriented city (in fact Santa Fe's own Outside Magazine recently ranked Chattanooga as the "ultimate dream town" for outdoor living and activities) and WitW will be a big hit there I'm sure. I look forward to beginning WitW there in the spring.

With regard to our November liturgical hike, we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot (map/directions) at 9:00am and leave there about 9:15am. It may be quite cool on Sunday so please come prepared for the weather, but do come!

Blessings and I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

Boiler Plate P.S.:

Please be prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing (including rain gear) for the expected weather, plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Follow this link http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/ for information from the American Hiking Society, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

October 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-09-27T11:46:00.001-06:00

Greetings All,

A patchwork of gold is beginning to appear in the Sangre de Cristo mountains and by Sunday October 2nd let's hope it's even more so. We will meet for our October hike on Sunday the 2nd in the St. Bede's parking lot as usual (map/directions) at 9:00am and leave there at 9:15am. At the moment it looks like we'll have decent weather with a 30% chance of isolated thunder storms. So see the boiler plate p.s. below and come prepared for another wonderful day worshipping in the wilderness!

Blessings and I'll see you all on the trail,

Jon+

Boiler Plate P.S.:

Please be prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing (including rain gear) for the expected weather, plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Follow this link http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/ for information from the American Hiking Society, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

September 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-08-25T16:09:00.001-06:00

Greetings All,

Every September our hike falls on Labor Day weekend Sunday, which this year is September 4th. While often some of our regulars are away that weekend we do sometimes have visitors who are in Santa Fe for the holiday weekend. We'll see if this holds true this year.

On Sunday, September 4th we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot as usual (map/directions) at 8:30am and leave there at 8:45am. While it won't quite be fall yet that weekend, I'm sure we'll see the early signs of the changing seasons. So see the boiler plate p.s. below and come prepared for a wonderful day worshipping in the wilderness!

Blessings and I'll see you all on the trail,

Jon+

Boiler Plate P.S.:

Please be prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing (including rain gear) for the expected weather, plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Follow this link http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/ for information from the American Hiking Society, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

August 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-07-31T17:11:00.004-06:00

Greetings,

Good news! You may already know that the Santa Fe National Forest has been reopened recently, which means that we'll be able to hike one of our favorite trails next Sunday, August 7th. After the 10:30am service today I did a little scouting up near the ski basin (see the photo above) and can report that it was a wonderful day with some very nice rain showers to boot.

Next Sunday, August 7th, please plan on meeting in the St. Bede's parking lot (map/directions) at 8:30am and we'll leave there at 8:45am. Be sure to bring rain gear as it seems that we are being blessed with rain somewhere in the Santa Fe area almost daily in the last several days and the forecast is for the same next weekend.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

Boiler Plate P.S.:
As always, please come prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing for the expected weather that day, plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Please follow this link (http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/) for the How-Tos of hiking from the American Hiking Society for important information, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

July 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-06-25T08:55:00.002-06:00

Pacheco Canyon Fire Day 1

Smokey Greetings All,

The Pacheco Canyon Wildfire and resulting stage III fire restrictions are making the planning for our July hike interesting to say the very least. I had actually been talking with folks at the Valle Caldera about the possibility of bringing a group of more than 10 folks up for our July hike (10 being the default limit for any given reservation time there). But as of yesterday morning the Valle Caldera is under stage III fire restrictions also and so there will be no hikes until those restrictions are lifted. Once those restrictions are lifted I'll reschedule a Caldera hike for later in the summer.

All that being said, we will hike "somewhere" on July 3rd. Please plan on meeting in the St. Bede's parking lot (map) at 8:30am and leave there at 8:45am.

As always, please come prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing for the expected weather that day, plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Please follow this link (http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/) for the How-Tos of hiking from the American Hiking Society for important information, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

June 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-05-30T17:05:00.001-06:00

Baby Robins

Greetings All,

My apologies for the late posting. I've just spent the last two days (Saturday & Sunday) taking a class in wildlife tracking and am now a level 2 certified wildlife tracker. I should have posted this announcement before the class. More about the class and wildlife tracking in general during our June hike which is this coming Sunday - June 5!

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave from there at 9:15am.

As always, please come prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing for the expected weather, water and a hearty snack. Please follow this link

( http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/ ) for the How-Tos of hiking from the American Hiking Society for important information, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

May 2011 Liturgical Hike - Reflections

2011-05-06T10:21:00.000-06:00

The Holy Spirit is often described as a holy wind and so we were filled to overflowing with the Spirit on May 1st as we blew our way around the Dorothy Stewart Trail. I seem to recall a line from Winnie the Pooh that goes something like this - it was a blustery day in the hundred acre wood. As a kid I never thought of it as being cold too but as you can glean from the photo above it was indeed cold on May 1st on our liturgical wanderings. Possibly if you live in Northern New Mexico you remember this unusual May 1st. But our small band was prepared for the weather and we were grateful for the opportunity once again to worship in the wilderness.

It also just happened to be the third anniversary of Worship in the Wilderness and I have learned a great deal about worshipping out of doors in that time. Among those things is that most folks are fair weather hikers - I have come to understand and appreciate that.

Blessings to you all and I look forward to seeing you this summer on the trail!

Jon+

May 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-04-24T12:24:00.012-06:00

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Signs of new life are all around now in Northern New Mexico - the photos above are from my own gardens this past week. The flower is a Wild Iris (which we did not plant) and the butterfly is a Yellow Swallowtail. The hummingbirds are back too, I noticed the first one on Monday of Holy Week before leaving to attend a clergy retreat at the new (to the diocese) Bosque Center in Albuquerque. As yet I have no photos of the hummingbirds.

We will hike again, liturgically, next Sunday - May 1st! We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave from there at 9:15am. So far it looks like it will be a beautiful day weather wise and I hope and pray for a nice spring day.

As always, please come prepared to hike with proper footwear, clothing, water and a hearty snack. Please follow this link ( http://www.americanhiking.org/Resources/How-Tos/ ) for the How-Tos of hiking from the American Hiking Society for important information, including the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

Easter Blessings,

Jon+

April 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-03-27T16:01:00.000-06:00

Blustery Greetings All,

It's hard to believe that we're already three months into the year but I suppose it's true - time to hit the Worship in the Wilderness trail again. Please join us Sunday - April 3rd, the first of the month, for our one and only Lenten Liturgical Hike this year. Although we have had some warmer weather lately, it seems prudent to continue our cooler weather practice of meeting a bit later in the morning - so we'll meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:30am and leave from there at 9:45am.

Please be sure to come prepared for the expected weather and bring plenty of water and a good snack. As always, you can refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness.

Blessings and I hope to see you on the trail,

Jon+

March 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-03-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Greetings All,

The photo above was from last summer but a new season of growth is almost upon us. So come catch the last of winter (hopefully) and enjoy what is currently expected to be a very nice spring day.

Join us this Sunday - March 6th, the first of the month, for our next liturgical hike. As has been our practice during the "cooler" weather months we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:30am and leave from there at 9:45am.

Please be sure to come prepared for the weather and bring plenty of water and a good snack. As always, you can refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness.

Blessings and I hope to see you on the trail,

Jon+

February 2011 Liturgical Hike

2011-02-02T21:15:00.001-07:00

Greetings All,

As those of you on the e-mail list serve already know I have decided to delay our February hike until the 13th due to the severe cold we've been experiencing this week and also due to the fact February 6th is the Feast Day of Super Bowl Sunday. So we will meet on February 13th in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:30am and depart from there at 9:45am.

As always, please be sure to come prepared for the hike by dressing warmly, bringing plenty of water and a good snack. And once again, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness if you are uncertain of how to prepare.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

January 2011 Liturgical Hike

2010-12-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Holiday Greetings,

It's time once again to begin another calendar year and why not start it off right by joining Worship in the Wilderness on Sunday, January 2nd for our monthly liturgical hike! This will be our only hike of 2011 during the Christmas Season so don't miss it. We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot, as usual, at 9:30am and depart from there at 9:45am.

As of this writing the weather is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 35 degrees and while it may be winter and the temperatures may be colder, it is still beautiful in the wilderness. So if you've formerly been mostly a fair weather hiker join us to experience the beauty of the season.

As always, please be sure to come prepared for the hike by dressing warmly, bringing plenty of water and a good snack. And once again, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness if you are uncertain of how to prepare.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

P.S. Those of you who came on our Advent hike be sure to come so that I can give you the gift I started for each of you that day!

December 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-11-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Advent Greetings to you all,

It's hard to believe that the last month of the calendar year is upon us already. But liturgically speaking it's already the New Year!

Join WitW for the final hike of 2010 on the first Sunday of December but the second Sunday of Advent, December 5th. We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:30am and leave from there at 9:45am.

As you know our weather has turned decidedly colder in recent days and the current forecast for Sunday is partly cloudy with a high of 49 degrees and a low of 25 degrees. So where we end up hiking will be greatly determined by the actual weather that morning. So come prepared for the expected (and the unexpected) weather and join our Advent outing.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

P.S. As always, please be sure to come prepared for the hike by dressing for the weather, bringing plenty of water and a snack. Also, if you have not done so in a while, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness.

November 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-11-02T11:38:00.002-06:00

Greetings All,

In the mountains above Santa Fe most of the fall color is gone or so it would seem from "down here" in town. But when you're "up there" you notice that there is still some color about, life is changed - not ended. It is a time of the year when one season is winding down and another has yet to begin, much like our liturgical year in the Church.

Today, Tuesday, November 2nd, is All Soul's Day - the day toward the end of our liturgical year when we remember those who have passed on from this life in the past year by reading their names (called the necrology) during the All Soul's liturgy. And so we too will do this on Sunday during our monthly WitW liturgical hike. Please bring along the names of your dear ones who have departed this life in the last year, both human and otherwise, so that we as a community may remember them.

On Sunday, November 7th we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:30am (don't forget about the time change this weekend) and leave there at 9:45am. Where we hike will be determined in large part upon weather conditions that day but I hope to hike Big Tesuque Trail up to Aspen Vista Trail. Currently the weather in Santa Fe on Sunday is expected to be sunny with a low of 35 and a high of 62.

Blessings and I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

P.S. As always, please be sure to come prepared for the hike by dressing for the weather, bringing plenty of water and a snack. Also, if you have not done so in a while, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information about hiking safety and preparedness.

October 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-09-24T11:08:00.001-06:00

Greetings All,

The hints of yellow in the photo of the Sangre de Cristos signal that seasonal change is in the air. In addition to the changes that fall brings we are making a change (or change back) in the scheduling of Worship in the Wilderness. Many of you have asked about moving WitW back to Sundays and it does seem to be the thing to do. So beginning Sunday, October 3rd WitW will move back to the first Sunday of each month.

On Sunday, October 3rd we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave there at 9:15am. The fall colors should be fabulous and I look forward to seeing many of you.

As always, come prepared for the weather and bring plenty of water and a hearty snack. Also, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more complete information about hiking preparedness, including a link to the 10 Essentials of Hiking from the American Hiking Society.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

P.S. It has been a blessing to have many of our trail wise canine companions join us on our hikes and so we will return the favor and bless them this month as part of our observance of the feast of St. Francis.

September 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-08-30T09:40:00.006-06:00

Late Summer/Early Fall Greetings,

While it may not yet be fall officially, seasonal change is in the air. Come join us for September's liturgical hike as we explore the changing of the seasons and the mystery of the Holy.

Our September hike will be on Saturday, September 4th - yes, it is Labor Day weekend! We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and proceed from there at 9:45am.

As always, come prepared for the weather, which at this point appears to be favorable for Saturday. Also bring plenty of water and a snack. Again, as always, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more complete information about hiking preparedness, including a link to the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

Blessings & I hope to see you on the trail,

Jon+

August 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-08-01T13:45:00.000-06:00

Alpine Forget-Me-Not

with lip balm tube to provide

size perspective.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. - Jesus

In the mountains above Santa Fe it is a season of growth and beauty. What could be the purpose of an Alpine Forget-Me-Not if not to awe and inspire those who make the effort to go see it?

Our August Liturgical Hike will be the second Saturday of the month due to my travel schedule. We will meet at 8:30am on Saturday, August 14th at the picnic tables near the outhouses at the lower end of the Ski Santa Fe parking lot.

As always please be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. Also, as we are blessed this summer with a "healthy" monsoon season it would be wise to bring rain gear. Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more complete information about hiking preparedness, including a link to the 10 Essentials of Hiking.

Blessings & I hope to see you on the trail,

Jon+

July 2010 Liturgical Hike - Reflections

2010-08-01T12:10:00.001-06:00

The day before the 4th of July we had a fabulous day for Liturgical Hiking! The weather was inviting and the trail was challenging but worth the effort. We began the morning just off the lower parking lot at Ski Santa Fe where the Winsor Trail passes by on its way up and into the Pecos Wilderness. The first mile up to the Pecos Wilderness boundary is a bit of a challenge but we took our time and stopped a few times for the liturgy of the word.

At the boundary fence into the Pecos Wilderness most hikers stay on the established trails, either continuing on into the Pecos Wilderness or turning right and hiking up to Deception and Lake Peaks, but we turned left and hiked off trail to the wonderful meadow you see pictured above. The meadow sits just below Aspen Peak and was a wonderful place to take an extended break, have a snack and share Eucharist. There were many wildflowers throughout the meadow and it was surrounded by aspens and various pines. There was also evidence, droppings, that elk had been there recently. It's a place I'm sure we'll return to again and again and will be a great place to observe the changing seasons.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

July 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-06-26T21:18:00.000-06:00

Greetings All,

Summer is upon us and so we'll be meeting earlier in the day for the next month or two. We will be hiking on the first Saturday of July, which is July 3rd. I'd like to meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am and leave there by 8:45am. Once I see the group we've assembled I'll know where we might hike.

Please be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a light snack. Also, please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more complete information about how to be prepared and especially read and follow the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

June 2010 - National Trails Day Hike/Clean up

2010-05-30T20:12:00.002-06:00

Greetings All,

As some of you already know, our regular monthly hike on June 5th will also be a work day as WitW participates in the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9am and proceed from there at about 9:45am. Since this is our first experience with National Trails Day I've decided that we'll focus mainly on trail clean up. At present there are a couple of likely candidates but I'm happy to receive trail ideas from any of you who know of a nearby trail that needs some looking after. Please bring suitable work gloves, a lunch and plenty of water as the day may be fairly warm. I'll bring trash bags for what we collect.

Blessings and I look forward to serving with you,

Jon+

May 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-04-25T19:37:00.001-06:00

Greetings All,

As has become our custom of late, we will meet on the usual day, at the usual time, in the usual place - translation, Saturday May 1st at 12:30pm in the St. Bede's parking lot. I am, of course, hoping for favorable weather but please do keep an eye on the weather forecast for Saturday as the week unfolds and plan to be prepared. We will hike rain or shine.

Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for information on how to be prepared and especially read and follow the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

March 2010 Hike Reflections & April Hike Plans

2010-03-23T11:12:00.002-06:00

Greetings All,

Saturday March 6th was the perfect early spring day for a hike. The Galisteo Basin Preserve was once again our cathedral for the day and the weather was near perfect with mild temperatures and just the hint of a breeze from time to time. The snow was mostly gone, as you can see from the photo, with only a few muddy spots on the trail. It was a wonderful day to worship in the wilderness!

April Plans: As some you may have already noted, the first Saturday in April is also Holy Saturday (the day before Easter) and so it seems appropriate to "transfer" our Worship in the Wilderness day to the second Saturday in April, which is the 10th. We will meet, as almost always, in the St. Bede's parking lot at 12:30pm and proceed from there. While I am certainly hoping for beautiful weather again in April, one can never be sure what to expect at this time of the year so please check the weather beginning a few days ahead of time and come prepared for the weather. As always, follow the 10 Essentials of Hiking to which you can find a link toward the bottom of this page.

Blessings & I look forward to seeing you on the trail,

Jon+

March 2010 Liturgical Hike

2010-03-01T08:55:00.007-07:00

If you're like my friend Oso here you're probably bored from being stuck inside too much this winter and you just can't wait to get back outside to run around and get dirt on your nose again. Well if you are there is good news!

Spring is just around the corner and at the moment it appears that the weather for our March hike could be ideal - mostly sunny with a high of 50 and only a 10% chance of precipitation. So once again we will meet in the usual place, on the usual day, at the usual time - translation, Saturday March 6th at 12:30pm in the St. Bede's parking lot. As always there must be a disclaimer about the weather which is - at this time of year where we hike will be determined by how the day turns out so please come prepared for changing weather.

Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for information on how to be prepared and especially follow and read the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Lastly, I will again bring my backpacking stove so that we can make the hot beverage of your choice so bring extra water and your favorite tea, hot chocolate, etc.

Blessings & I hope to see you all the trail,

Jon+

February 2010: Hike Reflections

2010-02-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday, February 6th was a beautiful winter day for hiking! We hiked the northern part of the Dale Ball Trails and the trail conditions were very good, all things considered. The temperatures were just warm enough that the snow was a bit soft (better traction than hard packed snow) but not so warm that the trail was muddy. In fact the worst conditions of the whole day were in the St. Bede's parking lot which was a quagmire in spots - one of our number got her car stuck in the mud there and we had to push her out. So you see even if you are planning to worship indoors you still have to deal with the mother nature ;)

What a wonderful gift the Dale Ball trails are to those of us who live in Santa Fe, providing great hiking opportunities with well maintained and marked trails scattered throughout the city. For those of you who don't know about them here is a link to the official website for the trails - Dale Ball Trails

We are hoping to do a snowshoe hike sometime before the end of the season on a Saturday other than our regular day, so stay tuned for that. Also, I'm planning some other "opportunities" this year that should be exciting, again stay tuned! If you aren't on our email list please do send along your email address to me so that I can add you to the WitW listserve. My email address is to the right on this page.

Blessings & we'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

February's Liturgical Hike

2010-01-27T13:49:00.005-07:00

Epiphany West Hike

Lake Anza

Tilden Park

Berkeley, California

This past week I had the privilege of leading a workshop, "hike", as part of Church Divinity School of the Pacific's annual Epiphany West Conference. The theme for this year's conference was Sacred Elements: Creating Sustainable Earth Communities. Even though it had been raining for most of the week prior to our hike we had a wonderful and enthusiastic group as you can see in the photo. And yes it was muddy :) Here's a link to the conference webpage if you want to read more about it: Epiphany West 2010

As for February 2010 in Santa Fe, we will meet in the usual place, on the usual day, at the usual time - translation, Saturday February 6th at 12:30pm in the St. Bede's parking lot. Right now the weather forecast is favorable but as always at this time of year where we hike will be determined by how the day turns out so please come prepared for changing weather.

Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for information on how to be prepared and especially follow and read the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Lastly, I will again bring my backpacking stove so that we can make the hot beverage of your choice so bring extra water and your favorite tea, hot chocolate, etc.

Blessings & I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

January Hike: Reflections

2010-01-06T13:07:00.001-07:00

On Saturday afternoon , January 2nd we hiked for the first time in the Galisteo Basin Preserve and had a wonderful time. It was a near perfect winter afternoon as you can see from the picture above with the possible exception that it was a bit windy. But the skys were blue and the temperature pleasant. We all agreed that WitW should return to the preserve again soon to expand our explorations. And as promissed we had hot beverages thanks to my "pocket rocket" backpacking stove which I have been bringing each month while the weather is cool.

If you are interested in learning more about the preserve and its trails please follow this link Galisteo Basin Preserve Trails

We hope to see you next month when we will hike on Saturday afternoon, February 6th. Stay tuned for details.

Blessings, Happy New Year & we'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T13:24:00.008-07:00

Happy Holiday Greetings All,

As 2009 draws to a close I reflect back on the year with great fondness for the wonderful times we have had worshipping in the wilderness. I am so thankful for all the folks who have hiked with us this year and trust that you all have sensed the presence of the Holy with you in all the places that you have been but especially in the wilderness! 2010 should provide another wonderful year of hiking and worshipping and I am looking forward to seeing you all on the trail.

Our January 2010 hike will be on Saturday, January 2nd. Again this month we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 12:30pm and depart from there at 12:45pm. As always at this time of year where we hike is dependent on the weather so everyone plan on meeting us at St. Bede's.

And remember I'll be bringing my backpacking stove so we can boil water for your favorite hot beverage - you bring the tea bag of your choice (or coffee or whatever) and your own water and I'll get it good and hot.

Also, please pay attention to what the weather is to be like for the weekend and dress accordingly and be prepared for the possibility that it could change during the hike. Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information on how to prepare and especially to the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Blessings and I look forward to seeing you on the trail,

Jon+

December's Liturgical Hike

2009-11-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving Weekend Greetings,

I don't know about the rest of you but I can always use a little more exercise, especially during the holiday season. So enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers now and then plan to join us next Saturday, December 5th for our monthly Worship in the Wilderness hike.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 12:30pm and depart from there at 12:45pm. As always at this time of year where we hike is dependent on the weather so everyone plan on meeting us at St. Bede's.

And remember I'll be bringing my backpacking stove so we can boil water for your favorite hot beverage - you bring the tea bag of your choice (or coffee or whatever) and your own water and I'll get it good and hot.

Also, please pay attention to what the weather is to be like next weekend and dress accordingly and be prepared for the possibility that it could change during the hike. Please refer to the General Information section at the bottom of this page for more information on how to prepare and especially to the 10 Essentials of Hiking link.

Blessings and I look forward to seeing you on the trail,

Jon+

November's Liturgical Hike

2009-10-27T12:04:00.001-06:00

Greetings,

This time of year is one of change - summer to fall to winter, shorter days, colder temperatures, the return to "standard" time and many others. So too Worship in the Wilderness will be making some changes to better accomodate the realities of our outdoor worship space. Beginning in November we will hike on the first Saturday afternoon of the month, rather than the first Sunday morning as we have been. This should generally mean warmer temperatures for our hikes which will be a good thing and may hopefully allow greater participation for some folks who have other "responsibilities" on Sunday mornings. We'll try this for a season and see how we like it. The other change, which I hope all will enjoy, is that I will start bringing my "pocket rocket" backpacking stove so that we can boil water for hot (insert your favorate beverage). So start bringing a mug of some sort (an insulated car mug would be ideal) and your favorite tea, hot chocolate, coffee or whatever. And of course water, which you should be bringing anyway. :)

What this means for November 2009 is that we will hike on Saturday, November 7th, which may feel like the second weekend of month but will actually be the first Saturday since the 1st day of the month is on Sunday. Where we hike will depend to a large degree on what the weather has been doing in the days just before the 7th and what the expected weather is for the 7th.

So on Saturday, November 7th, we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 12:30pm and leave there at approximately 12:45pm. Please be sure do dress for the weather expected that day and be prepared in case it changes. As always it is good to keep the 10 Essentials of Hiking in mind and there is a link to them at the bottom of this page under General Information.

Blessings and I look forward to being with you on the trail,

Jon+

October Hike: Reflections

2009-10-05T21:34:00.004-06:00

What an absolutely picture perfect fall day to worship the Holy on the trail! The fall colors were nearing their peak on Big Tesuque Trail this morning, it was warm in the sun and decidedly cool in the shade - in other words it is fall in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. And being the feast day of St. Francis we blessed our canine hiking companion of the day Tucker, the wonderful old gentleman yellow lab you see headed out of the frame in the photo above.

This was our third or forth time this year to hike Big Tesuque Trail which has afforded us the opportunity to see the way things have progressed and changed throughout the year. For some of us it has seemed not unlike a labyrinth experience - it is the same path/trail but never the same twice.

As we move now toward the colder months we will continue to hike in all but the worst weather and as I announced yesterday I will begin bringing my "pocket rocket" cook stove to boil water and we can each bring a trail worthy mug and our favorite tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc.

I look forward to seeing you on the trail soon and blessings to you all,

Jon+

October's Liturgical Hike

2009-09-27T13:07:00.003-06:00

Greetings From Tennessee,

I am posting this WitW announcement from Signal Mountain, TN where I am visiting my parents and running into long time friends and former classmates. Next Sunday, October 4th, will be our next WitW liturgical hike and I hope that you'll be able to join us. Before I left for Tennessee the Aspens on the Sangres were already beginning to change and I'm sure they will be just stunning on the 4th.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave there about 9:15am. Where we hike that day will depend to a large extent on the expected weather for the day and what it is like in the few days leading up to the hike.

As always, and especially in this transitional season, please remember to come prepared for possible inclement weather along plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. It's always a good idea to keep the 10 Essentials of Hiking in mind and you can find a link to them at the bottom of this page under "helpful information" from the American Hiking Society.

Blessings and I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

September's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2009-09-27T13:03:00.002-06:00

While the weather had been a bit rainy in the days before our September hike, Sunday the 6th was a beautiful day to be out on the trail. Even though it was not yet fall, the signs of an abundant summer growing season were evident all around - the grasses by the trail were tall, full of seed and in some cases beginning to display some interesting coloration. And there was that certain feel in the air that indicates cooler weather and a change of seasons would soon follow.

Twelve hardy souls hiked and reflected and shared Christ's presence with one another. It was a unique WitW experience and yet shared many things in common with other WitW liturgical hikes - the presence of the Holy in our midst, the wonder and awe so many of us feel when we are away from "civilization" and of course the blessing of sharing it all with our fellow travelers on the way.

Blessings, be well and we'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

September's Liturgical Hike

2009-08-31T14:21:00.002-06:00

Greetings All,

There are lots of firsts in life and I guess I'm having another one related to WitW in that so far I've not had any "inspiration" as to where to hike this weekend - but I'm sure I will before Sunday. One thing I do know is that it will be an easier hike than last month's, which was a little longish for some. Please meet us in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am on Sunday, September 6th. We will leave there about 8:45am.

As always please remember to come prepared for the day with plenty of water, rain gear (although the forecast looks good at this point) and at least a hearty snack. It's always a good idea to keep the 10 Essentials of Hiking in mind and you can find a link to them at the bottom of this page under "helpful information" from the American Hiking Society.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. If you have a hike you'd like to suggest e-mail it to me and I'll consider it, if not for this month then certainly for a future hike.

August's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2009-08-14T05:36:00.002-06:00

Worship in the Wilderness provides the opportunity to worship the mystery of the Holy in fresh ways in the great outdoors that inspire and challenge hikers differently on each hike and each hiker differently from one hike to the next hike. Some hikes are easier than others; sometimes the weather is more agreeable one month than the next, sometimes it’s more about what we each “bring” from our lives to a particular hike. The opportunity to experience the constant and complete presence of the Holy is both a challenge and a gift.

August 2^nd was just such a day of wonder on our hike as you can see from the photo above of a mushroom about six feet or so off the ground in a notch of an Aspen tree. Sometimes, if we are perceptive, we have the opportunity to experience things which are beyond the usual limitations of our finite human imagination, understanding and knowledge. Seeing this mushroom was such an experience for me and yet is dwarfed by the full magnitude of the mystery of the Holy. How often do we “look” past the signs that God is trying to show and share with us? As for me, I would have to say that this probably happens frequently. And so my challenge is to be as fully receptive to and perceptive of the wonders of the Holy as I may be every day, whether I’m out on the trail or participating in a four hour meeting.

I look forward to seeing you all on the trail soon!

Blessings,

Jon+

August's Liturgical Hike

2009-07-26T17:27:00.005-06:00

Greetings All,

I'm sorry for the late posting about August's hike but our internet service has been on the fritz for over a week - some days it doesn't work at all and other days it works slowly and/or intermittently. According to the ISP, "they're working on it."

Please meet us in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am on Sunday, August 2nd. We will leave there about 8:45am. At this point my hope is to hike a portion of the Winsor Trail from the lower Santa Fe Ski Basin parking lot to the point where it intersects the Big Tesuque Trail and then up the Big Tesuque Trail to the trailhead. It should be a very pleasant hike.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. Please email me with any questions as I am able to use my BlackBerry for individual email communications. Also, the photo above is a view from Deception Peak, which I have proclaimed the WitW "top of the" World Headquarters. ;)

July Hike: Reflections

2009-07-07T15:36:00.001-06:00

If you read my previous post about our Valles Caldera hike on Friday, July 3rd, then this post will seem repetitive as I begin.

Sunday morning, July 5th, began for me as I suspect it did for many in Santa Fe - with a mad dash around the house to close windows as a very loud thunder storm began around 6:00am. As I watched the storm outside and got ready to meet everyone for our hike I wondered if anyone would be there given the intensity of the storm.

But by the time I left home the rain had stopped and it was sunny and clear to the west, which was a good "weather" sign for the rest of the day. However, I figured many folks would have already decided not to hike so upon arriving at St. Bede's I was surprised to find the wonderful gathering you see above. They seemed to know what I had begun to doubt, it was going to be a beautiful day for hiking in the Sangre de Cristos!

We did indeed have a wonderful time hiking the Norski Trail. The temperature was nice and cool, the wildflowers were beautiful and the Holy Spirit was definitely with us. We kept silence for a period of time which opened a whole new dimension to the experience - the sound of woodpeckers at work, the buzzing of insects, the chirps and calls of song birds, and the rhythmic sounds of our own breath as we hiked along. It was a blessed morning and I am so happy that we all decided to go in spite of the early morning thunderstorm.

Keep in touch and share with us how you have been experiencing the Holy in nature this summer.

Blessings,

Jon+

Valles Caldera National Preserve Hike

2009-07-06T17:26:00.002-06:00

Friday morning, July 3rd, was quite stormy in Santa Fe as our small group met at a local Starbucks before driving the one and a half hours up to the Valles Caldera National Preserve from Santa Fe. The forecast was for more stormy weather with heavy rain possible throughout the day and there was a real question about whether or not we should undertake a seven mile hike in the middle of an 89,000 acre preserve under such conditions, even if the Preserve staff would let us. But each of us was well prepared with rain gear, etc. and so we decided to give it a shot.

By the time we got there the weather was better. It was a wonderful day with light rain occasionally - the kind that quits as soon as everyone puts on his/her rain gear. The Colorado Blue Columbine pictured above is representative of the beauty we saw that day. I'm sorry to say that I didn't take any photos of the wild strawberry plants that were growing all along the way but I can tell you that, even though they were only the size of peas, they were the most flavorful strawberries we'd had - maybe ever.

I'm hoping to do more Valles Caldera hikes soon and will keep you all posted.

Blessings,

Jon+

July's Liturgical Hike

2009-06-27T16:44:00.004-06:00

Greetings,

Since it will be the 4th of July holiday weekend and a few of us will have just had a big day hiking the Abrigo Trail in the Valles Caldera on Friday the 3rd, it seems that a short but sweet hike is in order. Therefore, we will return to the Norski Trail on Sunday, July 5th. We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave there at 9:15am. If you'd rather meet us at the trailhead, that's fine, just send a quick e-mail to let me know. I would anticipate that we will be at the trailhead around 10:00am.

As many of you know, Norski Trail is beautiful and an easy hike. The trail surface is soft and easy to walk on and goes through beautiful stands of Aspen and Fir with lovely wildflowers all around.

In case you're interested, here is a link to the Forest Service web page about the trail -

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/255_norski.html

Blessings and I'll see you on the trail,

Jon+

P.S. As always, please come prepared. You can find a link to "hiking how-to's" at the bottom of this page, provided by the American Hiking Association, including "The 10 Essentials of Hiking."

June Hike: Reflections

2009-06-08T15:14:00.002-06:00

Yesterday’s hike was simply wonderful. After beginning a bit overcast and cool the day turned into a marvelous early summer experience in the Sangre de Cristos. The trails we hiked (parts of Big Tesuque and Winsor) were beautiful with many wildflowers and Aspen trees shimmering like green gold in the cool breezes. As you can see from the photo above we stopped for communion in a lovely mountain meadow with a little mountain stream running through it.

It was a perfect day to contemplate the many and varied languages of nature with which the Holy “speaks” to us. It is not only with human speech that we are wooed by God; it is also through nature’s speech which engages more than just our ears. A cool breeze or the warm sun upon our skin or the fragrance of a wild flower or new pine, are these not among the many languages of the Holy? What better way to experience the knowledge of God's presence among us and love for us than to be out in the cathedrals of nature.

Nature has languages all its own which can be as subtle and imperceptible as a tiny flower which is so easy to miss or as loud and boisterous as a strong wind which makes it difficult to hear anything else and causes great trees to knock together. God speaks through nature speaks if we will but listen.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. Here are a few more wonderful photos from yesterday provided by Helen Henry.

June's Liturgical Hike

2009-05-31T14:15:00.005-06:00

Greetings All,

Spring has finally sprung! I'm almost afraid to say it but I think finally on June 7th we stand an excellent chance of having weather that is not winter like for our hike. While Santa Fe can get cool weather almost anytime, spring is definitely here and the current weather forecast is for a very nice day on the 7th.

This month we're going to try something new, a point to point hike. We'll be hiking parts of two trails that we've hiked before, Borrego Trail and Big Tesuque Trail, and this will require a bit of coordination in that we'll need to park vehicles at both trail heads. The reason I'd like to do this is that there's a nice meadow on along the way that will be a very nice place for Eucharist and a nice rest stop.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:15am (please note the earlier time) and leave there by 8:30am. If you are planning to meet us there please send me an e-mail so that I can coordinate with you about where to park so that we don't miss you somehow.

Please remember to bring plenty of water and at least a hearty snack. If it's been a while since you've hiked please review the General Information material at the bottom of this page.

Blessings,

Jon+

May Hike: Reflections

2009-05-07T16:33:00.002-06:00

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since we began our liturgical hiking adventures together but WitW is now "officially" one year old. What a wonderful day we had May 3rd on the Aspen Vista Trail as you can see from the photo! Even though spring was in full bloom "down" in Santa Fe, signs of spring at 9,000+ feet were not quite as evident and we did have a pretty snowy trail beyond the Big Tesuque Trail junction. We had a great time nonetheless and it was one of the last chances (let's hope) to hike in the snow this season.

As WitW moves into its second year there are so many great things yet to come, so stay tuned, be in touch and join us for a hike!

Blessings,

Jon+

May's Liturgical Hike: Celebrating our 1st Year

2009-04-24T11:51:00.002-06:00

Greetings All,

It's been a whole year since we began Worship in the Wilderness in May 2008 and what a wonderful year it has been. I give thanks for such wonderful hikes and hikers and for the wonderfully creative worship that we have shared over these last twelve months. It has been a true ministry of the Spirit and I look forward to many more months and years together.

On Sunday May 3rd, to commemorate the beginning of our second year, we will hike one of our favorites, Aspen Vista. The weather has been quite nice recently and I think we will see some wonderful signs of the new season. As always though, be sure to be prepared for any possible inclement weather at that altitude and be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, clothing layers, etc. Also, since it is possible that some of us may have been a little less active during the cold weather months we will hike at an easy pace and stop frequently for rest, liturgical tidbits and reflection. I anticipate that we will stop for Holy Eucharist at our "normal" spot and then those who wish to go on may do so at their own pace after the dismissal.

For those who wish to meet at St. Bede's please be in the parking lot by 8:30am and we will leave there by 8:45am. For those who may wish to meet us at the Aspen Vista trailhead, I anticipate that we'll be there by about 9:30ish.

For my planning purposes please send me a quick e-mail letting me know if you're planning to hike with us using the link to the right on this page. I look forward to seeing you all on May 3rd.

Blessings,

Jon+

April Hike: Reflections

2009-04-06T14:53:00.006-06:00

Springtime in the Rockies certainly can be "interesting". The two days before and after April's liturgical hike were beautiful spring days. The day of the hike, as you can see from the photo, was just plain winter. In re-reading my pre-hike post I notice that I mentioned hoping to catch the last bit of winter along with the first signs of spring. It was the coldest hike of the year! Spring is definitely here, just not on Saturday morning on Big Tesuque Trail.

All that being said it was a beautiful day in its way. We had an interesting and challenging hike and a quick Holy Communion at the intersection of Big Tesuque Trail and Windsor Trail where this photo was taken shortly before we headed back. I don't believe that the Guinness Book of World Records records such things but we may have set the record for coldest temperature during a Eucharist, about 20°.

The good news is that from now on (at least until next winter) the weather will be warmer and hopefully more agreeable. God is indeed gracious and good and we are thankful for God's blessings and protection and look forward to future worship in the cathedrals God has made for us.

Blessings,

Jon+

April Hike Update

2009-04-02T17:20:00.004-06:00

Greetings,

I am hoping that we can catch the last little bit of winter and the first hints of the new life of spring on our April hike. So today I hiked the Big Tesuque Trail from the road down to where it meets the Windsor Trail and back. Conditions were good so if the weather holds between now and Saturday that's where we'll hike.

As you can see from the photo above spring is indeed beginning to poke up through the snow, which was not bad and is spotty and melting. The forecast for Saturday is for cloudy, windy and cooler weather than tomorrow, which is forecast to be quite nice so there will likely be additional snow melt from today's levels. But as always at this time of year please dress in layers, one of which provides some wind protection, and wear sturdy water resistant footwear.

I would recommend meeting the group at St. Bede's at 9:00am Saturday morning rather than trying to meet us at the Big Tesuque Campground parking area in case we need to alter our plans due to weather.

Please see my previous post below for other details and I look forward to seeing you all Saturday morning.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. I've provided a new link at the very bottom of this page to information from the American Hiking Society with respect to being prepared for a safe hike. Please have a look.

April's Liturgical Hike

2009-03-28T11:37:00.006-06:00

Greetings All,

As I mentioned in my e-mail announcement, because the first Sunday of April is Palm Sunday we will be hiking on Saturday, April 4th instead. We'll meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am (please note the earlier time) and proceed from there. Because of the "interesting" weather we've been having lately I have yet to make a final decision about where to hike but hope to do that by mid week and will update this post at that time and send out another e-mail too.

Blessings,

Jon+

March's Hike: Reflections

2009-03-16T14:13:00.001-06:00

I can't believe how slow I've been in posting these reflections from our hike on March 1st, my apologies!

March 1st was the first Sunday of Lent this year and the gospel lesson from Mark was about Jesus' baptism and forty days in the wilderness. Well, we weren't in the wilderness for forty days but due to my not doing a "pre-hike" reconnaissance (which I normally do on trails with which I'm not familiar) we didn't always know where we were. It seemed to be an appropriate beginning to Lent in a way and everybody was a good sport about it. Regardless my shortcomings as a trail guide this month, we had a great time and it was a beautiful early spring day which served to reinforce the concept of layering.

Please stay in touch with this page over the next week because in April the first Sunday of the month happens to be Palm Sunday and "we'll" need to decide whether or not to hike that day or possibly on Saturday (the 4th) instead. I'll be making that decision very shortly and will post as soon as I do.

Blessings,

Jon+

March's Liturgical Hike

2009-02-26T09:47:00.001-07:00

So sorry to be a bit late it getting this posted for our March 1st hike this Sunday, I've been fighting a bad cold that has me operating at less than my normal semi-efficient self.

As we did in February, we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 10:00am and proceed from there to our hike. Although it has been unseasonably warm recently, it is still "winter" and so where we hike will be subject to weather conditions Sunday morning so please plan to meet at St. Bede's and check the weather forecast for the day so you won't be surprised. With the weather we've been having lately dressing in layers is very important and please bring plenty of water and a snack.

Finally, as we began last month, if you plan to attend would you send me a quick e-mail letting me know that to parson@worshipinthewilderness.org (You can actually just click right there, I mean left) It helps a bit with planning. Thanks!

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. For those of you who will be participating in the Lenten Bible Study using The Green Bible, I'll be sending out information about that shortly.

Green Bible Study in Lent

2009-02-17T16:03:00.001-07:00

Greetings,

After a couple of false starts we're ready to begin a green bible study. We will meet weekly on Tuesdays during Lent from 5:30pm-7:30pm at St. Bede's, beginning March 3rd and ending March 31st. Once Lent is over we can decide if and how we'd like to continue beyond Lent.

The focus of this bible study will be environmental in nature using a new edition of the NRSV titled The Green Bible, which is published by HarperOne. There's more information about this edition at http://greenletterbible.com/ It is pretty widely available now and I also know that Rickie Sherrill of Good Books has copies.

I do not anticipate that you would necessarily need to be at all sessions in order to keep up with what we are doing, although I certainly hope you will be. There will be some reading in between sessions and I hope to have some online resources available as well.

For space planning purposes it would be very helpful if you could RSVP by replying to this message so I'll know how many to expect. It is also possible that we may meet "off campus" once or twice, if it works out.

I'll be back in touch soon to let you know what to read for the first session.

Blessings,

Jon+

February's Hike: Reflections

2009-02-05T14:57:00.029-07:00

What a beautiful winter day it was on February 1st! We hiked the Dale Ball Trail - North and found the trail in good condition (with a couple of icy spots), the sun bright, the temperatures agreeable and the views and companionship superb. It was a wonderful day to worship in the wilderness!

Barring really nasty weather we will hike again on Sunday March 1st, which will be the first Sunday of Lent. I am also still planning on beginning a green Bible study in the near future and will let you know as things develop on that front.

Blessings and I look forward to seeing you all on the trail,

Jon+

February's Liturgical Hike

2009-01-28T15:40:00.101-07:00

It might sound funny but the first Sunday of the month can't come any earlier in February and March in that the 1st is the 1st, the first Sunday is also the first day of the month. So now that "we've" got that all figured out the rest should be a breeze, right? Well I think so and I hope you will too but in an effort to be totally transparent, I should remind us all of a couple of things.

First, February 1st is Super Bowl Sunday and for some (mostly non-hikers I hope) the whole day will be spent in front of the tube. But not us! At least not until 4:00pm when the game actually starts. If there's anything that is actually important (and that is a real question) it's the game itself. You will be home by 4:00pm - and with the knowledge that you've already worshiped the Holy and exerted yourself that day out on the trail and are therefore free to indulge, and maybe then some, in the annual Super Bowl feast.

Second, much like January, this Sunday will be a bit chilly. But if you think about it that just means you'll burn even more calories staying warm while you hike which means you can probably eat something like three times as much during the game as you normally would without shame or guilt.

Second and a half, I will be offering an optional liturgical hiking fast. If you choose to fast during the hike that will mean, like, you can just graze from the opening kickoff to the final buzzer - again without shame or guilt. In fact you might even feel a bit prideful about it. But that's ok because our next hike (remember that will be March 1st) will also be the first Sunday of Lent and you could possibly do that one on your knees as penance for your Super Bowl bash overindulgence. It's just an option and the penitential hiker's choice. ;)

THE REAL DETAILS: We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 10:00am and proceed from there to our hike. As in January, where we hike will be subject to weather conditions at the time so please plan to meet at St. Bede's and check the weather forecast for the day so you'll have a sense of what to expect. As always, dress in warm layers, bring water and a snack. I do not anticipate any significant snow so regular hiking footwear should be fine.

Finally, if you plan to attend would you send me a quick e-mail letting me know that to parson@worshipinthewilderness.org (You can actually just click right there, I mean left) It helps a bit with planning. Thanks!

Blessings,

Jon+

January's Hike: Reflections

2009-01-13T11:18:00.007-07:00

Weather conditions dictated where we hiked this month. There was a little too much snow on many of our favorite trails and temperatures up toward the ski basin definately got my attention.

So what better place to hike in the dead of winter than a river when the Gospel lesson for the day was Jesus' baptism in the river Jordan. For us it wasn't the river Jordan but rather the Santa Fe River, such as it is in January. We hiked the dry river bed near the San Ysidro crossing and although it was cold and breezy the sun was bright and we had a wonderful time sauntering along. This was also an urban hike as there are homes on either side of the river at that point which are in the historic Agua Fria district of Santa Fe.

Winter hiking can be a challenge but those who came were prepared and we are looking forward to continuing throughout the winter. Weather conditions will continue to dictate where we can go for a least another month or two but please make plans to join us.

Also, stay tuned for details about our possible snowshoe hike and a Lenten Bible study using the Green Bible. I'll be sure to get the word out to you as plans for these develop. In the meantime please be sure to invite your friends to our outings!

Lastly, I am working on an online survey of sorts to help me better plan our activities for the coming year so please be on the lookout for that and please help me by filling it out.

Thanks and many Blessings for the New Year,

Jon+

January's Liturgical Hike

2009-01-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday January 11th we will be hiking if the weather permits. If you've followed this site or received my e-mails you know that we switched Sundays this month to accomodate St. Bede's stewardship kickoff Sunday on January 4th. Several of you let me know that you appreciated this accomodation.

So this Sunday, the 11th, we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 10:00am and proceed from there to our hike. Please note the later time and the fact that I haven't announced where we'll be hiking. There are two reasons for this - first, by meeting at 10:00am hopefully it will be a bit warmer and second, we've been having a good winter so far and this means that we may need to be flexible with respect to where (and I suppose if) we hike. As I write this post weather.com indicates that the 11th should be sunny with a high of around 40 after a low near 20.

Please plan to be with us as winter hiking can be very enjoyable. Also, please be prepared for the weather with several layers, a warm hat, mittens or gloves and footwear that is at least weather resistant. And as always, bring plenty of water and at least a snack.

Finally, there are a couple of changes to the weblog for the New Year. First, we now have our own domain name, http://worshipinthewilderness.org/ , and I have a new e-mail address to go with it, which is parson@worshipinthewilderness.org . The old addresses will still work for a while but please begin using the new ones now.

Blessings,

Jon+

January's Liturgical Hike

2009-01-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Briefly, this Sunday (January 4th) is the Stewardship Brunch at St. Bede's Episcopal Church (of which WitW is a ministry) and it seems to me that it would be best not to schedule a hike which conflicts with this important St. Bede's event. I would encourage everyone to plan on attending the 10:30am service and the brunch which follows the service. Any questions about this service or the brunch should be directed to the church office, 505-982-1133.

We will hike the following Sunday, January 11th, weather permitting. Details about that hike will be posted to the weblog soon and I'll also send another email once the information is posted.

Blessings,

Jon+

December's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2008-12-07T20:27:00.014-07:00

Once again we had a beautiful day for an Advent hike today. We hiked the Dorothy Stewart Trail which is actually in Santa Fe itself and a bit of a hidden treasure. It was a glorious early winter day as you can see from the photo above, such a strikingly blue New Mexico sky.

We will continue to hike through the winter months, weather permitting, so plan to join us on the first Sunday of each month.

Also, it seems that there is plenty of interest in two things we've been talking about recently. The first is beginning a "Green" Bible study using a new edition of the NRSV Bible called The Green Bible which is published by HarperOne. We will likely begin meeting in January so stay tuned for more details. The second is a snowshoe hike sometime this winter. This hike would be in addition to our regular first Sunday of the month and I think will likely be in February or possibly March, again stay tuned for more details.

Finally, as we move through the remaining days of Advent my prayer is that each of us will be "awake" to the Holy in our lives in all of the many ways that it is present to us each day. May you and yours have a blessed holiday season!

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. one of the things I mentioned today was a new, to me, organization called Advent Conspiracy which has been getting some good press in online Church circles this season. Advent Conspiracy seeks to recenter our consumerist attention in four ways: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.

December's Liturgical Hike

2008-12-03T10:50:00.005-07:00

On Sunday December 7th we will be hiking the Dorothy Stewart Trail, weather permitting. Right now according to Weather.com Sunday is to be mostly cloudy with only a 10% chance of precipitation. I hope you can join us for a wonderful Advent liturgical hike.

For those of you who have not hiked the Dorothy Stewart Trail before, it is an easy and relatively short hike within Santa Fe which has some beautiful views of the city below and the mountains above. This should be a pleasant hike during the busy Advent season.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave there at 9:15am. We'll then drive to the St. John's College visitor parking lot "trail head" and begin our hike there and return there.

I look forward to seeing you December 7th for our one and only Advent hike.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. As always be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a snack. Also, please be prepared for the weather which can change quickly. Friendly and trail wise dogs are welcome on this trail, although I believe they are expected to be leashed.

November's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2008-11-03T11:20:00.008-07:00

What a glorious day it was for our November liturgical hike! The Aspen leaves may have been gone but that only served to highlight the deep blue New Mexico sky against the bare Aspen branches. The temperature was cool, there was just the hint of a breeze now and then and the views of the valley below were marvelous.

We had our largest gathering yet, eighteen happy and hearty souls – not counting the three canines who came along. We even had a spur of the moment visitor from Tulsa, OK who just happened to arrive at the trailhead when we did and decided to join us for the day.

As has become our liturgical custom the hike was “offered” within the context of the passing of the peace and we had a great time hiking along and getting to know each other a little better. It was a great opportunity to live into the second of Jesus’ two great commandments – to love your neighbor as yourself. And to top things off we had two or three Gray Jays join us at communion, they knew it was “real” bread.

We will continue to hike throughout the winter so air out your winter gear and keep in touch with this page so that you’ll know where and when.

Blessings,

Jon+

November's Liturgical Hike

2008-10-27T08:14:00.008-06:00

On Sunday November 2nd we'll again be hiking Aspen Vista, weather permitting. At this point, according to weather.com, it appears that Sunday should be a nice day, with only a 10% chance of precipitation. If for some reason, however, weather does not permit we will hike an alternate trail at a lower elevation, likely something near the Rio Grande river.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 9:00am and leave there at 9:15am. Please remember that November 2nd is the first day of the fall time change so 9:00am will seem like 10:00am.

If you have not hiked with us before and/or if you haven't hiked Aspen Vista before I especially call your attention to this US Forest Service link http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/tesuquepeak.html and also the archives of this weblog to view the "October Liturgical Hike" entry for additional information about the Aspen Vista trail. You can reach this archived entry by selecting the Previous Posts link which is located at the bottom of this page.

I look forward to seeing you November 2nd.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S.: Even thought the weather has cooled be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a snack. Also, please be prepared for the weather which can change quickly at this altitude, especially at this time of year. Friendly and trail wise dogs are welcome on this trail. We should be on the trail by 9:45 am or so and I would expect that we will reach the spot for snack/lunch and Eucharist in about an hour. I would expect we will be finished with Eucharist by about 12 noon and then you're on your own to continue or to return.

October's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2008-10-06T10:45:00.005-06:00

Well we had our first WitW hike in the snow. There was about 3 to 5 inches of snow on the trail from a small storm that ended just as we began. Two of us hiked Aspen Vista and it was a beautiful snowy morning. As you can see from the picture the fall colors were there too. It was a unique fall/winter opportunity, even if it was a bit slushy. I hope and pray that yesterday was a good sign for an appropriately snowy winter.

Beginning in November we will be moving our liturgical hikes toward more temperate areas around Santa Fe and may have back up hikes in place in case they are needed. Stay tuned for details about how that will work. But we will keep hiking, liturgically, throughout the winter so break out your warm clothes and join us.

Blessings,

Jon+

October's Liturgical Hike

2008-09-17T16:06:00.006-06:00

On Sunday October 5th we'll again be hiking the popular Aspen Vista Trail. Hopefully we will be able to hike in the midst of beautiful fall colors and cool temperatures.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am and leave there at 8:45am. Please see the p.s. for important details about the day.

As I mentioned last time we hiked this trail, in many ways Aspen Vista is ideal for liturgical hiking because two or three can walk abreast. For the first couple of miles it is a "relatively" easy uphill grade. Again this time we will stop for Eucharist at one of the first places with a good view of the valley below. After that those who wish to continue toward the summit may do so while others may wish to saunter a bit further or simply return.

Please be sure to follow this link to the Santa Fe National Forest page which gives greater detail about the trail, http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/tesuquepeak.html

I look forward to seeing you October 5th.

Blessings,

Jon+
Parson

P.S.:

Be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a snack. Also be prepared for the weather which can change quickly at this altitude, especially at this time of year.

Friendly and trail wise dogs are welcome on this trail and since the feast day of St. Francis is Oct. 4th we will be offering special blessings for our canine companions.

We should be on the trail by 9:30am or so and I would expect that we will reach the spot for snack/lunch and Eucharist in about an hour. I would expect we will be finished with Eucharist by about 11:30am and then you're on your own to continue or to return.

September's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2008-09-12T09:33:00.006-06:00

Sunday September 7th was a beautiful day to be almost anywhere outside in Santa Fe and this was particularly true on the Norski Trail. WitW revisited this beautiful trail which we hiked first in July.

Fall was in the air but everything was still green, even lush due to the wonderful precipitation we've enjoyed this season. Thirteen of us had a good time hiking the easy trail and sharing a bit of our lives with each other as we hiked along. As is our custom we stopped along the way to hear the lectionary lessons of the day, to reflect on those lessons together, to pray together and to share the Eucharist.

Please check back soon for details about the October hike which will be on Sunday October 5th.

Blessings,

Jon+

September's Liturgical Hike

2008-08-31T15:07:00.006-06:00

Hi All,

Once again, by popular demand, we will be hiking the Norski Trail on Sunday the 7th. This is the trail we hiked in July and was, as I promised, a very enjoyable and easy hike. You can find my posts regarding that first Norski hike with additional information in the link to "older posts" just to the right below this post.

September 7th may be too early for fall colors but I'm sure we will see changes from two months ago as this lovely area gets ready for the new season.

As before we will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am and leave there at 8:45am.

This is a shorter hike and we will most likely be finished before noon.

Blessings and I look forward to seeing you on the 7th,

Jon+

P.S. Be sure to bring water and a snack (or lunch) and be prepared for whatever the weather may have in store for us. I'll be there rain or shine (or whatever else).

August's Liturgical Hike: Reflections

2008-08-05T11:15:00.009-06:00

On Sunday August 3rd a hardy group of 15 hiked the Aspen Vista trail. The weather was perfect, the views were spectacular and the Christian fellowship was divine.

I think all would agree that the part of Aspen Vista we hiked was not too difficult and could be rated "moderately easy". We hiked about 2 miles up stopping along the way for a reading at one place, a rest break at another, and then had Eucharist. Afterwards, many decided to hike a bit further while others simply returned.

I think it is safe to say that Aspen Vista will become a recurring favorite. I expect that we will return to Aspen Vista in October (the 5th) when hopefully the Aspen's will be ablaze with color.

Our September hike will be Sunday the 7th, which is not Labor Day weekend. So look for my post with details about that hike soon and plan to be with us.

Blessings,

Jon+

August's Liturgical Hike

2008-07-26T09:10:00.005-06:00

On Sunday August 3rd we'll be hiking the popular Aspen Vista Trail. We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am and leave there at 8:45am. Please see the p.s. for details with respect to time, etc.

For those of you who are not familiar with this trail it is actually a service road to the radio, etc. towers on Tesuque Peak. In many ways it is ideal for liturgical hiking because two or three can walk abreast. For the first couple of miles it is a "relatively" easy uphill grade.

My hope is to stop for Eucharist at one of the first places with a good view of the valley below. After that those who wish to continue toward the summit may do so while others may wish to saunter a bit further or simply return.

Please be sure to follow this link to the Santa Fe National Forest page which gives greater detail about this trail, http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/tesuquepeak.html

I look forward to seeing you on August 3rd.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. We should be on the trail by 9:30am and I would expect that we will reach the spot for snack/lunch and Eucharist in about an hour or so. I would expect we will be finished with Eucharist by 11:30am or so and then you're on your own to continue or to return. Be sure to bring plenty of water and at least a snack. Also be prepared for the weather which can change quickly at this altitude.

It appears that dogs are quite welcome on this trail.

July's Hike: Reflections

2008-07-07T13:27:00.010-06:00

Our hike on July 6th was wonderful. We hiked the Norski Trail which sits at 10,000 feet but is a short and easy hike through Aspens and Firs and abundant wildflowers.

It was a cool and pleasant morning and all agreed that this was the "easy" hike I had promised it would be but that it was also one of the most beautiful too. I'm sure we will revisit the Norski Trail often so that we can witness first hand the change of seasons and enjoy it over and over again.

Please check back soon for information about August's hike, which will be on August 3rd.

Blessings,

Jon+

July's Liturgical Hike

2008-06-21T16:22:00.004-06:00

Hi All,

If you haven't joined us before this is the perfect hike to begin your liturgical hiking career.

On Sunday July 6th we will hike the Norski Trail, which is 14 miles up Hyde Park Road (Hwy. 475) just before you reach the Santa Fe Ski Basin parking lot.

Norski Trail is truly an easy hike with very gentle hills and is relatively short too, only about two miles. The trail itself is very "soft" and easy to walk on and goes through beautiful Aspen and Fir stands with lovely wildflowers all around. Because this trail is shorter and easier (and we are leaving earlier, see below) I would think you can be finished by noon if you wish.

We will meet in the St. Bede's parking lot at 8:30am (note the earlier time) and leave there at 8:45am.

Here is a link to the Forest Service web page about the trail -

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/255_norski.html

Blessings and I look forward to seeing you on the 6th,

Jon+

P.S. Please be sure to bring your own water and a snack or lunch. Also, I'm not sure this is the best hike for some of our more energetic canine friends and ask that if you bring your dog you be prepared to keep him/her on a leash and/or well controlled.

June's Liturgical Hike - Reflections:

2008-06-06T14:38:00.006-06:00

A hardy baker's dozen of us hiked the Chamisa Trail on Sunday, June 1st. It was a little warm but we had a great time anyway. There were a few cool mountain breezes and shade and beautiful butterflies and flowers. We ate our lunches and had Eucharist in the shade of a great pine tree in the meadow by Tesuque Creek.

The only real "problem" was that I inadvertently left my camera in the back of a pickup truck at the trail head and didn't realize it until it was much too late to go back for it. So no photos from this liturgical hiking adventure - I hope I never do that again! The beautiful blooming cactus above is in my "yard" and will have to suffice for this month.

We will meet again on Sunday July 6th so stay tuned for details. I'll post where we'll be hiking by June 22nd so you'll have plenty of time to check it out.We will probably leave a little earlier in the morning in order to beat the heat. We may also go up a bit in elevation for the same reason so be sure that you are up for that (no pun intended).

Please feel free to e-mail me about your favorite hikes if you wish and be sure to include links to any online information about your hike.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. The camera was right where I left it. ☺

June's Liturgical Hike

2008-05-28T19:17:00.006-06:00

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN US:

On Sunday June 1st we will be hiking the Chamisa Trail which is on the road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

The hike is about 5 miles round trip and is classified as an “easy” hike, but please know that it does require more effort than a neighborhood walk. We welcome anyone who is able to participate in a hike of this type.

It will likely be hot so please dress appropriately, bring plenty of water and a lunch. The hike, lunch and accompanying liturgy will take a good 4 hours depending on our pace.

More information about the trail can be found in a variety of place on the web, here’s a link to one by the USDA Forrest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/espanola/trails/183_chamisa.html

If you have any questions please click on my e-mail link above.

Blessings,

Jon+

P.S. It appears that well behaved dogs are welcome on this trail. However, it may be prudent to keep dogs leashed at certain points do to trail conditions.

Reflecting on May's Hike & Looking forward to June.

2008-05-10T08:36:00.011-06:00

We had a great time on our first "liturgical hike" on May 4th and invite you to our next worship outing on Sunday June 1st. Details about the June 1st hike will be posted soon so be sure to check back.

God's Peace be with you,

Jon+

May's "Liturgical Hike"

2008-04-26T20:26:00.005-06:00

We are very much looking forward to our May hiking/worship experience and invite you to be with us.

On Sunday May 4th we will be “liturgically hiking” the Borrego/Bear Wallows Trail which is just off the road to the Santa Fe Ski basin. Details about the trail can be found at http://www.explorenm.com/hikes/Borrego/

We will meet in the St. Bede’s Episcopal Church parking lot at 9:30am and leave there at 9:45am. St. Bede's is located at 1601 S. St. Frances Dr. (on the southeast corner of St. Frances and W. San Mateo). The hike and accompanying liturgy will take 3+ hours. Please be sure to bring your own water and lunch (at least a snack) and be prepared for the weather.

If you have any questions please click on my profile and follow the links to e-mail me.

Blessings,

Jon+

2008-04-23T09:15:00.003-06:00

Welcome to the Worship in the Wilderness (W.i.t.W.) blog. This is a new ministry of the Episcopal Church sponsored by St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Santa Fe, NM.

Our first "liturgical" hiking worship experience will be the first Sunday in May, the 4th.

Please check back for details on where and what time to meet.