Winter, 2013 Vol 65

Editors: Innes Kasanof; Peg DiBenedetto; Judy DiBenedetto; Karen Rauter; Carrie Bradley Neves; Art: Nina Kasanof

and in this conversation the driver told Adventures and Technology Bob that he had made a delivery in Hal- Alan Reynolds cott and got directions back to Oneonta from his GPS. One of the things he re- Greene County received the 911 membered was going past a Tar Paper call. Using his cell phone, the Lowe’s Shack. Right away Bob knew what had delivery truck driver reported that be- happened. cause of poor road conditions and a tree The Tar Paper Shack, a sort of blocking his way he couldn’t continue. hunting cabin, has been a Halcott land- Somewhere in the conversation Johnson mark for many years. It sits at the top of Hollow Road was mentioned so the dis- Greene County Route 3 in the saddle be- patcher, knowing that Johnson Hollow tween Vly Mountain and Bear Pen. The Road was off State Route 23 in Pratts- portion of County 3 from Rolf Brun- ville, called Dennis Hull at Randy’s ner’s, in Halcott, to the Jaeger farm, in Transmission. Dennis headed for John- Prattsville, once one of the main routes son Hollow with his wrecker to help the into Halcott, has been largely unmain- driver. Sometime later, having made tained and unused for generations. Alt- several trips over that road, he was una- hough the Halcott side has a fairly rea- ble to locate the problem. sonable grade and stays in pretty good Greene County then contacted shape, the Prattsville side is steep. In Delaware County. Erickson’s, in early town history it was not a problem Arkville was called to see if they might for horse traffic, but the advent of motor be able to help. vehicles made the route impractical. To- Bob Erickson talked to the driv- day it gets some use by loggers, who er, on the cell phone, to clarify a location may be working near the road, and some snowmobilers and ATV users, but little had gotten to the top of the mountain in the else. Remember, too, that the incident wrecker, but now there were two more pas- we’re exploring took place after the 2011 sengers to accommodate. The decision flood, so the Prattsville side of County 3 was made that the Lowe’s helper would had serious washouts. squeeze into the cab with Bob and Rob, Bob Erickson and and the other driver was se- his helper Rob took his lected to make the freezing wrecker to the Tar Paper ride on the wrecker body Shack and, knowing the im- back to the Hess station in practicality of trying to go Margaretville where he could any further, started walking make arrangements for a ride down the other side. They home. were amazed that anyone, Next morning Bob especially in a truck, would Erickson knew that his have gone past Rolf Brun- equipment wouldn’t be able ner’s place seeing the con- to get to the problem site on dition of the road where it the Prattsville side of County starts up grade, and even 3 so he called a former em- more amazed that they wouldn’t have ployee, Jake Rosa, for some additional turned around at the shack after having help. Jake, now a local logger, is one of gotten that far. Once you leave the shack those practical, intuitive people who thrive and start down toward Prattsville there’s in rural areas and can make real problems no turning back and they were absolutely turn into mere inconveniences. Jake incredulous that a vehicle could have got- brought his bulldozer and a chain saw to ten very far down that stretch of road that the Halcott side and headed up over the even ATV operators had called difficult, mountain. At the Tar Paper Shack they but they were close to the bottom before were joined, once again, by the Lowe’s they reached the stranded truck. The driver. This time he and his helper had a truck driver had been stopped where he two-wheel drive compact pick-up. By now was because the truck body had gotten Bob, Rob and Jake really didn’t want any hung up under a tree that was leaning help from the Lowe’s crew, so they were sharply over the trail. asked to stay at the shack and wait until By this time it was getting late and they got the cell phone call that things approaching a frosty night. Bob knew were cleared up. that there wasn’t enough time to deal with Jake worked his way down the the problem that day so they decided to mountain, moving material as he went, just do it the next morning. Bob and Rob, to get himself down the hill safely, all the along with the Lowe’s driver and his time wondering how the truck could have helper walked back up mountain to Bob’s made that trip. Finally down to the scene of wrecker. Here it became evident that all the trouble, he hooked to the rear of the there was another problem. Bob and Rob Lowe’s truck and pulled it back up the hill

2 far enough to clear the troublesome tree. and nuthatches, chickadees and red caps. A little work with the chainsaw took care The jostling, the posturing, the hissing and of the tree, and from that point down the pecking all prove that human nature is not hill the road was in pretty good shape. just for humans. Since the truck was so close to the The season has certain days that bottom of the mountain, Jake and Bob seem to dance with their own joy. Crisp were about to call the Lowe’s driver and with a brilliant winter sun to grace them, his helper to have them go around to they are simply not available in summer. Prattsville on good roads and get the truck They start with a winter sun that is just for there. But, you guessed it, here they show -- there is no heat involved -- but came down the mountain again, this time what a show! It only works part time in in the two wheel drive pick-up. As the winter, and lazily drifts through its day two groups were about to part company, riding close to the horizon. The low light the Lowe’s driver asked Jake how he glances off the toast-colored fields and could get to Route 23 from where they back-lights the poplars on Jim and Karen were. Jake told him “the same way you Rauter’s hill behind my house. Each were going to do it yesterday” and headed branch is lined with silver. Some beauti- back toward Halcott with the bulldozer. ful. Who needs tinsel? Snow-shoes bring joy. I bundle up Hunker Down in too many layers, tuck my camera in my As the outside temperature begins pocket, and strap on my snow-shoes, to flirt with single digits, I ask myself, struggling to bend. Falling down becomes “Am I ready for winter?” That long dark harmless with all that padding. Getting up tunnel from January until April yawns at again is more difficult. Finding my cam- me. Perhaps it would help to list the joys era in all those pockets is next to impossi- of winter that serve to chase away the ble. I give up and admire my large, myste- yawns. Well, birds are one. Winter is rious, Yedi type tracks in the pristine SUPPOSED to be the season of hibernat- snow. I start to regret the layers as I work ing bears, so I can hang the bird feeders up a sweat. Frigid air sears my lungs. The without fear. My bird feeders bring great silence is total. It is joyous. joy. There is such a flutter when whole Joy comes more slowly on dark families of finches discover my feeder at days when the precipitation is always once! white. I could lie to you and say that these And the days are spent curled up in front of a cozy smug and fire, poking through the bottom of bon- absolute bons to find my favorites. No. But in be- triumph tween daily chores, I look out the window. of hosting If I squint and forget about the shoveling a cardi- that needs to be done, I can imagine my- nal! self in a paper weight of magical swirl. Blue jays Evenings can be spent in front of

3 the fire, toasting my toes. Friends visit- forth from the barberry hedge they go to ing, arriving with bright red noses and hide other seeds, in scalloped swoops of chilly cheeks. Less joyful is battling the flight, as if hanging bunting for a Thanks- coat closet when too many down jackets giving festival. don’t compress. Hat hair. That tell-tale Meanwhile, we humans have been grime I wear on my coat after leaning into picking dishes and shopping for the holi- the back of my winter-weary car to pull day table. Up in Halcott, we are having a out the groceries. Sometimes the joy can dreamy white Thanksgiving this year, and be hard to find.… it is difficult, through the swirling snow, But the joy of joys comes with to imagine the recent days when filling recounting the journey through the tunnel the salad bowl or the roasting pan was at the April end. Those of us who pass just a stroll to the garden away. through a winter in Halcott I had my first full-size are winter warriors with vegetable garden in San bragging rights, perhaps Francisco, where I lived even exaggerating rights. for sixteen years. We Snow birds shall quail be- were lucky enough to fore us. We wear our victo- have a big backyard in ries boldly, shrugging off the city, and since the chapped lips and lost mit- woman I shared the tens. We wore out winter! house with was a land- Never mind that a secret scaper—a flower and weapon throughout the or- shrub expert—I decided deal was the memory of to take a crack at a food riding our bike on a hot day garden. Thus began a ten in summer. IK year education in West- ern coastal grow-your-own. When I tell Green As Snow the story now, seven years into the very different book of cultivating in an eastern From the window of this small, wood- mountain zone, I emphasize (that is to paneled room, I can see the black-capped say, exaggerate) for East Coasters, and chickadees getting down to winter. Look- especially Catskillians, how in California, ing past a clutch of spider eggs, three tiny I could plunge my arm into the soft earth gray orbs frozen in the top corner pane, I anywhere and easily, right up to the el- watch the busy birds in the box of sun- bow, and the year-round growing sea- flower seeds on the porch. They hunt and son—leaving them agape at the thoughts. peck for the one that speaks to them, then Not that I could, with the many cool, hold the seed between their toes and, us- foggy days in the Bay round any year, ing the seeming hydraulic power of their grow a decent tomato or a melon to save necks, drill a hole in the shell and pick my life. (Even with the short growing out the oily meat, bit by bit. Back and season here, the summer heat can yield

4 such sweet fruits!) And after a decade and Conestoga style, right in the garden where a half out West, the East Coast started the plants grow. But nothing had yet ap- calling me home: more and more I missed pealed to me as much as a classic solar- the seasons, growing or anywise—the heated cold frame, with its focused func- cycle from the perfect newborn neon tion and easy, inexpensive reality—and green of pea shoots and ferns and leaf yet, what a luxury, to be able to pick fresh buds pulsing in spring to the ripening spinach in January. rainbow of summer to the stirring Techni- A cold frame can be a wood box with a color of fall to this slumbering mono- glass or Plexiglas window on top, a hay chrome of winter. bale enclosure covered with plastic, or a I moved back. I put in a garden, where humble structure of 2-by-4s or bricks I love the challenges of season, altitude, topped with an old shower door. Marc and and rock. Next I became fond of the pro- I settled on a simple box design that fits cess of “putting food by”—sauces, jams, over our raised beds, topped with recycled pickles, and freezer bags of squashes, storm windows. The back of the frame is beans, and greens—tucked into a variety higher than the front so the window is of corners for the long winter, rather like slanted to capture as much southern light the chickadees’ clever seed caches. But as as possible. A hoop house designed for much as I am motivated by the brisk ur- winter growing is another popular option, gency of the shortening days; and enjoy but I love the idea of the greenery plainly the sort of drama of pre-winter tasks like in sight and the easy access of lifting the putting winter protection around roses window on a hinge. and lilies, or giving the fruit trees and Cold frames shelter plants from ice, bushes one last long, deep drink of water; snow, and winter winds, and heat up the and look forward to the profoundness of soil whenever the sun shines by as much the long winter’s sleep . . . I get pangs for as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Because seeds of the annual ending of that walk for salad. many hardy vegetables can germinate in So when Marc came back this summer the 50-degree range, a spell of mild weath- from a visit to Eliot Coleman’s famous er can coax them to life. Because winter organic farm in Harborside, Maine, with snuck up on us this year, we will have to reports of using cold frames for “four- wait until next year to do it right—much of season gardening,” I kicked up my boots. the planning and seeding for all-winter Like many gardeners, I fantasize about crops ideally takes place in September and a full-size heated greenhouse that is very October, and as early as August. But even unlikely to ever materialize; and I have now, under a cold frame the frozen soil been curious about hoop gardens, or a will gradually thaw, and there are some hoop house, from what I hear a great way cold-tolerant plants that will theoretically to extend the fall growing season or pro- germinate. It’s worth a shot! tect seedlings in spring by plopping a For starters, once the soil has thawed, construction of sturdy metal hoops with we will add half a foot of fresh horse ma- greenhouse cloth stretched over them, nure to the bottom of the bed; the rotting

5 of the manure will generate heat through something has just a bit of relaxing spirit the cold months. Next come the seeds, to boot, how much the better. Or butter, limited to the very heartiest, low-growing as I’ve discovered. I’ve heard of hot— plants: spinach, mâche, radishes, lettuce, buttered rum my whole life, but have only maybe kale and arugula. Starting earlier, just recently begun to gather recipes and carrots, beets, scallions, and leeks are experiment with this lovely idea. Warn- among the other exciting crops that can ing: it’s not for the faint or clogged of thrive through a Halcott winter under the heart. I cannot stress enough that if you protection of a cold frame. After seeds are seeing a cardiologist, this drink may have begun to grow inside the frames, the not be for you. However, if you are the plants can survive even 10-degree nights arterial age of a kindergartener and have (an insulated blanket on top or hay bales the requisite LDL and HDL levels, give it around the sides of the box will help a go. I’m still tweaking this one. Too when the mercury really dips). watery? How about a little half & half One of the beauties of winter, of instead? Can we incorporate some dark course, is that we get to take a break from chocolate? Send in your improvements gardening. But Coleman points out, with for inclusion in the Spring edition… it winter gardens you can “have your break takes a village. Or a town. A cold, and eat it too.” With few weeds and crit- snowy, wonderful town. ters to contend with, all a cold frame re- quires is occasional watering, venting— HOT – BUTTERED RUM on a hot day, the frame can get hot enough to fry the plants, so the window With an electric mixer, blend together: for should be propped open during the peak 1 minute: hours—and harvesting. Like the chickadee leaving its cozy 1 stick of softened unsalted butter winter nest in search of seeds and suet, it ½ cup packed dark brown sugar can be hard to leave our little homes for ¾ tsp ground cinnamon another trip to the supermarket on a bitter ¾ tsp ground ginger cold day, especially if the fresh vegeta- ½ tsp ground nutmeg bles we find there are limp and road- 1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest weary. But if a walk through white drifts leads to fresh, edible leaves—the most Place 2 tbsp of the spiced butter into a “local” of greens—the gardener’s heart mug. will take wing. CBN Add 1-2 shots of rum (1.5 oz. or so, de- pending on taste), Hot-Buttered Fun ¾ cup boiling water, and top off with squeeze or two of the orange There’s nothing like a cup of hot something to even out the bone-chilling, Stir, sit down, drink up, and feel the face –freezing winds of winter, and if that warmth.

6 Island Reds, and Golden Comets in her cur- (The butter mixture will last in your re- rent flock. frigerator for 2 weeks if necessary, but, The breeds chosen are for egg production really, why?) PD for both! and Christl does sell eggs when the hens are laying well. (She said her flock now in- The Little Red Hen cludes quite a few older hens that no longer Isn’t it interesting what can be- lay many eggs.) Her favorite breeds are the come of seemingly small, random begin- Americanas, which lay blue eggs, and the nings? All of us can point to events that Marans, which lay beautiful dark brown shaped the course of our lives, piquing eggs. Christl noted how lovely these blue our interest in things that perhaps we nev- and brown eggs look when mixed together in er really considered before. Christl John- cartons. son’s amazing, colorful flock of chickens As with any kind of animals, a few indi- is a beautiful example of this. From one viduals always stand out as being especially red hen found by Tim and Christl’s son memorable for different reasons. One men- Ben several years ago in the parking lot tioned was, of course, the red hen that started of the A & P, the flock has grown to some it all. Christl said the hen was very tame 100 birds today and, along with it, and was probably someone’s pet before it Christl’s interest in different breeds of ended up loose in the A&P parking lot. An- chickens. Indeed, Christl’s knowledge of other hen mentioned was a Silver Spangled and enthusiasm for her chickens is re- Hamburg that recently hatched out eight vealed whenever she discusses them; she chicks against the odds in the bull pen con- is a treasure trove of information! taining two bulls. Apparently the bulls were How did the flock grow from one to a agreeable to sharing their pen with the set- hundred? For several years now, Christl ting hen! A final hen mentioned was “Reeb- has been purchasing groups of day old a-Cheep”, a chick that was raised in the chicks from Meyers Hatchery in Ohio. house during a cold spell. Christl said “Reeb She said that this particular hatchery car- -a- Cheep” used to sit and watch evening TV ries a good selection of some of the more with her and Tim before she was big enough rare breeds and she chooses which breeds to go to the barn and today she remains one to order by studying the Meyers Hatchery of the friendliest chickens on the farm. catalog to see what looks interesting. Best wishes, Christl, to you and your grow- Shortly after the order is placed the chicks ing flock! JD arrive in the mail in large, special boxes all ready to go into the chick pen at the Celebrity in the House! (And in Hal- Johnson’s farm where they grow rapidly cott…) under Christl’s watchful eyes. She esti- mates that she has at least a dozen differ- Halcott’s own Carrie Bradley Neves has ent breeds or crosses including Blue spent most of 2013 on a worldwide reunion Splash Marans, Black Copper Marans, tour with The Breeders – a pretty famous Golden Cuckoo Marans, Brahmas, Rhode Alternative Rock band from the 90’s. I re-

7 cently spent an afternoon with Carrie and est thing was getting bumped out of the asked her a few questions… Copacabana Hotel in Rio de Janeiro by the Pope! We’d booked it, but when we PD: Who are The Breeders, and how got there we found he’d taken over the did you become one? whole place – it was a real bummer. The CBN: The Breeders came together scariest thing happened at Brisbane, Aus- through Kim Deal of The Pixies. It’s tralia when I came VERY close to being three women, one male drummer, and dinner for a shark just off the beach. myself as the violinist as need- PD: What’s the biggest, or best concert ed. They’ve had double-platinum success so far? with a song called “Cannonball” and a CBN: We played to 70,000 people in cover of “Drivin’ on 9”, which I had Mexico City, which actually used to be done earlier with another band called pretty common for us. The best one was Ed’s Redeeming Qualities. Barcelona. There were 25,000 there, and PD: Ok. Let’s back up. You were trained it was a spectacular night. as a classical violinist, right? PD: The soundtrack of the movie “Juno” CBN: Yep. Started at 8 years old in my sounds like your style. school orchestra in Guilderland, NY. I CBN: Dozens of people have told me was always 1st chair, 1st violin, and then that. I actually met the woman who wrote my family moved to Minneapolis and at those songs, and she told me that “Drivin’ 15 I was studying privately and played on 9” saved her life, and that it was the with the youth symphony. While I was at first song she learned on her guitar. I felt Williams College I quit, because playing very honored by that. sports became more important to PD: Imitation is the sincerest form of me. Eventually, though, I joined a blue- flattery, right? grass band and learned to “fiddle” and CBN: Yep; it’s true. spent 6 months on tour, which was so bad PD: You just recorded an album with I decided to pursue a writing career – and Bernie Jungle, who has spent a lot of time grad school – instead. But of course, on in this valley. When will it be released, the first day of classes, I met the people and how can I get it? that would become my next band, Ed’s CBN: Probably around Valentine’s Day Redeeming Qualities, and over the next 2014, released by Atom Records, and it 10 years we recorded 4 records and had 8 will be available on iTunes and Amazon. national tours. It was amazing. And then PD: You have been a musician on both Kim approached me and I joined The coasts and traveled around the world; Breeders. how’d you end up here in Halcott? PD: So what kind of a response have you CBN: I’d met Marc several years ago, received on this reunion tour? Anything and then re-met him in San Francis- weird or outrageous happen? co. Friendly e-mails turned into court- CBN: The response has been great! We ship. I was tired of living in California have multi-generational fans at all of our and had always wanted to live in Manhat- concerts, from age 12 to 85. The strang- 8 tan. Marc convinced me to come out for SLEIGH RIDE!! a visit. We fell in love, and he brought me Seth Finch will give sleigh rides to kids to Halcott. From the very first, I could of all ages on Saturday, February 8th from not believe how wonderful this place 2 to 4PM, meeting at the Grange Hall. is. Every time I go away, I can’t wait to Seth promises fun and adventure, snow or get back. Every time I drive into the val- no snow, but of course we all hope for ley I experience the same feeling I felt the snow. He is being sponsored by the Hal- first time; this is home. PD cott Community Fund. We will light a bonfire down by the stream, in honor of SCOUTS IN THE GARDEN the afternoon, roast marshmallows and Boy Scout Troop #80, led by Scout Mas- serve hot chocolate. Come in warm ter Terry Lehn came to the Halcott Com- clothes and share warm hearts as Seth munity Garden this fall to plant bulbs. whirls us around the Halcott fields. IK

PASSAGES On November 22, 2013, Jean Louise Wells, 90, of Kingston, NY, formerly of Ulster Park and Rhinebeck, passed peace- fully at Golden Hill Health Care Center, Kingston. She was born March 19, 1923. A native of Halcott Center, Jean Kelly Wells was the daughter of the late Chauncey and Lula Kelly. In her obituary, the family wrote: “Quite recently, Jean had begun writing stories of her childhood as a country girl. These were published in Although the efforts can be used towards her hometown newsletter, The Times of their horticultural badges, we’re told that Halcott.” She the Scouts did it for community service. was a wonder- They had a ball, according to one mother. ful and faithful Since many of them had been responsible contributor to for planting the shrubs and trees that were these pages and subsequently washed away by Irene in we will miss 2011, it was wonderful that they could her! take part again in a hopefully more suc- cessful effort. They are looking forward Walt Miller got to seeing what blooms this coming spring. his buck! A juicy Alex Brock reports, “They did a phe- 10 pointer. Good nomenal job and we got all planted in the hunting! front of the entry area.” IK Marilyn and Wayne Gallant

9 celebrated their 50th Anniversary on Thanksgiv- ing Day, on November 28th, 2013 in Arcadia, Florida with their family including: Lorraine and George Fuller and children Kaitlyn and Jacob of Ocala; Dean and Teri Gallant and children Josh and Sonni Ritch of Nocatee; and Jacqueline and Brian Harris and children Rebecca and Briana of Arcadia. Wayne and Marilyn were mar- ried on Thanksgiv- ing Day on November 28th, 1963 at the Hal- cott United Methodist Church. If anyone wishes to send them a card, their address is the following: Wayne and Marilyn Gallant 2692 NE Highway 70 Lot 626 Arcadia, FL 34266

HITCHED!: Sophia Bernhardt and Catheranne Wyly were wed on September 1, 2013, at the Bernhardt home, with Tim Mulvaney officiating. The ceremony was outdoors, on a mostly clear afternoon, and was attended by the couple's families and by friends from near and far.

AND

Suzanna DiBenedetto – born and raised in Hal- cott - and Eugene Cronk of Roxbury, were mar- ried on August 18th at the Shepard Hills Country Club in Roxbury. The date was originally August 17th, and the place was originally Suzanna’s par- ents’ hay field, but things happened, and all of the guests showed up at the right place at the right time, and a great time was had by all. Various nieces and nephews of the bride and groom were flower girls and ring-bearers, respectively. The bride was gorgeous in an elegant strapless dress of lace, and the groom was dashing in his tux and new work boots. Reverend Ralph Darmstadt con- ducted the ceremony with joy, and Suzanna and Eugene’s laughter and love permeated the day. Congratulations Suzanna and Eugene! PD

10 The Times of the

Halcott Methodist Church Winter 2013 Pattie Kelder, Correspondent

Winter Worship Hour abound with lingering effects, we are grateful to Evening services are being held at a new be able to help. Financial donations can still be time this year – 6:00 p.m. Morning services made to the church to assist UMCOR in the will resume in the spring – date to be an- wake of recent storms in the Philippines and nounced. All are welcome. our own Midwest. UMCOR stands for United Methodist Committee on Relief and 100% of Prayer Ministry receipts are always put to work on site. Prayer is powerful. We continue to re- ceive notes expressing appreciation for cards Old Roots, New Year and prayers. Since we don’t always hear of (or, From Ancestral Roots to New Beginnings) needs, readers are encouraged to share prayer The concept of New Year’s resolutions requests with us. can tell us something revealing about society. Collectively, humanity messes up on a regular The Next Dinner basis and frequently feels the need to make a Maybe we’ll surprise you! Whet your fresh start A clean slate, therefore, is both nec- appetites and stay tuned. essary and desirable. Since this has always been so, we’re all descended from a bunch of Community Food Pantry folks with a somewhat checkered past. Staffed entirely by volunteers and now When Jesus was born, he didn’t just serving over 275 households, your donations of make the humble shift from heavenly palace to goods and money are needed more than ev- lowly cow stall, he acquired a human family er. Helpful items that might not occur to us are tree with all of the embarrassment that goes cooking oil, cereals, jelly (to go with peanut but- with it. To be sure, the gospel writer’s 42 gen- ter) and rice. However, all kinds of foods are eration genealogy of Jesus, as listed in Mat- needed. Low salt, low fat and low sugar items thew, is not without righteous men of faith, like are an important part of the equation. Also ap- Abraham. Even so, they had their moments. preciated are toiletries, such as soap and toilet Factor Jesus’ hometown into the mix – “Can paper. anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) – and Jesus had a lot to overcome in life. Mission Kits Curious about the skeletons in Jesus’ Pouring of donations has recently allowed us to closet? Let’s take a look at a few: put together mission shipments on an unprece- Abraham – a great patriarch of the faith who dented level. At last count, there were 48 sew- yielded to wife, Sarah’s, bidding that he father a ing kits, 25 school kits, 14 Christmas shoeboxes son with servant, Hagar, rather than wait for and over 25 pillow case dresses. Helpers in- Sarah, herself, to conceive the son God had cluded the Sunday School, community members promised. Results included family strife that and several ladies from the Margaretville United persists today, 4000 years later. Descendents of Methodist Church. In a time when disasters son, Ishmael, are Arabs. Descendents of son,

11 Isaac, are Israelites. That about sums it up. Despite the questionable deeds at- Isaac – lied about the identity of his wife, Re- tributed to these folks, it is interesting to note bekah, rather than place his trust in God for that God gave each one a make-over. While protection. they had the potential to go down in history as Jacob – an opportunistic deceiver who ob- losers, their faith – and repentance where tained his brother, Esau’s blessing as well as needed – allowed God to make winners of Esau’s inheritance from father, Isaac, under them instead. It is never too late to turn over false pretenses. a new leaf and amount to something in King- Tamar – impersonated a prostitute and be- dom terms. came an unwed mother, a capital offense in So, what does all of this mean to us? Bible times. Long before Jesus was born, His human fore- Rahab – a foreigner and a harlot who, never- bears came to acknowledge God’s presence theless, helped Israelite scouts escape from and purpose in their broken or misunderstood Jericho. lives. As they yearned for reconciliation or Ruth – a foreigner in the family tree, even service opportunities, God heard and accepted though intermarriage was generally forbidden. David – a great king of Israel who committed their offers. Setting aside their flaws and in- adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged the cluding them in the lineage of Jesus demon- murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to strated how completely God forgives, how cover the deed. deeply He loves and how thoroughly He en- Mary – the mother of Jesus who was right- courages all of our feeble efforts to honor eous, yet dishonorable in the view of society Him. Regardless of our past, we are each im- for being pregnant outside of wedlock. (This portant to our heavenly Father. With God, we experience surely must have given her insight can start anew each year, indeed, each day. for raising her Son to weather the false accu- What an incredibly humbling and, at the same sations that would be made about Him later in time, powerfully freeing realization!

life.)

2013 Winter

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