Universal Ministry
Fellowship Services 2008

Saturday, August 9th
Lammas/Lunhgnasad Fellowship Celebration

Sorry - event cancelled.

Ministry Field Trips - Youth Group Activities

August 8th - 10th 2008
Lakeside Campgrounds - Double DAB Riding Stables - PanGaia Farm Petting Zoo

Sorry - event cancelled.

Ministry Field Trips - Youth Group Activities
Recent Trips

Pan Gaia Farm Field Trip, Ripley, New York
Saturday June 9th 2007

Boy, did we have a great time at PanGaia Farm in Ripley New York last weekend. We will absolutely be making this a regular Universal Ministry activity.

We checked into the Pines at Lake Erie Saturday. The cottages are very clean and roomy and lovely, and the lake is across the street. We comfortably slept 13 of us between the 3 bedrooms and the living room. There was also a lovely sun porch that would have held a few more, if we'd've had a 4th car load of people. Sunday morning we caravanned the 5 minute drive to PanGaia Farm. Kym, Rick and Jake of PanGaia had farm-fresh breakfast waiting for us at 10am.

After the morning meal, the golfing members of our gang took off for one of several local golf courses and enjoyed the beautiful weather and fresh air while the remainder of us stayed on the farm. PanGaia Farm is a petting zoo extravaganza! The young children in our group really enjoyed this. Goats, sheep, puppies, chickens, turkeys, ducks, Sammy the Donkey, and many more. The kids took saddled donkey rides, fed the free-range birds, climbed the best climbing tree you've ever seen, helped with farm chores, picked fresh strawberries, collected fresh eggs, and enjoyed a few hay rides over PanGaia's 82 acres.

At dinner time we all went back to the cottage and enjoyed a pot luck BBQ. Some of our group had to get back to Ohio Sunday night to prepare for Monday morning work. Those of us who could stay an extra day rented the cottage for an additional night and headed back to Ohio the following morning. Everyone went home with fresh strawberries, eggs and preserves.

Reservations for the cottages at The Pines fill up very quickly, so we are looking at reserving our preferred dates for next summer already. They are open year round, and once Wine Season has passed, are more available for spontaneous trips. There are also hotel rooms available year round at The Pines, and we do plan to arrange some tent camping trips to stay at the farm itself from time to time. I will always send notices when a field trip is being planned. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in becoming involved in future trips, or if you'd like to place an order for the eggs, seasonal produce, or poultry.  Trip info will be posted there before and after each trip.

Very much thank you to Kym and Rick and Jake and all the animals at Pan Gaia Farm for their generous hospitality and the fabulous experience. We can't wait to come back!  www.PanGaiaFarm.com

Much Love, Health and Success,
Reverend Angelle
Universal Ministry
www.UniversalMinistry.net 

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Summer Solstice Celebration - Double DAB Riding Stables Ripley, New York - Saturday, June 23 2007

A wonderful time was had by all at Double DAB in Ripley New York last weekend. We will definitely repeat this trip as regular Universal Ministry activity.

We checked into Lakeside Campgrounds early Saturday afternoon. The cottage we stayed at was a little smaller than the one at The Pines, but for a last-minute change in reservations, it housed the eight of us quite nicely.  We had a look around another rental cottage while we were there, and with advanced reservations, this one is really nice, and a little roomier. They also have RV hookups and tent camping year-round at Lakeside.

We took the kids down to the beach for a little while before getting ready to head to the Solstice Gathering.  The water of Lake Erie in Ripley, New York is not contaminated by industry or long-term over-usage.  The water is so clear, looking down from the shore, you can see the bottom of the lake from the shoreline out over 1000 feet.  The beach is a rock enthusiast's dream.  Endless miles of pebbles and stones mix with intermittent patches of non-littered sand.  Here and there other campers pull up a lawn chair to read a good book, or fashion a fire pit, and families splash in the water.  We're told that a mile east of where we were based is a water fall that leads into the lake, but we did not take the time to find it this trip.  We did however find a stream that lead down some carved shelves in the land making a lovely, peaceful spot for the adults to sit and chat while the children and teens enjoyed Lake Erie.

After awhile, it was time to get dressed and head on over to Double DAB Riding Stables.  Most of our troupe brought some form of costuming or ritual garb or festive dress.  It took us about 6 minutes to drive there from Lakeside Campgrounds.  Games were already underway when we drove up to Double DAB and passed the Unicorns at the top of the drive.  The banquet tables were overflowing with the dishes brought by the guests; there were many coolers lined up with refreshing, cold beverages for children and adults.  Kym and Rick of PanGaia Farm had prepared a wide variety of activities, games and contests for the kids and the grown ups: riddles, puzzles, elf lore and trivia, egg carrying and egg toss contests, tug-of-war sessions, a "big, big" talent show (grin), and much more.  Participants in the activities won strands of blue ribbon, which counted as "faery money" to be spent at the White Elephant auction table later.   And the table was filled edge to edge with wonderful items brought by each guest to be donated to the auction.  The children's items were auctioned off first, then the adult items.  Everyone went home with a very lovely, wide variety of prizes that cost them only a bit a fun.

The Solstice Ritual started with a wooden wheel that we were instructed to tie feathers to with string.  The feathers represented that which we wanted to banish or eliminate from our lives during the height of the growing - weeding season.  Those who wished tied their Intent to the wheel, and added their energy to it.  We gathered around the fire at sunset and Kym led us in our focus.  With our hands joined and energy raised, we released the wheel to the fire and our group energy to the Universe to let the Good Work be done.

After the Rite we sat around the fire and drummed and sang, including many songs designed at encouraging the young children to sing along.  We laughed and smiled through several verses of "Old MacDonald" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and others, as well as some old-world chants.

As the yawns came more frequently, it was time to head back to our cottage and call it a night. 

The conversation was wonderful.  The company was delightful.  The environment was divine.  We cannot wait to return to Double DAB and go riding!  Please check out their website at www.DoubleDAB.com

Much Love, Health and Success,
Reverend Angelle
Universal Ministry
www.UniversalMinistry.net 

 
You must RSVP for these events
440 257 5149
or email Rev. Angelle
RevAngelle@UniversalMinistry.net