I had the joy of the group planning a special outing to the Spanish Inn on Pebble Beach – the highlight was waiting for the surprise. As I listened, I heard the remarkable sound of the bagpiper. Seems it’s a nightly ritual, but for me and this experience – to smell the salt water, to see […]
Carmel: Using Someone Else’s Toys
On the 18 mile drive we came across these cairns – someone had a great sense of humor – and we decided to join in their fun. Truly we had to stop to see what they had done. Sometimes we create fun and have no idea how others might experience it later on. I think […]
Shared Stories: Humpback Whale
An amazing rescue story and show of profound gratitude — it truly brought tears to my eyes. Sent in from BJ Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYPlcSD490
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown, part 3
One of the fun discoveries about Stuart Brown is he isn’t just a brainiac espousing theories and hypothesis about play; he embodies his own theories and loves to play. We discovered upon meeting with him that he has an amazing tree house!! Four flights up to a location way up in the trees of Carmel Valley […]
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown, continued
Stuart listened as each of us shared our thoughts and hopes of this time and the whole summer. He shared the biological evidence, after extensive experimental work on rats, that play is indeed not something we learn or are conditioned, but truly a part of our DNA. It is woven in our very genetic fiber. At […]
Carmel: Dr. Stuart Brown
We met with Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute of Play and author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, which was an amazing time for us all. What an amazing man, in touch fully with both masculine and feminine sides, authentic, genuine, funny, brilliant, a story teller, Stanford […]
Meet our Pastor-In-Residence, Laurie Furr-Vancini
Church of the Hills welcomes Laurie Furr-Vancini as our pastor-in-residence for the month of July. Laurie will be participating in worship, events of the life of the church, and will truly be part of our church community. Laurie is a dear friend and comes highly recommended by Katie Robb (another minister in that presbytery and our former youth director). […]
Carmel: Getting Your Grove On
At a wonderful Greek restaurant, after the appetizers were served, the owner and the waiter and the chef came out with guitar and tambourine, and started playing. The atmosphere of the place shifted radically as everyone joined in clapping and cheering then they brought out two belts with bells and invited Kay and Nicki to play – and […]
Article: Mountain Connection, July 2011
Published in the July 2011 issue of the Mountain Connection Magazine COTH Dances With Wolves By Amy Fisher For those of us fortunate enough to live in our beautiful mountain communities, getting up close and personal with wildlife typically occurs every day—perhaps an elk jam on the way to work or witnessing a mother […]
COTH Guest in the Pulpit, Joelle Brummett Beller
COTH looks forward to welcoming Reverend Joelle Brummett Beller, Fuller Teaching Professor, who will be preaching July 3rd and 10th. Pastor Joelle’s theme will be “Godly Play” which corresponds to Pastor Dee Cooper’s Sabbatical theme. Following is a brief bio for Pastor Brummett Beller: Joelle Brummett Beller is a Fuller Theological Seminary graduate and a PC(USA) minister. She has […]