By Revs. Matt and Alison McCaffrey
SHARON (04/07/2006) -- Fourteen bicyclists pulled up the last hill in the upper Naugatuck Valley on a hot July afternoon. Across the busy road was a familiar sight: the white spire of a UCC church. The grounds were shaded and inviting, and not a soul was in sight. It looked like a great place for lunch.
Just one problem: all the water and Gatorade we’d consumed made for a predictable need, and there were no public restrooms around.
As we resigned ourselves to an uncomfortable wait, a car pulled in to the deserted parking lot. A woman opened the door, and the group walked over, ready to plead for an hour’s rest.
Before they could open their mouths, the woman smiled, and said, “Welcome!”
She explained that she had seen us riding, immediately called the pastor, and received permission to open the church so we could use the restrooms or get a drink of cool water. Her son had once traveled with a bicycling group from her church, and ever since she’s felt an affinity with touring bicyclists.
When we got over our amazement, we explained in turn that the group was from Silver Lake, and that all the riders were members of UCC congregations in Connecticut. It was the woman’s turn to be amazed.
It was just another day in the life of the Nutmeg Creation Tour, which averages about 35 miles a day, starting Monday morning and ending Friday afternoon at Silver Lake in Sharon. Each night is spent at a different UCC church, and there’s time for rest and play as we go. Along the way, we look for signs of God in Creation.
We are both ordained clergy, and have led bicycling groups over thousands of miles since 1998. Our trip motto is simple: No one gets left behind.
Our 2006 adventure is set for July 9-15. We welcome anyone entering grades 9 through 12 in fall 2006. We will be glad to send you more information if you drop an email to info@onelane.org. And we encourage you to register soon at Silver Lake’s Web site: silverlake.ctucc.org. See you on the road!
Rev. Matt McCaffrey serves as Interim Pastor at First Church of Christ, Woodbridge. Rev. Alison McCaffrey is the Associate Pastor at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire.
