The conclusion of the last chapter left Mole and Rat shivering in the cold outside the subterranean residence of Mr. Badger.  In this episode, they spend a bit of time with the slumbering creature and also are visited by a couple of hedge hogs and the ever exuberant Otter.

Mole goes for a stroll.  Rat takes a nap.  Badger almost makes an appearance.

Mole and his friend the River Rat go to visit Toad in his mansion.  Toad takes them on one of his Wild Adventures.

In this first episode of the classic tale by Kenneth Grahame we meet the small creatures that live by the river:  Mole, Rat, Otter and for a brief moment Badger.  This is a story of friendship and the adventures of a group of friends as diverse as nature itself.

Paul's Final Exploits.  Paul accidentally digs the Grand Canyon, starts his own lumber mill, and finally retires deep in the woods of the Great Northwest with his faithful Moose Terrier Elmer.

Readings from the Lectionary

1 Samuel 3:3-10,19

Psalm 40

1 Corinthians 13-15, 17-20

The Gospel According to St John 1:35-42

"How Paul spends his Summers" might be the subtitle of this episode.  As with all things Paul Bunyan, when things go wrong they go wrong in a BIG way!  This episode is spiced with special guest voices Daffy Duck and Groucho Marx.

After the greatest logging season on record and after surviving the winter of the blue snow it's time for Paul and company to close down the Red River camp and head back east.  But not before cleaning up and having a big Sunday dinner.

Today we hear how hundreds of years before Christ was born the prophet Isaiah foretold that kings from the East would come bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; gifts recalling that Christ is Prophet, Priest and King.

The Gospel of Matthew then tells of the fulfillment of that prophecy as the wise men followed the Star of Bethlehem, looking for the newborn King of Israel.

Not everyone welcomes the news of the arrival of the new King however.  Seeking to protect his own worldly kingdom, King Herod reacts to the news of the birth of Jesus by ordering the murder of all male children in the territory surrounding Bethlehem.

Winter that lasts two years, bone chilling temperatures, snow snakes and frostbiters all add up to tough times for Paul and his Onion River campers.  Paul takes a walk to China across the frozen Pacific Ocean.