Chapel Island

August 18, 2024 Rev. George McGovern

George & Cyndy are on the staff of Athletes in Action (AIA), the sports ministry division of Cru
(Campus Crusade for Christ). George serves as the director of AIA’s NFL Pro staff. His
responsibilities include overseeing the five AIA staff couples who serve as NFL chaplains
(Panthers, Bengals, Giants, Jaguars, & Steelers). Cyndy serves the wives of these chaplains.
George & Cyndy also give leadership to three AIA couples who serve in the NY/NJ region.
George received an undergraduate degree in business administration from American University
in 1976 and a masters degree in Biblical studies in 1990 from the International School of
Theology. He met Cyndy, at a Bible conference during the summer of 1974. While in college
and through their involvement with Cru, they both sensed God’s call to missions. They were
married in June of 1977.
Prior to his current responsibilities, George served as the chapel leader for the New York
Yankees for 26 years. His responsibilities included leading team Bible studies, serving as
personal chaplain for some of the players and their families, overseeing the in-season chapel
services, and helping to organize sports-oriented outreaches around the New York
metropolitan area. George fulfilled similar duties for six years with the New York Mets and Jets
teams (’90-’95). He served the NY Giants in a chaplaincy capacity for 21 years (‘96 – ‘16). In all
of these ministry responsibilities, Cyndy served the wives.
George and Cyndy began vocational Christian work with Cru after graduation from college.
They were involved in the campus ministry of Cru for 14 years before switching over to the
Athletes in Action effort. George and Cyndy have four married daughters (Kelly, Emily, Mary, &
Allison), and reside in Newton, New Jersey. They are the proud grandparents of Grace Noel,
Vincent, Mya, Robbie, J’Rai, Avery, Ty, Maria, Paxton, Claire, Micah, Margaret & Felicity.

Transportation
Chapel Island is located on the south end of Upper Saranac Lake west of the Bartlett Bay outlet. There are three basic ways to get there.

By Boat

If you are vacationing or visiting on Upper Saranac Lake and have access to a boat, you can just pull up to the dock, drop off your passengers and then anchor out in the lake in front of the Chapel. A boat shuttler will pick you up and bring you to the dock and then back to your boat after the service. (Note: You can borrow an anchor if you don’t have one. We just ask that you return it before you leave.)

By Kayak or Canoe

If you chose to come to Island Chapel by either canoe or kayak simply come up to the docks and you will be directed where to put your vessel. There are a number of people on the docks to assist you if need be.

By the “Chapel Bound”

If you drive (see directions and location) and are on shore, the Chapel Bound will transport you to and from Island Chapel at no cost.

The Chapel Bound is a 25 passenger pontoon boat that is owned by Island Chapel. The State of New York inspects the boat annually and issues Joint Pilot and Operators licenses for the volunteer drivers. You will enjoy a 5-7 minute scenic, smooth ride on the Chapel Bound. Besides the driver, there is a first mate aboard to assist you in any way that you might need it. Life jackets are provided for adults and children. The State of New York requires that all children aged 12 and under wear a life jacket. We have a number of different sizes of both adult and children’s life vests right down to sizes for infants and toddlers.

Chapel Bound transportation is provided starting at 9:15 am from Indian Carry on Old Dock Rd. (see directions.) The last boat leaves for the Chapel at 9:45 a.m. so that worship services can begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. These are new times beginning for the 2020 season.

Just a reminder, Indian Carry is located at the south end of Upper Saranac Lake on Old Dock Road . Be sure to look for the blue Island Chapel sign where you turn in from Route 3.

Directions
The Chapel Island boat launch is located at the end of Old Dock Road, off of Rt. 3. Be on the lookout for the blue Island Chapel Sign as you are driving along. If there has been a wedding at Island Chapel the previous day, you will often see helium balloons on the sign. There is sufficient parking right by the lake. It will only take a few steps for you to reach the dock to await the arrival and departure of the Chapel Bound. (Due to the rustic nature of the terrain, it would be more appropriate to wear sandals, sneakers or flat shoes.) High heels might result in a twisted ankle. If attending a wedding, it might be best to carry heels and wear “sensible footwear” until you arrive at the Chapel.

Old Dock Road is 2 miles from the split of Rt. 3 & 30 east of Tupper Lake and 12.5 miles west of Saranac Lake , off of Rt. 3.

August 11, 2024 – Nathanial Van Yperen

Nathaniel Van Yperen is a teacher and department chair of Religion at The Pennington School. He earned a MDiv, Th.M. and Ph.D. (Religion and Society) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Nate’s writing has appeared in Flyway: Journal of Writing and Environment, Wild Roof Journal, The Common, The Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, and The Land Speaks: New Voices at the Intersection of Oral and Environmental History (Oxford, 2017). He is the author of Gratitude for the Wild: Christian Ethics in the Wilderness (Lexington Books, 2019). Nate lives in central New Jersey with his wife, Dr. Elaine James, their two boys, Hank and Forest, an impolite dog named Hayduke, and several backyard chickens. A proud 46er, Nate has spent part of every year of his life in the Adirondacks. He has visited family on Upper Saranac Lake for more than twenty years.

August 4, 2024 – Rev. Bruce McCulley

Bruce McCulley Pastor- High Peaks Church

Bruce has lived in the Saranac Lake region most of his life. In 2012, after a 31-year career at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, he started his second vocation and was ordained as Pastor of High Peaks Church in Saranac Lake, where he currently serves. Bruce has also ministered to the body of Christ in prison for over 20 years. The joy of assembling with the church to worship Christ is his great passion. Bruce and his wife Zoe enjoy mountain biking, skiing and outdoor recreation. They have one college age son Micah.

July 28, 2024 –Marty Weitz Sr. Pastor

St. Thomas Reformed Church St Thomas USVIPastor – American Church – Warsaw Poland, Sr. Pastor – Protestant Church in Oman Muscat, Oman. Theological advisor to the “General Secretary” Church of South India – Chennai, India & Faculty of theology – United Theological Seminary, Bangalore India Locom Sr Pastor The Dunblane Cathedral – Dunblane ScotlandRetired to Canton NYSupervising Pastor Lake Clear Presbyterian Church – Lake Clear NY

July 28, 2024 –Marty WeitzSr. Pastor

St. Thomas Reformed Church St Thomas USVIPastor – American Church – Warsaw Poland, Sr. Pastor – Protestant Church in Oman Muscat, Oman. Theological advisor to the “General Secretary” Church of South India – Chennai, India & Faculty of theology – United Theological Seminary, Bangalore India Locom Sr Pastor The Dunblane Cathedral – Dunblane ScotlandRetired to Canton NYSupervising Pastor Lake Clear Presbyterian Church – Lake Clear NY

July 21, 2024 – Rev. Joann White PCUSA

Joann White is a writer, pastor, spiritual director, and enthusiast of wild places. She is a graduate of Colgate University, McCormick Theological Seminary, and the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago. Since 2005, she has pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake. When she isn’t at church, you might find her wandering the local trails with her husband Duane Keith Gould and their Corgi Gybi. Her 2021 book Blest Be the Tie: Fables of Faith from the Far North is available now from Amazon, Wipf and Stock, and area bookstores. She is currently a doctoral candidate with Pittsburgh Seminary’s Creative Writing and Public Theology program.

Tomorrow's service 10:00 AM July 7, 2024 –
Derek Hansen

Rev. Derek Hansen and his wife Becky met at family church camp as junior-high students and have been serving in ministry together for almost 15 years. They have three children – Liam, Sam, and Hollis. Pastor Derek is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and currently pastors Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid and First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake. He loves preaching and teaching, leading the church in mission, and seeing people’s lives transformed by God’s grace. Pastor Derek is a Western New York native and long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching and playing sports, playing video games, and walking in the woods with the family’s energetic springer spaniel.

July 7, 2024 – Derek Hansen

Rev. Derek Hansen and his wife Becky met at family church camp as junior-high students and have been serving in ministry together for almost 15 years. They have three children – Liam, Sam, and Hollis. Pastor Derek is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and currently pastors Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid and First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake. He loves preaching and teaching, leading the church in mission, and seeing people’s lives transformed by God’s grace. Pastor Derek is a Western New York native and long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching and playing sports, playing video games, and walking in the woods with the family’s energetic springer spaniel.

Services start tomorrow at 10:00 AM. First boat leaves at 9:15
Tomorrow's speaker is Eric Olsen ELCA

Ordained by the ELCA in 1988, Eric is a 20 year veteran of prison ministry and former State Chaplain to the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. He currently serves as a pastor for the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity and the First United Methodist Church, both based in Saranac Lake N.Y.

Chapel Island opens on June 30, 2024, for our first 2024 Sunday summer service. We would like to express our gratitude to the dedicated Chapel Committee members for making this possible. For more information, please visit

Island Chapel – Chapel Island. Upper Saranac Lake Chapel Island is an interdenominational chapel offering a worshipful atmosphere throughout the summer. Inspirational speakers conduct the worship service. Each Sunday members of the congregation are invited to sing in an impromptu choir. Worshipping at the island has been a unique experience since t...

Next Sunday June 30, 2024 – Rev. Eric Olsen ELCA

Ordained by the ELCA in 1988, Eric is a 20 year veteran of prison ministry and former State Chaplain to the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. He currently serves as a pastor for the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity and the First United Methodist Church, both based in Saranac Lake N.Y.