Emperor penguins live through the Antarctic winter on the open ice, where wind chills can drop to 76 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. They survive by working together. They huddle in a big group to block the wind and hold in warmth. The birds take turns moving into the warm middle of the huddle. Once one has warmed up a bit, it moves back out to the edge so others can have a turn in the protected center. After the female lays her egg, she leaves on a hunting trip that lasts about two months. The male stays behind, balancing the egg on his feet and covering it to keep it warm. That is what a church family looks like in hard seasons. We take our turn in the wind.
