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We are the Workers and the Harvest
Craft Activity
...As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons...(Matthew ch10 vs 7)
WIND SPINNERS: Wind is a widely used symbol of change. We can't see the wind, but we can see its effects. Think about the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, and your environment. What if Jesus has commissioned you to embody the Wind of change?
When you look at your surroundings do you just see things, resources to be managed, used for the good of mankind - or do you sense the creative potential placed there by God?
If the heavens declare the Glory of the risen Lord, and the whole of creation is God's temple - are the changes we need to make in our relationship with it? Money lenders tables to tip?
Or perhaps simply a more subtle sensing of sacredness in the ordinary.
While you think about this you could make a "Winds of Change" wind spinner. There will come a time when we can display these and join with other people in responding to the climate emergency.
(see the Quartz stall at the environment fair for more details)
Welcome
This page has been set up to provide an Online place for us to meet.
It is accessible Online, so you should be able to use it wherever you are, and whenever you are able. My hope is that you can carry it in your pocket while you are outside and use it to augment your experience of everything which is around you. Less of a virtual world to loose yourself in, and more of a service sheet to help us explore meeting each other and with God. Although we are many, we are one body.
The page was set up for the monthly "Creative Worship" event which ran on the second Sunday every month in St Johns building. Since this is closed we have moved online, and you can access the resources whenever you like. We will gather together occasion ally during the month and use the chat window to keep in touch. For notice about when this will happen please subscribe to the "Quartz at St Johns Dumfries" group on Facebook, or send an e-mail to be kept informed.
Theme
The theme for creative worship this week was "We are the Workers and the Harvest". On this page there are
Discussion
At this Second Sunday we ended up by starting to discuss liminal zones. The boundary spaces between woven and unwoven, or the Kingdom of God and the world or perhaps the half awake space between dreaming and sleep.
This discussion can continue, as a preparation for acting within and creating liminal zones. Think about the following questions.
Questions:
Who are we as "Quartz"?
If someone asked you what is Quartz and your relationship with it - how would you answer?
What do we have to give ?
What resources does Quartz have access to? These could be spiritual and physical, online and offline, skills, knowledge ... have a rummage in the cupboards
Who do we know?
What does the network of relationships Quartz exists in look like? - Would the resources we have be helpful anywhere?
Reading the Texts
The bible readings which have inspired this creative worship session are:
Genesis 18:1-15
Psalm 42
Romans 5:1-8
It was also St Columbas' feast day this week. He was a prince, from a family of fighters, but is remembered as a penitent and a pilgrim of peace. After actions, which led to the deaths of many over a copyright issue, he went into exile from his homeland and helped found the kingdom of Scots. Did he see this task to be like that of founding a colony of heaven continuing in the tradition of Martin of Tours and Ninian of Whithorn? What differences are there between colonies founded through domination and pride, and those motivated by penance and a desire to serve by healing?
There is a discussion of the life of St Columba, the relationship of the early Church in the Irish sea region with creation, and what this means for us in chapter 6 of "Restoring the Woven Cord" by Michael Mitton (1995, Darton, Longman, Todd). In the 1990's he was lamenting the lack of leadership shown by Christians in taking action to restore a healthy balance with our environment. I find this both evidence for hope and a source of frustration at that hope being unfulfilled.
Read the chapter here - read the whole book too! and I pray that there will not be a war over making this copy of the text available.
Reading the book of creation
Many are familiar with the teaching that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that ..."
But what about the Words of Psalm 19 where it is taught that "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge." ?
We are taught to read texts at school, and modern education aims to help people become literate, numerate and rational thinkers. It has perhaps been less successful in supporting people to be compassionate, emotionally secure and creative.
Go for a walk if you are able. Read creation. Not like you would read a book looking for moral instruction. Not looking for allegories to explain morals. But take time to ground yourself and become aware of what you are experiencing.
Discover the emotional truth in the moment.
Flowers smell good, the sun is warm. There is some good in this world and it is worth fighting, living, for.