Quartz at St Johns DumfriesToday is the day (16th of March) The Eco Congregation Scotland network are running a series of events to help you think about things you can do in response to climate change.
Especially since representatives of the current ‘winners’ in the status quo are gathering in Glasgow this year.
You may wish to sign up to find ideas about what the Church worldwide can do to respond to climate change in this “Kairos” moment.
#SensingSpirituality is a theme which runs through Quartz activates. This is based on the idea that humans are made of more than just flesh and bones. The activities are often designed to help participants use visual arts, or the physicality of crafts to explore, understand and express intangible feelings like meaningfulness.
But do you ever find your hands growing heavy when you pray, feel warmth, or sense an overwhelming feeling of peace? Has it seemed like the air is “thick” around you, or the veil between heaven and earth is particularly thin?
Even in the press of a crowd Jesus felt the power physically flowing from him.
We are souls who have bodies.
Please use the link below to join the online meeting. When two or three gather, Jesus is with us. Even though we can’t be in the same room perhaps technology provides a temporary body to bring about the potential within our souls to live in community.
The 4rd Quartz Lent 2021 Sunday discussion group can be joined here:
(From about 2.50pm on Sunday afternoon)
The Teachings of Jesus:
Jesus reaches out to those in need:
And one of the tunes to reflect on. Why water into wine? What does that tell us about the nature of God?
This video was made in 2017. It shows a range of things which have been carried out in partnership with St Johns church in Dumfries which involve visual arts.
What will you be inspired to seek out where you are?
What are the differences between “Indignation”, a “lament”, and “moaning on” about a thing?
If we really believe that something is out of kilter, does that mean that we will demand change?
Is there something in us which prefers a sleeping Jesus, while we wrestle with storms, to an awake Jesus who will rebuke even the wind and the sea and expect them to obey?
We have been meeting to discuss our Lent journey online.
This is great!
But all the momentary thoughts and chance conversations which happen during the week when you live in the same physical community are an important part of being a community too.
One of the aims of this “Quartz” website is to help facilitate this even when lockdown means we can’t meet in groups, and when many of the people involved are digital migrants for whom the internet is unexplored territory.
An example of this is the page from a book which one of the Lent group would have brought along and showed everyone because she felt it was relevant. It’s the featured image for this post. If you’d like to find out more you can look at Thomas Mertons “Thoughts in Solitude” On the “Good Reads Website. This link should hopefully take you to the same quote…
A busker sets up on the high street. Some people nod and keep walking, some pause to listen, some start dancing. Still more record and share on their phones, or go home and find some piping. Others find some string and a box, or spoons, or even click on a digital tip jar.
The music can linger in your mind like an “earworm”. There are, of course, also those who hurriedly cross the street and mutter about “proper music” or “noise polution”.
If the music is divine potential placed in the pipes waiting to be revealed, where are you in the story?
Interested? Pray about it.
Or you could read some more
Many years ago Kate toured the Scottish borders, and Dumfries and Galloway with “The Weavers Hand”. The music she helped bring to life is combined with the artwork of Simon Lidwell in this video.
While you watch it, let yourself wonder about how the simple word “Love” can be a gateway to so many complicated emotions and experiences.
Can Love always find a way? There are certainly many experiecnes where it seems like something has gone wrong, even badly wrong. If you were to kill Love, and bury it letting go … given time, is it not true that it will grow back in new and surprising forms? Sometimes in ways that are better than we could have anticipated.
This is the post with a link we can use to join each other, despite seas, mountains and Covid precautions.
(From about 2.50pm on Sunday afternoon)
How have you been getting on with the daily “Knowing Jesus” material and readings? If you have explored the lot, or if you haven’t found the time to sit down – you are welcome to join in, listen, or discuss.
Please comment below if you would like to contribute something you have become aware of, even if you aren’t able to make it along on the afternoon.
The Teachings of Jesus were open to all! He had some …interesting… friends. Rich or Poor, he turned the conservative connection between Godliness and wealth on its head. Using your God-given gifts was expected though, failure can be forgiven but burying your head in the sand out of fear is foolish. Love for your neighbour, he taught, meant that anyone in need was your neighbour. Love will dare to take risks and even risk the wrath of religious authorities to do what needs to be done.
Turn the other cheek, was another reminder that laws are at best a limit to human excess, and instead of claiming our rights there is a higher path we can follow. Divorce is a recognition that a relationship has broken beyond repair. Infidelity cuts to the quick. Did Jesus challenge the pharisees by implying that their hearts of stone had lead them to oppose God and encourage baser passions?
In what ways do the teachings of Jesus about simple, everyday things, help us ask questions about our relationship with God? Where might your natural passionate desire to be one with God lead you? In either giving or Gracious Receiving
In 2019 we spent time every Sunday walking, watching, #SensingSpirituality and noticing the changes in ourselves and environment.
For Easter Sunday we had a BBQ on a beach by the river. In 2020 during lockdown we did something similar, but with a few adjustments to be covid safe.
This video is probably a good way to wind up #Febreflection for 2021