A longer post today, inspired by thoughts of war which once again fill my social media feed, and mind.
…When I tell the story of Ragnarock I grieve. It follows Loki telling too much truth, harshly. It is the breaking of oaths, conflict between those who should be family. It is the twighlight that follows from the grinding down of hope and loss of integrity. The cause
… Love of gold? Warped erotic desire for power over others?
An apple which should be the sweet kiss of summer, but poisoned with cyanide?
But as I hang my mind on the world tree and prepare to travel, I follow the path of my great hero. Who, disrobing, stepped up upon the rood. Commanding it not to bend. There the work planted in the womb of time was brought to fruition. Struck down to rise up stronger than imaginable. A light in dark places and the opening of a Way that can transform.
A light which helps us see who we are and where we are going. For some this will appear to come from outside them, other will find it within. What is important is that when you ‘look’, you are able to see. When you can see, you can act.
So I pray for peace, and for all those caught up in the horror of war. May we all see truly, find release from that which binds us, and eat apples which bring life beyond death.
St. Bride, or St Brigit of Kildare, is a category 6 saint in the Scottish Episcopal Church Liturgy. For those unfamiliar with the number categories, this means that she is recognised as a person worth special recognition but that remembering this every year is a matter for local discretion.
So why is she significant for Quartz Forest Church?
The day she is remembered on is the 1st of February. This is associated with the first signs of spring and is one of the Scottish Quarter days which marked the change of seasons in the agricultural calendar. It is the promise of new life returning, if not altogether obvious unless you look out for it. We have been walking around the Crichton estate to get to know the place, and there are a few wee signs like snowdrops and bulbs breaking the soils surface.
The Gospel according to John starts with a retelling of the story of creation. In it the cosmic Christ, the Logos, the organising principle and light through which everything can be understood, enters the world as Jesus the human. This light should be recognisable to all Gods children, but some of those who you’d think should be aware of this miss it completely, and yet all those who recognise the good news can be born as children of God. Light is something which helps you to see things as they are, and the act of lighting a candle to look at something is very similar to having someone help you ‘see’ the truth.
Since there have been about 1500 years since the Abbess of the dual abbey of Kildare walked in the fields around it, the historical truth of her life is difficult to discover. The transformation of beliefs about the daughter of the Dagda, or good god, of the De Danan into the stories of the life of St Brigit took place long before the earliest record we have. There is more to truth than historical facts however, and the stories have survived because people recognise a sense of meaningfulness within them. They illuminate aspects of human being which they wish to be reminded of. It is worth taking some time to think about this and to learn to recognise the eternal truths, Logos, that can be found in them.
These truths can be markers of a shared space, where people of peace can gather. Rather than engaging in conflict about whether Christians stole Brigid to fool people into joining the Church, or complaining that neo-pagans are fabricating a pseudo history, why not recognise that this is a good time to clear out clutter to make room for new growth. Search the stories in the confidence that they are pregnant with the seeds planted by God ready to come to term within the womb of time. Have confidence that as you recognise truth the light which it sheds on your assumptions will transform you and set you free to be reborn. Reflect on the words, and find those who will be generous nursemaids to help with this process.
While you are doing this, perhaps you would like to weave a Brigits cross or four to place around your house to remind you. (6Mb download)
Simon will be participating in a gathering at Allanton Peace Sanctuary On the afternoon of Sunday the 30th This is the second of 8 events set equally throughout the year, based on the solar solstices and equinoxes.
Following the devastation of the Second World War, Mr Goi looked for a way to bring peace to all people, and the prayer and affirmation May Peace Prevail On Earth came to him in a moment of great inspiration. He realised that these words express the common wish of all humanity, transcending all boundaries of race, religion and politics. He envisioned that their gentle, yet powerful, effect would activate global peace consciousness.
Allanton website, describing the aim of the founder of their organisation
There is an open invitation to join online.
Imbolc Gathering at Allanton (online)
Sunday the 30th of January, 2022, from 2 – 3pm UK time.
A time to mark the strengthening of the light, as we in the Northern Hemisphere approach spring, in the Wheel of the Year, an auspicious time between the Solstice and Equinox.
Simon will show us how to make St Brigid’s Cross, representing the strong feminine energy of nurturing, hearth and home
This is participatory so if you would like to have a go, bring straw, or long grass, or just paper (A4 cut into strips of 2cm on the long side)
Kirsten will tell us a story, while we weave our crosses.
We will have a short meditation, followed by the Divine Spark Mudra, a prayer/meditation of the breath and movement.
The Zoom Room will be open from 10 minutes before. Join us round our fire and hearth. If possible, we will be outside, and will be delighted to see you,
We have passed through Christmas. The season is a welcome break in the drich winters of Scotland. There is light on the streets, and many people take the opportunity to do something special – even during Covid times. In the public gaze, all eyes are drawn to the stable and the birth of Jesus.
Beyond Christmas, some people might let their gaze be drawn beyond the glittering tinsel and into the cave where Jesus hides with his family while the status quo searches to snuff out this spark of creative potential. What gifts wait to be unwrapped as the story of Jesus unfolds?
The ways in which the story of Christmas has been told have tended towards simplifying the story into one of a succession of visits to the stable. This is used to emphasise very important messages but has become a bottleneck. The story is displayed as a universal story of peace and hope. It becomes an allegorical tale of humility. It becomes a moral encouragement to be generous.
What is lost through? How often do we think about what did the shepherds did after they left the stable? It could have been around two years between the shepherds and the Magi visiting. Perhaps rumours of strange occurrences and civil unrest starting with the shepherds tales had reached the ears of the palace in this time. Perhaps recent politics in Scotland and the wider UK can help us imagine the extent to which some of those in power will go to hold on to power. I am glad that despite the polarisation in society there hasn’t been a return to the troubles and violent clashes that took place in my childhood. Living in an echo chamber both online of off it can encourage false confidence in ideas which seem good, but have evil long term consequences.
Sparks are the ignition of fires though. If we spend time in the stable, perhaps we can learn more about the character of Jesus and this can help us learn about the character we can unwrap. The story of the Magi reveals God placing a message in the stars and ways to read that message in human minds. Laying down kindling in which the spark can catch, for a fire which will illuminate the whole of time.
If we stand with Jesus and look out where he leads, what journeys have been prepared for us to find?
The following is a story of how one phrase led to a transformation in the way the teller saw everything. It is described as a cannonball moment to relate it to the life of Ignatius. Perhaps in the story I am telling in this post it could be described as a spark, or the process of unwrapping a present.
read more at https://www.jesuit.ie/videos/a-cannonball-moment-with-a-homeless-man/
Take some time out to reflect.
What moments have you experienced this Christmas time?
If you pass through the bottleneck of Christmas, what potential do you see as your vision opens up?
Some of us are meeting up on Monday morning to help each other explore prayer as a community. Lizzie has suggested that we make some boats! Not just in case the sea levels rise, but because politicians are meeting in Glasgow to discuss what can be done about the rise in sea levels that are happening.
Whatever your stance on this issue, we can all pray for politicians, and hopefully the action of sending a fleet of boats will be a fun way raise awareness of the very serious issues involved.
#SensingSpirituality is not restricted to religon or religious people. There are places which draw you in.
‘Most people, when they stand in an ancient stone circle, can sense the timeless presence of the place… …There is a temptation to be still and to ponder what surrounds you…. …There are ties and bonds between all people and organisations and I hoped that my rope carvings might symbolise that.’
Max Nowell – Sculptor
Having recognised sensations like beauty, timelessness, love, and so on, what do you do about it? Who, having switched the light on, would then hide it somewhere and go back to blundering around in the dark?
The daily “Knowing Jesus” material and readings have started by exploring the start of the ministry of Jesus.
He reveals God to us. – what does that mean?
He is in communication with God the Father and the Spirit through Prayer – Self in relationship?
His baptism marks a stepping into a time of new activity – Jumping into the river?
And when the Holy Spirit leads him into in the wilderness the way he will carry out his mission is tested and refined.
The exclamation mark is usually found at the end of a sentence. It gets called a “Bang” mark by some people though. Perhaps it can transform a whole sentence into the start of something – like a pistol at the start of a race!
Shrove Tuesday (PANCAKES!) is a day of celebration and forgiveness, a party before Lent. We start this 40 day journey knowing that however far or fast we run we have already met the conditions to finish, because they were met before the human race was begun. When we meet on Sunday we can discuss more.
How can we help each other journey to Easter in these strange times?
Collectively, and in our households.
You are invited to join our Lent study group from the 17th of February to Sunday the 4th of April. We will use the “Knowing Jesus” material available online from the Jesuits in Scotland. This starts on Ash Wednesday, but our first meeting is on the Sunday.
We will be meeting as Quartz too! Every Sunday between 3 and 4 PM. This will be online at first, but if Covid precautions allow we will meet outdoors as well.
During our retreat you are invited to pray and reflect over the man Jesus as you see him in the Scriptures and allow Him to reveal God to you.
Trust what you see will be what you need to grow deeper into knowing, loving and serving God and those around you.
Their page has daily prayer based on a Scripture, pictures and music. You can sign up to be sent a reminder and access their guidance with ways of praying. They also have groups you could choose to join in with.
When we meet on the Sundays, we will discuss what we have learned – whether you have had the opportunity to take time to reflect daily,or if you just manage to make it to a group meeting when you can. As worshiping in and with the natural environment is important for the way Quartz practices #SensingSpirituality if you want to contribute photos, comments, or other media to the discussion each week then we will work out ways to make that possible.
Welcome to the 2nd Sunday creative worship service in November. Whether you are online, or in the St Johns building there will be a lot that seems strange.
Set this time aside to rest from the strain, don’t ignore it as the challenge of encountering the unfamiliar can be healthy and helpful, but rest. You are not in this alone, and we have the heritage of the Church spread throughout time and space to draw on. Take time to become aware of your feelings, your thoughts, your breathing, and the peace of God be with you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
II. PSALM
Psalm 46
Another (extended) version of this playlist can be found here if you are online, have a bit more time, and don’t mind a bit more metal)
Time for ReflectionActivities
The psalm for this Sunday is followed by a playlist of music videos on the theme of refuge. The following activities have been chosen to suggest a wide range of ways to respond to the psalm. Have a look at the headings and have a go at one or all of them. They will be available online at least unitl the 2nd Sunday in December!
In the St Johns building we will be providing clay, but these reflections activities could be carried out using a wide range of materials at home.
Some Questions
Where do you find refuge? What are the foundations you build your life on? When have you felt alone? When has God been your refuge?
Want to make something with an obvious use?
Labyrinths can be used to help guide your meditation, they can be a visualisation of calming down and placing things in order. Becoming aware of God at the heart of your life.
Roll the clay into a ball
Flatten it and roll it out as a disc
Make a dot in the middle
Lightly draw 5 circles radiating out from the dot
Use these lines to trace the path into the centre
The white lines in the picture are the path your finger takes!
You could use this time to write references or words on clay pebbles, stones – or even a wall to remind you of texts you find helpful. The CornerstoneStanding StonesLegal Refuge Assurance
Graphical Truth, meditation on meaningfulness
If you draw a right angle, wrong, the house will be insecure.
You can discover and explore truth with a bit of string and a straight edge, and these are the foundations on which archetecture is based.
Roll out a flat sheet of clay and take some time exploring the making of patterns (or a pencil, ruler and pair of compases on paper).
There is a pattern of circles within which all the Euclidean solids can be formed – perfectly- and this is constant within the human expereince of physical time and space.
So when you look at a building, perhaps you can wonder at the amazing ability given to Humans? Can it be a way to sense less physically accessible truths? Perhaps you could make a more permanent reminder of this as a clay mandalla – or a window frame?
Lord, God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity.
Use the resources here in your own time. Join us online between 7 and 8 pm on Sunday evening to discuss the theme of “How can we describe a relationship with God”. We may even have some musical worship too.
How to do this will be published on the facebook page (which shows up on this page). Or Email us quartz(AT)wordsmithcrafts.co.uk to be sent an invitation by e-mail.
Resources These resources can be used just as they are, or might help you reflect on themes which feature in the book “The Shack” and the film of the book. These are themes like: suffering, the ups and downs of a personal relationship with God, how do we imagine “The Trinity” as three persons, and one being?
They will all benefit from taking time to do them, either before or after the meetup online for a discussion, so don’t feel pressured to rush.
Reflect Joan Osborne wrote a song called “What if God Was One of Us”. This link will take you to a YouTube video, with the lyrics listed. Listen to the song, watch the video. Some questions to help you reflect: * How does thinking of God as “one of us” make you feel? * Read Philipians ch 2 vs 1-11 and listen to the song again. If God is close, in everyday life, does this tarnish our image of God or does it elevate the ordinary as an antidote to idolatry?
Discuss Online! with a group of us using jitsi The name of the meeting is QuartzCreativeWorship. The song we will be using can be found on YouTube https://youtu.be/6fak-h9_o4w
Create Art is frustrating! The process of producing works of art takes skill and effort. Your perceived lack of success, especially if you invest yourself in the process, can completely undermine your self confidence. However, to not create can be just as bad. You may appear to be successful and conform to everyone’s expectations, but at the expense of suppressing your inner being. The author of “The Shack” uses his imagination to describe his relationship with God in strong images from his culture.
Here is a guide to some activities you could use to explore and express your relationship. Or you could just play with some clay and work through the meanings in Isaiah 45 5 – 13
Learn What does the word “Theodicy” mean? If you enjoy using your reason to wrestle with complicated thoughts and discover #SensingMeaningfulness then it’s time for some theological research. *An introductory essay to “Theodicy” can be found here “What is Theodicy” *A broader discussion can be found here “Theodicy – A Brief Overview”
