Here are some photos from today’s Forest Church meeting.
More photos and a write up to follow.
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Forest church No.2
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Sunday the 31st
Forest Church No.2 (Halloween/Samhain)
We will meet again outside the front door of Crichton church for a 2pm start, (The Crichton, Dumfries DG1 4ZZ) Find it on google maps
Please dress for the weather, and don’t rely on there being any indoor (or any other) facilities available. Once we meet we will walk to an appropriate location depending on the weather and the abilities of those who turn up. If you want us to wait for you, please let us know that you are coming!
So that you know what to expect – a rough order of service will probably include:
| Meeting in Christ’s name and sharing the peace | (We meet in Christs name – whether you consider yourself close friends, or are just curious, all are welcome – we share his peace.) |
| Some Taize chanting Ubi Caritas followed by Bless the Lord my soul | Ubi Caritas on YouTube (please follow the links to find the tunes we will use) |
| Reading the Gospel | John 12: 20 – 26 “... I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life …“ |
| Reading Creation | It is Winter! The chapter from creation we will read today is about letting go of things. What do you need to let go of and burn? What do you need to let go of and plant in hope? We will take some time to look for signs of change in ourselves and our environment. What can we sense physically and spiritually? We will have some games and activites as suggestions for “reading guides” |
| Response | If the weather permits, we will sit round a fire to share our response to what we have read. If this is likely to lead to hypothermia we will do this in the Central cafe on the campus. We hope to make a collaborative art response to link to the COP26 conference in Glasgow. This is a space for people to contribute their own prayers, songs, reflections and stories though, so we will listen to each other and the landscape we worship with and decide exactly what we will do. |
| Equipment | Something to sit on, a cup to drink from, gloves and a litter picking bag all might be helpful. Don’t burden yourself too heavily though. |
| Snack | As there is still a plague in Dumfries. Please bring your own food and drink, and we can share the time together while we eat and respond |
| Closing Prayers | As Jesus taught us … (The Lords Prayer in the version you find familiar) |
| A wee song, Go in Peace | Go In Peace – Sam Baker Go in peace, Go in kindness. Go in love, Go in faith. Leave the day, The day behind us. Day is done Go in grace Let us go, Into the dark Not afraid, Not alone. Let us hope, By some good pleasure. Safely to Arrive at home. Let us hope, By some good pleasure. Safely to Arrive at home Learn it here |
| If it is very wet this might all happen quite quickly. If it is a lovely afternoon we might take more time. If you need to plan around others though allow about an hour. |
There is no need to book, but if you’d like to let us know that you are coming we can keep an eye out for you. If you sign up for the mailing list you’ll find out when the nest one is happening. You can also subscribe to the Quartz weekly newsletter/e-mail.
Please send a message to introduce yourself, – and let us know what interests you in particular!
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Quiet Charism
Have you ever noticed that you just like being near someone? There is magnetic invisible draw some people have that gathers people together, and forms communities.
Or have you experienced uncommonly good days, where nothing out of the ordinary happened but you just hung out with the people who remind you of who you are and how good being alive is?
Some miracles, or examples of prophesy are sensational. They can be moments where is seems like the physical laws of the universe seem like they have been suspended.
Others are more quiet.
“Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, … those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation … those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy” … read more of 1 Corinthians 14: 1-12
With people it can be more complicated. Attraction is a genuine form of Love, but since it is so fundamental and often experienced at a pre-concious level it can be confusing. If we make the effort to be self aware, and to fill our minds with the knowledge and Love of God, simple friendship Love can become a bedrock for our human relationships.
Could the draw towards green environments be an example of creation prophesying to us? The quiet call of God through the wind in the trees, or in the harmony of the spheres?The magnetic personality of God drawing us into deeper relationship. The mouth of a cave doesn’t form words, but the solidity of stone can speak to us. We are embedded in a conversation with our environment, in the present moment and on a cosmic scale.
Forest Church meeting, 2pm Chrichton Church Dumfries, Sunday the 31st
The significance of this time has been recognised by humans from a time before writing. As Autumn moves towards winter the plants in the northern hemisphere start to die back. Harvests have been gathered in, and the Cailleach prepares to wash her plaid in the Corryvreckan ready to spread it over Scotland until Brìghde returns with the Sun.
The last few years have been difficult and strange for many people. Winter gives us time to gather in communities. To sit round fires with friends and strangers and search out god waiting to be discovered in their faces and stories (it has been written that some who practice hospitality have unknowingly entertained angels).
How do we react to adversity, the experience of suffering and even death?
Of the peril of the holy bishop Cólman moccu Sailni in the sea near Rathlin island: Likewise, another day, while St Columba was in his mother church, he suddenly smiled and called out: “Cólman mac Beognai has set sail to come here, and is now in great danger in the surging tides of the whirlpool of Corryvreckan. Sitting in the prow, he lifts up his hands to heaven and blesses the turbulent, terrible seas. Yet the Lord terrifies him in this way, not so that the ship in which he sits should be overwhelmed and wrecked by the waves, but rather to rouse him to pray more fervently that he may sail through the peril and reach us here.”
Adomnan – Life of Columba C8th AD (penguin translation)
There is a hope that keeps us going. We can grow larger, so that the hard edged grief which rattles around inside our being seems to become smaller and hurts less. Bitter things can be laid in the ground and left to die, while new things grow.
We will meet on Sunday the 31st of October to read the “Book of Creation”. To reflect on the hope the “God with us and who saves” brings and to help each other find safe passage through the winter and the changes which the season brings. More details will be published soon – please use the comments to communicate the sorts of things you would like to explore! or e-mail them to Quartz if you prefer.
In the meantime, here are some pictures from when we brought something of the outside into St Johns to have a picnic with our ancestors.
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CLC week 3
We will meet again in St Johns on Monday the 4th of October for 7.30 pm
If you know anyone who would be interested in exploring the idea of a Christian Life Community (CLC) please invite them to the next meeting.
We decided to continue to experiment with the “Lectio Divina” technique combined with keeping a journal, and then discuss the experience when we meet up. Again we chose to focus on the Gospel reading (in the S.E.C. lectionary) for the Sunday before we meet: Mark 10:2 – 16
This is both to link in with the life of the wider St Johns community, and also because even if someone gets to the day before we meet without managing to contemplate the passage – there is still the opportunity to do a crash encounter at a St Johns Sunday service in person or online.
Of course, meeting up to support each other in developing our prayer lives is the important thing – please don’t think of it as homework! Whether you consider yourself to be well prepared or just lucky to manage to turn up online for the opportunity to support each other.The zoom link is set up and ready for people to join online. Philip is unable to be there in person this week, but will be there on zoom and is leading the evening.Click to join at 7.30pm (links to zoom)Please use the button above to join with Zoom, or the following information:Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 823 8007 8184
Passcode: Illuminate
NB – COP26 is happening soon. We will make some prayer boats to send our prayers to those meeting in Glasgow. (So if you are meeting online have some A5 paper to hand).
More info on this post COP 26 Prayer Boats
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COP 26 Prayer Boats
Join in and set sail for climate Justice
News Sent in By Lizzie,
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.
More information here:
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-chain
Download the activity pack and get involved (online as well as physical)
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/get-involved/rise-moment-activity-pack
Look at the fleet already assembled, and contribute a photo of your boat here
https://caid.org.uk/createboat
Want to get more involved? We are working out a plan for something on the afternoon of October the 31st. Leave a comment or get in touch.
It has often been said that people have a God shaped hole they need to fill. The Gospel is then presented as good news, that the hole can be filled.
It is, of course, true that like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God rushes from the house to meet us in our need. Jesus became low in order to lift us up, and we should call on our saviour in times of need.
However, what if you are one of the people who experiences God in the sparkling of light on the water? Or for whom the joy of tasting brambles and of just “living life” is a constant reminder of the presence of God. Perhaps then the Gospel for you is not characterised by the filling of an absence.
When you read in the Gospel of John that “… But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, …” this can the recognition of an overflowing of abundance found within the core of your being. A natural inclination to praise God that finds it’s shape in the unfolding story of Christianity.
What if the feelings of disatisfaction many experience within their christian life could be described as a hunger to expand their awareness. Just as children experience an urge to grow beyond the familiar safe space that those who care for them create, if we are filled with potential by God then this will drive us to seek more of God in the unfamiliar.
Rather than wondering why the “God shaped hole” isn’t filled no matter how much you give up or deny yourself, perhaps it is time to rest and remember the confidence God has in you and in who you are becoming. Trust that the yoke is easy and burden light.
Take time to remember how the sunlight sparkles on water, gather brambles that grow wild in hedgerows, and discover new ways of joining with creation to praise God for the things that make your heart sing.
And for those who like reading theology:
John Reuben Davies, “Human being and the praise of God” ch2 in “Made in the Image of God” Ed. Michael Fuller & David Jasper Sacristy press 2021 www.sacristy.co.uk
This is event is happening on the day I post it – so not much advance warning I’m afraid. Even if the event has passed by the time you read this though, follow the link and find out more. Perhaps it will encourage and inspire you.
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/events/curiosity-creativity-and-climate
Even just knowing that Christian Aid have a Prophetic Activist on their team might make your fingers tingle…
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Forest Church Planting
Sunday the 26th of September, 4 to 5pm (Forest Church No. 1)
Well, it isn’t the season for planting really, but we are finally getting round to testing out some Forest Church ideas.
Meet at the Crichton church, (The Crichton, Dumfries DG1 4ZZ) Find it on google maps
Please dress for the weather, and don’t rely on there being any indoor (or any other) facilities available.
We are going to meet up and test out some ideas to explore what a “Forest Church” might look like.
A rough order of service will probably include:
| Meeting in Christ’s name and sharing the peace | (Everyone who is willing to explore what this means is welcome, of course) |
| Some Taize chanting Ubi Caritas Bless the Lord my soul | Ubi Caritas on YouTube |
| Reading the Gospel | Mark 9:38 – 50 |
| Reading Creation | Autumn is here, the season is one of change and letting the old rest gracefully to allow room for new growth. We will take some time to look for signs of change in ourselves and our environment. What can we sense physically and spiritually? |
| Response | Space for people to contribute their own prayers, songs, reflections and stories. |
| Closing Prayers | As Jesus taught us … (in the version you find familiar) |
| A wee song, Go in Peace | Go In Peace – Sam Baker Go in peace, Go in kindness. Go in love, Go in faith. Leave the day, The day behind us. Day is done Go in grace Let us go, Into the dark Not afraid, Not alone. Let us hope, By some good pleasure. Safely to Arrive at home. Let us hope, By some good pleasure. Safely to Arrive at home Learn it here |
| Snack | As there is still a plague in Dumfries. Please bring your own food and drink, and we can share the time together. |
There is no need to book, but if you’d like to let us know that you are coming we can keep an eye out for you. If you sign up for the mailing list you’ll find out when the nest one is happening. You can also subscribe to the Quartz weekly newsletter/e-mail.
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Hindsight
In science fiction the reader is often given a glimpse of present reality from an imagined future perspective.
The first panel in this story reminded my both of the optimism of the atomic era, and the growing recognition that something was wrong with the way we were using oil.
It was an era of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) presented as a cost effective way to secure peace. The young generation enjoyed the benefits of a reasonable economy, and boomed beyond their borders in supersonic aircraft. The bust of AIDS, famine, and the global cost of this frenzied activity by a small minority of it’s population was yet to hit.
If you could go back in time and change one thing in order to save the world of today, what would it be?
Church of Scotland COP26 (get involved)
With COP26 in the near future, what can you do now?
Suggestions on a comment please …