Here is a discussion about a new book by Author Justin Coutts on YouTube:. The conversation ranges from poetry which was composed in late antiquity to current mysticism online.
So take a moment to slow down and recreate your mind.
It is described as a collection of historical poetry and other texts from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The poems have been arranged in such a way that they can be used for reading and for chanting.
Music and instructions for chanting are included. Psalter of the Birds also includes an introduction to the Celtic understanding of bird song as the sacred music of the angels as well as three chapters discussing the Triple Way of the Christian mystics and how it applies to the art of poetry. It is a practical book designed to be used by contemplatives and bards alike.
The word used to describe artists like Mucha takes its meaning from broken pottery!
In Ancient Greece a treaty could be recorded using pottery. Each city state held a broken fragment of the whole. If you have ever tried to glue a mug back together you will know how precise and unique the match is when two fragments become whole.
Art can describe that which cannot be seen, and although sometimes it can look like you are sitting in a pile of broken pots – can you imagine the feeling when things match?
As well as in the Crichton estate on the 4rd Sunday of the month, you will also find a lot of Quartz members in St Johns building on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
Like all other services there will be a readings from the bible, prayers, reflection of the readings, and music. There is also an effort to provide the opportunity to respond to the theme of the evening through the creative arts.
This has involved many art forms over the years. Some of the results are on this website. Tonight Alison and Mark leading. The theme is Worshipping through Nature.
We are a part of creation, but how often do you stop to take time to become aware of that? Arranged flowers, parkland, rivers or the growing living things that we find even in urban environments are often places to find peace and connect. Do you have a favourite “Sit Spot?” where you can practice #SensingSpirituality as a discipline like “Quiet times” with the bible.
St Francis describes the Sun and Moon as brother and sister. He was aware of worshipping with the natural environment, and imagines parts of it worshipping along side him. The echo of the Canticle of the sun can be found in many songs, and perhaps was inspired by singing psalm 48
As well as worshiping in and alongside nature though, have you ever worshipped with the natural environment? Perhaps you are familiar with stories of bible verses being given to people as they pray and the words help them. Or perhaps you have sat in front of a picture and through it you have become aware of or explored your relationship with God. The text of picture are not God, but through them we can enter into worship with God. These are skills which take time to learn. Not because they are exclusive, but simply because most things take time to learn and if you spend time learning how to do something you usually get better at it.
So can the flight of a flock of birds that enters your mind while in prayer, or the experience of green grass on a sunny day become a part of your worship vocabulary?
We will have some of the cards we use at Forest Church available. These are described as “Doorways“. Thoughts and activities to help people become aware of being present in creation, worshipping with it, and in particular through the natural environment.
For those who can’t get to St Johns on Sunday evening, here is the play list we will be using as we reflect on the witness of St Francis of Assisi
Playlist to accompany the creative worship response
We have been busy in the last couple of weeks, so here is a short overview of some of what we have been up to.
We gave away around twenty “Contact Cards” to people we chatted with over the course of the afternoon at Caerlaverock castle. Other artwork was available in a box in the centre of the Labyrinth.
If you a curious about what sound foraging is, then have a listen to Jen Mac or visit Jen Mac music. It made an interesting addition to the sound environment when reading and walking the labyrinth. Perhaps, in the future, we will be able to collaborate on something like this Martyn Bennett track.
So what did people think of the experience?
“Here are some pics for you from today – we very much enjoyed being part of things and hope for more…”
A Ukrainian lady thanked me for the labyrinth and said it was really important to have time and space to reflect.
“I had a nice chat at the labyrinth with a Romanian chap who was happy to be away from his kids for some personal moments looking at the various exhibits in the castle grounds…
So, he was encouraged to walk the labyrinth after some explanations, taking his time to slowly walk the path to the centre and read some of the literature there. Talking afterwards, he seemed to really appreciate the experience as a way to clear his mind of petty thoughts.
Later I wandered over to the stone carving area and had a go at some stone fettling…looking over at the other person chipping away at a block I recognised a young face from one of my own stained-glass workshops in Lochside! We had a nice chat and then the Romanian guy from earlier walked over and I discovered he was the lad’s father! That was a very nice moment of completing some kind of circle of personal connections. I understood a little more of God’s love for us all as a community of beings in his great world.
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience of being part of a small community of believers transcending time for an afternoon and offering folk an opportunity to unwind as they walked the labyrinth of their own dreams and expectations. They all had their own experience of following a path laid out…the rest is up to God.”
We will be holding a Midsummer Forest Church service on Sunday the 25th of June. We will meet at the castle road end car park near Caerlaverock castle at 3pm.
We will walk up the hill to Wardlaw iron age fort. This is a farm track with steps. There are no facilities at the top, so please dress appropriately and bring a snack!
Another view from Wardlaw (in November!)
Having cautioned you, the reward for walking up the hill will be the opportunity to bathe in some woodland with views over the Solway. We will meet in Christs name and share his peace, whether you consider yourself a close friend or are simply curious – we meet in peace.
We will use a variety of poetry, music and reading to compliment the messages placed in creation from the dawn of time. Hopefully this will be more than just Church outdoors and the saunter up the hill will help us worship and restore relationships.
As this Sunday is close to midsummer we will also reflect on the themes of light, the sun, and pausing to contemplate. The place we are meeting is an ancient watch hill, so a good physical, and metaphysical, vantage point.
The plan – Midsummer forest church 2
Meet in car park, gather and share peace
“We meet in Jesus name. Whether you consider yourself a close friend or are just curious, we meet in Christs peace. Peace be with you”
share a sign of peace.
Intro
The summer solstice occurred in the middle of last week. It was the longest day and the shortest night. The amount of daylight we experience had been building up all year, then stood still, and will now decrease. You could use the journey up the hill to think about your year so far, and then pause to reflect in the fort, or simply enjoy the experience! If you want to chat about what you are thinking with someone, make eye contact (sometimes thoughts happen best in discussion out loud) however if someone doesn’t make eye contact they are not being rude, they are just being busy with their thoughts (some people think best in private).
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. 23 But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
Matt 6:22,23
Start Walking!
Gathering on Rampart
Gloria in exelsiuis, Gloria in exelsius, Glo.ri.a
Christus natus est.
Together
Come I this day to the Father of Light,
Come I this day to the Son, morning-bright,
Come I this day to the Holy Ghost great in might;
Come I this day this day with God, blessing to find,
Come I this day with Christ, promise to bind,
With the Spirit of potion kind.
Reading from the bible
(NRSVA)
24 ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!26 ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[a]29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
34 ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
We stand in an ancient fort, set on a high hill. What conflict did the builders fear, what statements were they making?
Trees grow through the ramparts, transforming them. The shape of the roman fort has been ploughed out of recognition. Who remembers the names of those who built these proud structures, or the taoiseach and emperors who commanded their building. We slow our minds to think at the speed of growing things, trees, earth, stone.
All living things grow, take time to wander, talk to the trees about being rooted. Reflect on where you draw your energy from and feel it tingle in your fingertips. Allow yourself to become aware of the presence of the comforter, bathe in the green and the presence of the sun.
Repeat Gloria (to gather)
Lords prayer (Old English version)
On rampart ready to walk down the hill
O God, and Spirit, and Jesu, the Three,
From the crown of my head, O Trinity,
To the soles of my feet mine offering be;
Come I with my name and my witnessing,
Come I with contrite heart, confessing,
Come I unto thee, O Jesu my King –
O Jesu, do thou be my sheltering,
(South Uist, Celtic spiritual verse, GRD McLean
Walk down the hill.
In the car park, sending out (together)
May the God of life with guarding hold you,
The loving Christ with guarding fold you
Each night of life to aid, enfold you
Each day and night of life uphold you.
The grace of our lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore, Amen
Has anyone been to see – experience – the punchdrunk retelling of the aftermath of the Trojan war?
This post is a reflection on their use of art, based on watching the trailers and listening to the opinions expressed in then.
Their aim is to retell an ancient story, immerse the audience in it, and give them the opportunity to go away changed. Can you see any similarities with what Christians do when they gather for a service? There are also significant differences though.
I’ve listed some of the similarities and differences below, what could you add?
This is an immersive experience. There is use of a variety of arts – visual arts in the setting and clothing, music, dance, spoken word.
Not better than traditional theatre, but different.
Led by a team of skilled professionals
Those who come are presented with multiple options that give/require them to make choices. To become participants rather than a passive audience.
An authoritative retelling by approved leaders to an audience.
An enhanced experience of #SensingOtherness through the use of special clothing, or normal clothing used differently.
Choose to follow the narrative, or simply enjoy one special moment then time to share personal experiences of the whole event with a group of trusted friends.
Familiar themes and phrases repeated week after week, that participants can join in with.
Emphasis on people discovering their own experience of the story, finding or even creating, personal meaning within the collective experience.
Eating and drinking together.
Six years in preparation, high quality
What appeals to you, makes you feel excited, when you think about both settings (the play and say, an 11 O’Clock service at St Johns)
There are deeper questions to ask;
Where the meaning lies in a story (author, reader, the process of telling?)
What does each approach to the story tell us about the underlying approach to historical, emotional or literary truth?
What prior experience, and follow up, does each telling require in order for participants to benefit fully from the experience?
There are examples of services which use similar approach to celebrating as “Burnt City” does elsewhere on this blog. – but what are your thoughts?
This article is from 2019, but is shows what an artist (with help from their sponsors and friends) can do. It is a story of finding hope in reforestation.
We have been working on the cocoon this week and gradually transforming it into a chrysalis with hand-made paper.
It is becoming a tomb for the hopes and fears written into it by many folk over the past month of Lent.
The physical transformation of the cocoon represents our longings for God to be at work in our lives, making something beautiful from the fragments of our holy desires.
There is faith built into the structure – belief and hope that He can and will perform this transformation in our lives.
Watch this space for the final transformation on Easter Day!
