Category: Forest Church

A Dynamic Unity (I)

From our discussions, some observations from Alison, blogged by Simon for Quartz.

If you think about it, in the bible we meet God as a bush, or at least Moses does in his story. We also meet God as a bird descending onto a humans head in the story of the baptism of Jesus. Of course, we can also meet God as a person as the human Jesus. The person of the historical Jesus shows us a way to live, and the Church has been trying to follow this for 2000 years. This takes effort! Most people sense something like a rift between heaven and earth, or what we hope for and what we observe happening

She says, “This can be where #SensingSpirituality comes in. Sitting on a bench looking out at the Solway restores my soul, and through it I sense a spiritual truth and reality. In this place it comes naturally to me as a consolation as a gift and without effort”.

There is an article by Richard Rohr which stood out to her:

For some Christians, the split is overcome in the person of Jesus. But for more and more people, union with the divine is first experienced through “the Universal Christ”—in nature, in moments of pure love, silence, inner or outer music, with animals, or a primal sense of awe. Why? Because creation itself is the first incarnation of Christ, the primary and foundational “Bible” that reveals the path to God.
read the full article below…

A Dynamic Unity

These thoughts resonated in her reading of the first half of Psalm 19

¹The heavens are telling the glory of God,
    and the firmament^[a] proclaims his handiwork.
²Day to day pours forth speech,
    and night to night declares knowledge.
³There is no speech, nor are there words;
    their voice is not heard;
⁴yet their voice^[b] goes out through all the earth
    and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens^[c] he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
    and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and nothing is hid from its heat.

Perhaps this track by songwriters Brian Eno / Darla Eno will resonate with you as well, as you contemplate and wait on God to warm you. The rays of the sun ripen the grain, green turning to gold as it flourishes, ready for harvest.

The soul of it
Is running gay
With open arms
Through golden fields
(Deep)
(Sun)
And even though
The corn is high (Sun)
(Sun) And sometimes harsh
Against the heels
We open to (Deep)
The blinding sky
And let it in
And let it in (Deep)
(Sun)
(Sun)
Through open hearts
And burning fields (Sun)
(Sun) The soul of it
In gorgeous flames (Deep)
(Sun)
The whole of it (Sun)
In gorgeous flames (Sun)
(Sun)
We let it in
(Deep) We let it in
(Sun) We let it in
We let it in (Sun)
We let it in
We let it in
We let it in
We let it in
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Brian Eno / Darla Eno
We Let It In lyrics © Opal Music

Forest Church

Sunday Afternoon

Forest Church on Sunday afternoon in September.

The theme that resonated most this month was enjoying each others company.

We have met in the Crichton estate each month for a year now, and although there are always new things arriving and plenty more to find, it is feeling a bit like home.

Our forest church gatherings have never really been wild. However moving outside the building does lead to feelings of being exposed. The weather has shaped where we go, and now that we are moving towards the end of harvest we will need to consider the daylight and weather conditions.

But this Sunday was a warm, mostly dry, day. Here is a short video with a song from Kate.

And a gallery of photos taken from the day.

Arts Creative Worship Forest Church Theology Thought of the Day

Hildegard Von Bingen

German visionary, theologian, composer and naturalist. Remembered on Saturday the 17th of September, walked this earth till 1179AD.

Many people will be aware of the date ‘1066’ and the battle of Hastings. It probably feels like a distant, far off and alien place. But in that year, people were born, they harvested crops, baked bread and went about the general business of being human. Some of everyday life would have been very different. The same sun shone on everyone though, and the forces of tide, time and environment that shape life on earth work on a scale which should encourage mystic respect.

It may have been almost a thousand years since Hildegard walked this earth, but she walked the same earth as us. So some of the imagery described in her visions is very easy to relate to today.

Because the beauty of woman radiated and blazed forth in the primordial root, and in her was formed that chamber in which every creature lies hidden. Why is she so resplendent? For two reasons: on the one hand, because she was created by the finger of God and, on the other, because she was endowed with wondrous beauty. O woman, what a splendid being you are! For you have set your foundation in the sun, and have conquered the world.
(…)
Commentary: Themes and Theology
by Nathaniel M. Campbell

Dr Eldridge is reported as saying “Viriditas means literally ‘green truth’, or greening power, which was one of Hildegard’s key philosophical or cosmological ideas,” … “In simple terms, for humans to be healthy and happy, then the natural world needs to be happy and healthy too.”

She explored this in a festival of music, visual arts and readings in 2019 and the article describes how an initial encounter with the music introduced her to Hildegard and led her to explore the life of the abbess much further.

This time of year is also known by some as ‘Mabon’. As such is it one of eight festivals which mark the changing seasons in the “Sacred Wheel of the Year”. These are rooted in an attempt by people to explore connections with the ancient past, and current reality. Some of these festivals have been well researched, and abound with practices supported by a long tradition of practice. Others are perhaps more inspired by romance and a reaction against the grinding brutality of industrialisation, with less concern for factual historical accuracy.

The quote from Hildegard I have used above was written in response to a query about the properness of her dressing her nuns in flowing white, silk veils, their hair bound only by a golden coronet.

What if at this time of harvest instead of wondering what is “proper” we could really seek out that which is “True”? Instead of letting ourselves become the judges of other peoples behaviour, can we loose grip of ourselves enough to become the light which helps people see?

This time of year holds many festivals which all wear different clothes. Some of us will be meeting for Forest Church at 1pm outside the Crichton chapel on September the 16th. Some of us will also be heading out to Allanton peace sanctuary to meet with others and pray for peace.

Forest Church Fresh Expressions Outerweave

Quartz Forest Church

The Cathedral of Creation

1pm on Sunday the 18th of September

We are meeting up again on the 3rd Sunday in the month as we have been for around a year. During this time we have seen the seasons change and have fulfilled our aim of getting to know the environment of the Crichton.

We are meeting slightly earlier this month so that those who wish can also participate in the Allanton Peace Sanctuary peace sanctuary activities. (but not too early, so those that wish to attend the 11 O’clock service in St Johns can do this too!)

This time of year is one where harvest is in full flow. Our apple trees are full of fruit, and the leaves have already fallen where we have harvested plums. There is a time for everything and it is good to pause and recognise the changes.

The Plan

As is our custom we will meet in Christs name and, whether you consider yourself a close friend or are just curious, all are welcome to share his peace.

The reading of words is Luke 16:1-13

The reading from the environment will involve us walking round the grounds, remembering places and activities we have used over the year. If you haven’t been before please browse the Forest Church posts on the blog to get an idea in advance – or turn up and enjoy the introduction.

As a response we will collect a ‘harvest’ of experiences perhaps expressed in words, sketches, rubbings and pictures on smart phones.

Some of these can feed into visual artwork we hope to install in St Johns church building.

Forest Church Thought of the Day

August Quartz FC

Our reading through words for this week was psalm 19 We also read about Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath.

This led us on a wandering afternoon.

We were looking for signs of abundance and harvest. We were also trying to be aware of factors which could prevent us from seeing abundance and harvest, similar to the way in which those in the story in Luke were unable to receive the experience of healing with the joy you’d expect.

It takes time for a plant to seal off the connection it has with the fruit it bears, when it does though the fruit is loose to fall to the ground without leaving an open wound. Religion can hold people and groups together when they have a tendency to fly apart, but without a mechanism for growth it can bind us and leave withered fruit left on the tree.

We saw sunflowers, bright red berries on the yew trees, unintended flowers growing from the use of natural fertilisers, conkers! and the signs of leaves beginning to turn.

We have been visiting the Crichton every month for almost a year now. We reflected on how busy the estate is, people running, playing sports, bands rehearsing and more. We wondered how much this is a change of use in the area and how much it is a change in us, allowing us to recognise what is going on.

Here is a short video of our walk – music by Kate

(The sunflower head was already on the ground, detached, in case anyone is wondering).

As usual we were also joined by those who couldn’t physically be there. Here are a couple of photos sent in, taken on the afternoon.

Forest Church Fresh Expressions

Harvest

Post author By admin
Post date 23/08/2022
1 Comment on Harvest

An outdoor service for harvest. Click here to download the pdf description of it.

Would this appeal to you?

I wonder what being outdoors, rather than in a building, would contribute to your experience of the words and actions.

Is there anything you think in necessary, needing added, or especially remarkable?

Forest Church

August Forest Church

We will meet as usual outside the Crichton chapel at 2pm

This month we will look for signs of harvest, seeking to become aware of the law of abundance in the natural environment.

The reading from Scripture for the day is

Luke 13:10-17

¹⁰On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹²When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Luke 13: 10 -17

For an idea of what to expect, last month we read Psalm 23 and found the water in the Japanese garden. Andy brought a simple frame which we used to view the landscape in new ways. landscape through a simple frame. We also used the conceptual frmaes of- water, valley, green pastures, paths of righteousness- to worship with our own angle through the frame.

Here is a collection of photos from the day:

Forest Church

Forest Church 17 July

– He Restores My Soul

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.

Reading

– Psalm 23: 1-4 – The Lord is my Shepherd

Response

Finding water in the Japanese Garden at the Crichton
Framing the landscape through a simple frame
–4 different viewpoints for meditation- water, valley, green pastures, paths of righteousness
Worshipping with our own angle through the frame

Reading

– Psalm 23: 5-6 – You prepare a table

Benediction and sharing of food together in the presence of friends

(Please bring food to share!)

Forest Church Thought of the Day

Teddy Bear Festival

Where, when, do you learn emotional truth?

Toys and childhood play help us become the adults who have the luxury of asking such questions. Teddy bears have their own nostalgic niche. The process of experiencing feelings of attachment, separation and developing skills of emotional resilience can developed whether with a bear or a “my little pony” or simply a blanket.

It might be difficult to put into words the significance of your particular childhood toy, but it is likely that someone else has had a similar experience with their childhood toy. #SensingSpirituality is about recognising this, and then learning the words to communicate it. Or, perhaps, the art, craft, action or music to communicate it.

Quartz is installing a labyrinth to provide time for reflection, after all, bears are found in the woods and that’s where Forest Church is heading.

There will be a Teddy Bear festival in St John’s from the 7th to the 9th of July. More details on the St Johns website and the featured image of this post.

Forest Church Fresh Expressions

Quartz Forest Church

2pm outside the Crichton chapel today!

Workshop God with the whole of creation on a beautiful day in the summer.