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A wee advert.
Category: Forest Church
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Singing for trees
Those who like Forest Church may like this :
https://www.crichton.co.uk/event/sing-for-the-trees/
If you go, please comment here on what it is like?
What could we learn from the experience? Where do you recognise the Holy Spirit at work?
And don’t forget the value of a smile, or the worth in experiencing the was a particular ray if light illuminates the green in ways that words fail you to describe.
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Help needed!
This Sunday, the 22nd of May, we will be ‘refurbishing’ some fig trees.
Not actual trees, they have their own built in regenerative processes. These are trees that were made for the All Age/informal service back when it used to meet in the hall. They were used to create a ‘grove’ meditative space on good friday as well.
Now they are being refurbished to help create a forest labyrinth for “Bearfest”. As part of the Quartz contribution, we will be bringing a taster of what we do outdoors into the St Johns building. Visitors will be guided to encounter the wild – where bears still live – and reflect on their relationship with it.
All materials and instructions will be provided. This is a meditative activity, thinking about all the good things trees give us.
For contemplative inspiration you could read “The king of the trees”
To understand the extract in context as a warning to those who choose less than adequate leaders without thinking through the consequences read the whole story in Judges!
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Forest Church, Easter Sunday
This is a bit overdue! Here is a wee film to reflect on from our Easter Sunday Gathering.
Several aspects of the new Wordsmith Crafts C.I.C. overlapped this Easter Sunday.
Quartz was the lead project (#SensingSpirituality). We have been meeting as Forest Church for over a year now.
Cluaran (living breathing heritage) skills were used to tell the story of Jesus meeting his disciples on the beach and eating some fish with them, after he had risen from the dead. There was something special about informally gathering where the water meets the earth, smelling the fire, eating the food together, and retelling the old stories.
The Studio (Heritage crafts) held all the equipment and skills we needed to make it happen. Look out for more interesting things this year – although we need a dedicated film crew to catch all the action!
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May!
It’s been a busy start to May.
There was a full weekend at Allanton. We were working with Cluaran and many others using heritage crafts, storytelling, and the experience of fire to help people find peace. On the Sunday we prayed for peace worldwide, and joined with people worldwide via the internet.
There was a lot of packing, unpacking, and sorting too, of course.
Today I’ve been working on some “Calling Cards” for the St Johns contemporary service. We will be thinking about vocation. This has a specific meaning in the church setting, but is also an experience that shapes human being in general.
The Quartz Christian Life Community will meet again on Monday evening. So if you found the Lent group helpful this is a chance to continue the habit of meeting together. Everyone is welcome!
Keep an eye out for forest church, the teddy bear festival, and other developments as the summer opens up before us.
As the culmination of our Lent journey we invite you to join us to cook fish by the water, and meet the risen Christ.
This is the start of a journey as well as the end of one. We have chosen this place to meet partly because of the connection some of the group have with Lincluden Abbey, and also out of sensitivity to the preservation of information buried in the soil. This means that we are meeting on the other side of the river where our fire will not disturb the scheduled monument.
To what extent did the disciples know what to expect when they left those times they met Jesus on a beach and ate fish with him? They would have many memories to fall back one – several of which involved eating bread and fish! But also the filling of their hunger for #SensingSpirituality . They had seen the dead raised back to life, blind people able to see, and also the quickening of downtrodden women and slaves in ways which humbled the authorities (and scared them) .
They had walked through towns and villages doing these things. Feeling the good news flow through their fingers.
When we meet we remember the history of what has happened. Reenact the events to re-member abstract thought in physical experience – both smokey taste and spiritual reality. We also have the opportunity to prepare for and dream up our path for the coming year.
All are welcome!
17th April – Easter Sunday BBQ – meet outside St Johns at 2pm to walk along the riverside to a beach opposite Lincluden Abbey – or 2.45 meet at the Nunholm car park. (Bring things to BBQ) We will have fire.
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Tree Trail
As Quartz Forest Church we are spending a year exploring the Chrichton Estate in Dumfries. For many of us, even though we live in Dumfries, the grounds around the university are not a familiar place.
We started in autumn, and are seeing signs of spring now. We have also been meeting some of the other people who inhabit this space. Some are ‘residents’ like the veterans garden, others passing through and walking their dogs.
An important theme in forest church is getting to know the natural environment. Which is why this trail in particular looks interesting.
Click to view The trail website
We held the March Forest Church meeting at Allanton Peace Sanctuary. This was part of one of the eight seasonal festivals they are planning for this year. These festivals recognise the changing seasons in what is sometimes called the wheel of the year.
We had a particular focus on peace in Ukraine and Russia, but also were very aware of all the conflict taking place worldwide. We pray for peace in all continents and between all people.
You can find out more about Allanton here
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Praying for Peace
Forest Church 20/3/2022
It is our custom to meet as Forest Church on the third Sunday in the Month. We have chosen to meet on the Crichton estate for a whole year, so that we can get to know it and experience the changes in the seasons.
However, this particular Sunday we have chosen to accept an invitation to meet at Allanton Peace Sanctuary. They are observing the cycle of seasons in the year as well, with gatherings at the eight traditional points. From the earliest times humans, whether Jewish or the early church, or those who create their own thing from day to day, humans have noticed the change in seasons and chosen to use this to explore spiritual change. Reconnecting with this is a desire we share as Forest Church. We also share a desire for peace and a willingness to pray for it, as well as a belief that prayer changes things.
There will be a blended online and physical component to the day.
Walkabout
2.50 in Peace Pole Henge
3.00 people can join in online (e-mail Quartz for the link)
Explanation of what we are doing
We will pray for each continent, then hold a special meditation for Russia and Ukraine, at the Peace Poles for each country, sending our light and love to the greater pool of consciousness, available to each and every one of us.
Paper Angels: Simon – tells the story behind the folding of the The Angel Cloud
Invitation to continue discussion over tea and cake, and folding your own Angel
Simon will invite the Forest Church and anyone else to participate in closing blessing.
You can find Allanton at this address
Allanton Peace Sanctuary
Auldgirth
Dumfries, DG2 0RY
Scotland, UK
This post is not the place for detailed discussions about authenticity, dating and etymology – but for those who are interested: Connections between Church “Easter” and “Ostera” can be traced back to Bede in 8th century Northumbria, and like many topics from that era has undergone much new study in the last century, much of which has yet to become common knowledge. There is a brief introduction here, and deeper discussion is available in other places online.
In what ways can we draw on the heritage we have inherited, and use it to create a peaceful future for all?