There is a shift in thinking from living bound by law to one where faith provides your rule.
Those who have been brought up Christian often feel frustration as Christmas approaches and the streets fill up with tinsel, and advertisers ramp up the pressure to consume – all with the branding of Christendom.
How should a follower of the way respond?
Everything is permissible. Laugh in the market place with those who love joy, weep with those who mourn. We are free from the need to moralise or preserve the worthless religious practices* of even our recent ancestors. But we must prayerfully consider what choices are most beneficial.
Our faith is not in a set of beliefs and practices. Faith in Jesus is belief that through genuine loving we will build up ourselves and those around us. Transform obstacles into opportunities, and show things in a new light which brings peace, change, growth.
Living a rule to give this constancy is much more demanding than conserving a moral code. The freedom requires each of us to judge ourselves rather than just conform to expectations.
In a place where bibles are banned you can be a hero lawbreaker smuggling holy contraband. Where sectarian or nationalist violence mars the daily life of ordinary people you can transgress religious boundaries to display love like the good Samaritan. In a high street that no longer feels like it is your own, is it time to turn over tables and protest the against the cultural appropriation of Christian symbolism by secular society?
Who would that benefit, who would it build up?
What are people celebrating at Christmas, and why are they choosing to do that online, in their homes, and on the high street but less and less in church buildings?
Is our own house in order, are we truly welcoming of people of all ages, sexuality, and cultures who choose to celebrate significant moment as Church?
What are the rules you set for yourself to make the journey toward Christmas, and the festival itself, spiritually significant? please use the comments!
What’s been happening in October with Quartz Forest Church
The harvest is gathered in and the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. Here is a quick overview of how we have been responding to this time of year.
Tabernacle trip
Here is a collection of photos and reading from the special forest Church day we held in October. We visited Cairnholy to “Feel small, but in a good way” as we reflected on the passage of time.
We also drew on the Jewish tradition of setting up tabernacles/booths after harvest for the festival of “Sukkot”
Quartz Forest Church at the Crichton
On the third Sunday we met at the Crichton as usual. We took time to notice the change in the season as we move into autumn. We used the fallen leaves to create a wheel. This was divided into four, to represent the seasons, and then we walked round the wheel to reflect on our passage through time. At each point we stopped and thought about that particular seasonal change and our relationship to it.
Some Taize also featured!
School Visiting
When Simon goes into schools to help with history lessons, sometimes he will adopt the character of “Cathbad” from the Viking Era. The (primary school) pupils get to meet someone from their past. This is used to help them think about differences and similarities between their lives and people from the past, as well as find an interest in learning about the places they live in.
Cathbad set up in a school classroem
You may notice some similarities between the shelter used at QFC and the shelter in the school! This is one of the ways in which the Cluaran heritage work of Wordsmith Crafts CIC harmonises with the Quartz project.
While we were on holiday in Oban we discovered this mobile. Ogham runes from thousands of years ago stitched onto leaves that make the hidden colours in trees visible. There is a tradition which associates each ogham rune with the name of a tree which some people use today to think about ways in which language is embedded in environment.
Celtic Alphabet leaves in the Rockfield Centre, Oban – Deborah Grey
The work explores indigenous language through natural dyes and pigments. It was a community project which is embedded in a community dye garden. There is more to explore online! Including a digital archive of conversations I’ve not found yet. It is curated by Naoko Mabon though if you feel like doing some research!
Do you ever get a glimpse of the code? What would it take to re-boot your life?
We are Church. Jesus makes sure of that in coffee shops, bus stops, and while people are washing the dishes. The Church is for everyone. Heaven has an open door policy and that starts now.
How can we respond to the issues which challenge our own sense of being, and create congregations where all are welcome though?
I don’t have the answer, but I am sure the way to it is found by shedding the scales of terror, religiosity, and legalism to flourish in a state of metanoia fueled with Love.
If we are to be like Jesus and to minister to those who are different, marginalised and treated as outcasts, then we need to do more than label our churches and websites with messages of ‘all are welcome’. Jesus commanded that we should go out and meet people where they are. For me, this conference has been the start of a process in which to come to greater awareness of how I can be an ally, to reach out and to let transgender people know that they have a place in the Church.
Look for the glimmers, the nuggets of Joy. Learn to ‘Click the links’ which transform doom scrolling through life into a joy filled search. Then our gatherings will glow.
An old reference, but which pill would you choose?
“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.
Psalm 85
Prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favour
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Lord, you were favourable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[a]
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and will make a path for his steps.
Psalm 85 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
OR if this song might be helpful if you are online and unable to join in with the psalm in person.
O God Will You Restore Us, Bifrost Arts
First Reading
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”… … “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
A doorway to wonder made from scientific knowledge.
June has been a dry month this year, but with the school summer holidays rain has arrived!
Take some time out to smell the moisture in the air. Look for the river flowing into the sea. look around and become aware of the presence of water in the growing things.
We are part of this cycle, water flows though us and makes up a large amount of our body. Without it we become very thirsty, very quickly.
Practice #SensingMeaningfulness. (Don’t try to do all of these! pick one which appeals to you most, but then perhaps you’ll find time for another).
Creatively interact with the area around you. What things are wet? Are some leaves juicy and full of water while others are dry? Are there things you can make a picture from, or can you make sounds which represent all the forms which the water that surrounds us takes (pattering of rain, rippling river, beating heart…). Dance like no-one is watching!
Use the “doorway” card to learn about the water cycle, and follow the prompts to think about it.
Let your mind rest and become aware of your senses and experience the moment. As your mind wanders through the sensations of water, what truths do you become aware of? Are you inspired? Where do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Drink deeply.
Look at the ways in which water brings life to the seeds and plant around you. Are you spiritually thirsty? What areas of your life need “watering” and how could that be helped?
Discussion
We will make time to listen to each other learn from the different ways in which everyone has experienced water.
Blessing
May the blessing of the rain be on you— the soft sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up, and shed their sweetness on the air. May the blessing of the great rains be on you, may they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines, and sometimes a star.
We will meet outside the Crichton chapel at 2pm on the 3rd Sunday in the month as usual. This Sunday we may be dodging showers of heavy rain, so please dress for the weather!
Continuing the theme of the posts on this site, this Sunday we will spend time thinking about water. Some of the reading for the day from the Scottish Episcopal Church calendar are
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
Psalm 107:23-31 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Give yourself time to be aware of the vast range there is in the human experience of water. From resting beside calm pools in leafy burns to vast expanses of ocean.
Jesus teaches that God is both creator of the cosmos, and comforter. Examine your life story so far. Where do you sense the cosmic presence of God in awesome things? Where do you sense God close with you?
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
On Saturday the 24th of June Quartz will be presenting the opportunity for people to walk a Labyrinth. We will also interpret information about the first recorded farmers of the land. These were monks from Holme Cultrum Abbey across the Solway, which was at that time part of Scotland.
We will be doing this from 13.00 to 16.00 as part of the Creative Caerlaverock project which is exploring ways in which the community can engage with the castle and its grounds. The Castle itself is closed for safety reasons, but the grounds are open and access is free. If you are in the area, drop in. If you are reading this online and can’t travel hopefully you can try things out where you are.
The Labyrinth
We will be laying out a rope labyrinth which will hopefully be around 10m in diameter. Walking outdoors where the wind, birdsong and feel of the ground immerse you in the landscape is a special experience. We will encourage people to become aware of two of their abilities to sense which we think this activity is particularly suited to.
Some experiences are special. Life is more than just it’s physical components. There can be moments where we sense something that can be described as sublime. Mystics experience transcendence, and then spend the rest of their lives trying to explain it in a way which avoids disrespecting the experience. Whatever metaphysics you use to understand these experiences, taking time out to become mindful of the otherness of where you are, the specialness of this particular moment, can help enrich your ordinary experience of everyday life.
On this day it might be helpful to think about the length of time this site has been used (This land was once below the waves, could a roman soldier have walked here?)
The Monks at Holme Cultrum lived a lifestyle which cultured an awareness of otherness. This contemplative life was balanced with an active life though, where the presence of God is experienced in daily life. The Practice of the Presence of God is an account by the C17th monk known as Brother Lawrence. You can find a copy here.
More fully this is described as “Sensing a changed quality in Awareness”. If you can walk the labyrinth laid out on the grass then you might sense a change in the quality of your awareness of yourself and surroundings. The labyrinth restricts the path you walk, but perhaps this can free your mind to wander. By walking the labyrinth your experience of the lawn at the castle is changed. Perhaps you will experience inner change from walking.
Perhaps it will be as simple as having the opportunity to experience a moment of peace in what would otherwise be a busy day.
If attending a church service or singing beautiful chantshelped the monks experience the transcendence of God, perhaps working in the fields, healing a sick person, or walking simply along a leafy lane, gave them moments where they sensed “Uncommonly good days” or the kingdom of God like salt in food or yeast in bread.
Walking
The days have been getting longer, now they become shorter. The sun stands still. It can be recognised as a time to pause, rest, and mark the change in the year. A labyrinth can help you do this.
Place your finger at the entrance to the Labyrinth.
As you follow the path to the centre, let your mind wander. If something worries you, acknowledge it and lay it to the side for just now. Unwind.
In the Centre, take time out to rest in the light of creation. Light shines in the darkness. You are loved. You have the potential to do what is needed and are free to choose not to reject that which is laid on you.
Follow the path out again. If you meet something you let go of on the way in, aknowledge it with peace. Choose to pick it up – or not!
Return whenever it might be helpful!
Why not save this to your phone or print this and go outside? Follow the path with your finger.
At one time Labyrinths were used by people as mini pilgrimages. Some were drawn on the floors of cathedrals, and may have represented a journey to Rome, or Jerusalem. They are much older though and have been a game played by children leaving winter and greeting the spring. This one is drawn by Simon Lidwell and is inspired by Iron age mirrors and wild geese swimming on the water.
Monastic life
As well as the labyrinth, we will also be presenting a collection of chants, prayers and readings from the history of monastic life in the area, from the 4th century to recent compositions. Monasteries used to regulate their pattern of life with special activities at certain hours. We will draw on this tradition by following a pattern throughout the time we are there. There will be a bell, the readings, some chanting and the opportunity to walk the labyrinth.
A very brief introduction…
Around the time that legal protection was extended to cover Christians in the roman empire, Christians also started to leave ‘normal’ society and seek the wilderness. Desert dwelling hermits and communities like those established by St Martin at Tours inspired Christian monasticism. The first example of this in Scotland is represented by St Ninian at Whithorn. This was probably followed by Portmahomac and Iona and then Lindisfarne. The way of life in a monastery was regulated by a rule, usually attributed to the founder, and these helped the community find a single-hearted focus on seeking God. Monks from the skelligs in the west helped rebuild culture after the destructive migration period, taking their customs and rules with them. Traces can be found in medieval manuscripts in the Italian alps.
The Benedictine rule then washed back into these island, and it is still the basis many communities of monks live by. Cistercians were the ones recorded as owning the lands around Caerlaverock and you can read more about how this continues to this day.
If you are interested, then community of Pluscarden abbey in the north of Scotland is a living example of monastic life in a building originally founded only a century or so after Holm Cultram.
This is the page of the Iona community. The combination of spiritual seeking and hard labour rebuilt the monastery there with trainee ministers and unemployed workers working alongside each other.
And here is where you can find out more about another contemporary approach which draws inspiration from early communities on the Farne islands of Northumbria.
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. (54.97845046765338, -3.5229645328674453)
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!
