Bamboo Encounter-- October 26th

Today was our first cooler weather Bamboo Encounter and our first wet Bamboo Encounter.  Even though it was wet and sprinkling, we were still able to meet inside the bamboo.  It never rained so hard that we needed to move into the pavilion at the top of the bamboo.  However, that was a viable option.

There was something peaceful about being in the bamboo in the rain.  The freshness of the air, its crispness and its smell were delightful.

Though we were small in number gathered to worship Creator God today, the Holy Spirit was present among us.

I had planned in advance to hand out the readings to willing participants, so we all shared in today's readings.  Since we were a small group, we served each other communion. 

Sometimes I question what God is doing in and through my life, nudging me to go out on a limb and do wild adventurous things.  Yet, each and every time that I follow through, I am encouraged and see fruit.

Today was the 6th Bamboo Encounter for the year, meaning that we are 1/2 way in to a full year of services.  Wow.  The resources that I read encourage me, as do the monthly video calls with Wild Church Network (though I was too busy to join in this past month.)

I wonder what the cooler month of November will be like in the bamboo!?!?

Until then, below you will find the readings and prayers from today, as well as the pictures I took.  Maybe you can picture yourself in the bamboo, do the readings on your own, and experience a little bit of what it is like to worship outdoors in the bamboo.

Peace on your journey,

Debra


Service:

Opening Prayer:

Into your strength, this day,

let me come again—

my heart undivided, my hope undimmed.

Set free my soul, unbind my love,

that I may serve you

serving earth.

(Earth Gospel, page 90)

Readings:

Deuteronomy 32:1-2

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.  Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.”

Isaiah 12:3-4 (NRSV)

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.”

Reading:  Mother Teresa of Calcutta

 “We need to find God and God cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature—trees and flowers and grass—grow in silence.  See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.  The more we receive in silent prayers, the more we can give in our active life.”

Communion:

John 6:33,35 and 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Common English Bible (CEB)

³³ The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁵ Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

¹⁶ Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Isn’t the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Since there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share the one loaf of bread.

Blessing:

May the God who dances in creation,

who embraces us with human love,

who shakes our lives like thunder,

bless us and drive us out with power,

to fill the world with her justice, Amen. —Nancy Morley

 (Earth Gospel, 50)