Advent Week 1 2024-- thoughts, reflections, photos

It has been a few years since I have done a "word a day" for Advent. I haven't had it in me, truth be known. But this year, something inside me felt right, there was space for it. So, I created a "word a day" that included some nature in it and am using it with Bamboo Encounter, the outdoor worship that I facilitate monthly since 2015.

It has been a good practice for me this Advent Season to reflect on the words daily, to photograph something, to post something. 

Here is the post I made for the overall "challenge" and below that you will find the words and posts for Advent 1.

Advent is coming. (December 1-25)

I haven't done one of these in several years, but the space was there for me to put one together this year. It's an Advent Photo-A-Day challenge. I used typical Advent words plus some from Advent hymns that had a nature theme.

This year, I will be focusing on God's creation as I journey through Advent. Each day of Advent has a word. You are invited to take a photo of what comes to mind from the word... or draw something.

From the challenge: Advent is a time to reflect on the coming of the Christ child. As part of your preparation this season, consider joining in this semi nature-focused photo-a-day challenge with words from nature themed Advent songs by drawing or taking a picture that represents the day’s word and posting it to social media sites of your choice (FaceBook, Instagram, etc). You are also invited to share your post on the Bamboo Encounter FaceBook page, using the hashtags: #AdventPhoto, #(word of the day), #BambooEncounter when you post.

WORDS:
December 1— Hope
December 2— Wait
December 3— Darkness
December 4— Prepare
December 5— Light
December 6— Creator
December 7— Promise
December 8— Peace
December 9— Nature
December 10—Gift
December 11— Wonder
December 12—Alert
December 13— Stars
December 14— Wilderness
December 15— Joy
December 16— Dawn
December 17— Earth
December 18— Longing
December 19—Clouds
December 20— Journey
December 21—Heaven
December 22— Love
December 23—Anticipation/Expectation
Christmas Eve, December 24—Rest
Christmas Day, December 25— Birth/Born

If you would like a PDF version, email bambooencounter@gmail.com and request one.

I am looking forward to this journey.
Debra, Bamboo Encounter

December 1--

Today's Advent word is #hope. Here is my Advent wreath. What brings me hope? Experiencing Creator in creation and noticing how creation makes a way when there seems to be no way. #AdventPhoto #AdventWord2024 #BambooEncounter

December 2--

Today's word is #wait.

I wouldn't have needed to wait if I had attempted to outrun the arms, like the guy behind me wanted me to do. I am okay with waiting. He wasn't happy. I got out of my car and in Spanish (because that was at least one of his languages), I asked if there was a problem. I stayed near my car, but I was a tad frustrated. I wasn't going to risk my neck so he could get on through. So we waited. And waited. It was a slow train. I blew bubbles with my bubble stash. I asked forgiveness for the name in Spanish that arose so quickly in my frustration toward someone I didn't know.

Waiting can be unexpected at times. It reveals our character. Today it revealed to me that even when I am okay to wait, someone else can push my buttons. Keeping a calm, non-anxious presence while waiting takes practice. And bubbles. Bubbles offer me the chance to breathe and recieve peace.

By waiting, I lost nothing. I gained insight. Plus I didn't endanger myself or others.

#AdventWord #AdventPhoto

December 3--

Today's word is #darkness.

I went outside in the chilly air to check out the night sky. In the darkness, the lights from the stars shone brightly in the dark. The stars were visible because of the clear night and it was easy to see their light contrast the dark surroundings. I wonder how visible the light in each of us shines in the dark? Does our light contrast the dark surroundings? As I learned at camp, "it only takes a spark". May the light within each of us shine and glow brightly.
#AdventPhoto #AdventWord2024

December 4--

Today's word is #prepare.

On Wednesdays I go to Welcome Home of Chattanooga as a volunteer chaplain. My role varies, depending on what people need. Today I had some good conversations with several people. I also made a scrambled egg sandwich for a resident. Since that isn't my typical act of service, I needed to search for the needed items to make it. We may not always know where to find things, but we can look. We may not think our act of service is going to include making a sandwich, but we can be open to the opportunity. How can I prepare for the unexpected? By being open to the present moment and willing to offer all that I have and am. As I prepare during this Advent season for the coming of the Christ child, somehow I think I was already in his presence today.
#AdventPhoto #AdventWord2024

December 5--

Today's word is #light.

I think about light often. You might say it's a favorite reflection. ;)

Light shows up best in the dark.

These lights on the trees here don't show up in the light. Their brightness is only revealed in the dark.

Maybe that's what causes me to enter into darkness more willingly for myself or to walk it with others.

I know that light will shine. It will be seen in the darkness.

Will it be my light? Your light? Our lights together? I don't know.

What I do know is there is beauty in light, especially light that shines in the dark.

#AdventPhoto #AdventWord

December 6-- 

Today's word is #Creator.

Do you ever feel compelled to get out into creation? I do. Today, in fact, I felt the urge to get in some woods and water time with the Creator. Time with Creator always calms my soul, clears my mind, and restores peace. Being in creation allows me to see, hear, and smell things differently. The different perspective helps me listen more closely to the One who knows me best, the One who created me. I am grateful for some Creator time today in the woods and by the water. It was an ADVENTure. :)
#AdventPhoto #AdventWord

December 7--

Today's word is #promise.

As I mulched part of the backyard today, I made a path with the mower. It wasn't a complete labyrinth. It was more a simple path. Yet, in creating it, I realized I was being true to the playful and fun parts of me. That offered me joy. What struck me is that I realized I am committed to living into my true self-- the play, the fun. There have been many times over the years that I buried that part of me. To honor all that God created in me, I am committed to being open to what God is teaching me in this area and to living it out. A commitment is a promise. It's one for me to remember not only during this Advent season, but through the year. #AdventPhoto #AdventWord

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If you're interested in joining in for the rest of the Advent season, it's not too late. Start now. With the word of the day for today (whatever day you are reading this). 

Happy Advent!

Rev. Deb

Sunday Morning Reflection from the deck

I am sitting on the deck this morning with Cliff and a cup of coffee, trying to wake up on a Sunday morning. It's 57 degrees Fahrenheit out here and feels great. There are birds chirping and singing. There is a slight breeze. Leaves are on the table, the deck, and the yard. The fallen leaves are beautiful, as are the ones still hanging on for a little while longer in the trees.

There is a deck being built or re-built a few doors down and they are busy at work this morning with electric tools. That takes away from the nature sounds, but I can somewhat tune them out. 

There are some clouds in the sky this morning, a thin white cover over the blue background.

Every now and then I hear an acorn drop to the ground with a thud. I give thanks that I am not underneath that tree. :)

I look around me and see yellow, red, orange, brown, green and a mixture of stages in between.

As I contemplate the leaves this morning, I wonder what things in my life it's time to "drop off" or "let go". One of the quotes that were read at Bamboo Encounter yesterday was this one from Marilyn Wolf:

“When Autumn comes and the leaf starts to die, it is trying to let go of the branch. The tree doesn’t have to push it away, tear it off, or even nudge it. The leaf will let go and fall away when it’s time. It knows that it no longer serves the tree as a source of light and beauty and simply lets go.”

I found it on her blog here: "Autumn: A Time For Allowing". I encourage you to take a moment to go read the entire reading. It's short, yet powerful.

As I reflect on her quote this morning, it is good to note that the tree doesn't push the leaf away.  "The leaf will let go and fall away when it's time." Wow. That bears repeating: "The leaf will let go and fall away when it's time." Is that how it works with things in our life that no longer serve as a source of light and beauty? Do they simply let go? Or do we need to do a harder work to let them go? The answer might be a both/and. I don't know. I've not really considered this "new" way of letting go before. It seems to me that tree is simply "being" a tree. It is being its true self. And in being that true self, things are happening naturally, as they should. The tree allows the process to take place.

That brings up questions for me: am I being my true self? Am I allowing things to happen naturally? Am I allowing the process to take place?

These are questions that will take time to ponder. I will hold them with wonder and curiosity.

Meanwhile, I listen to the birds chirp and sing. I observe the beauty of the leaves, fallen and on the trees.

I breathe in and out on this cool morning.

I give thanks to the Creator for the beauty.

Peace on this day, 

Rev. Deb

Leaning into the season of Advent with fully human, fully divine

It's the first Sunday of Advent and I have chosen to use the devotional fully human, fully divine by Whitney R. Simpson this year as my advent guide. 

I couldn't have made a better choice for where I am this year.

I used the Advent Poem for Bamboo Encounter yesterday and just in the preparation time, it spoke to me. Based on the poem, I decided to offer the spiritual practice of breath prayer at Bamboo Encounter and the breath prayer that came to me as an example from the poem.

(Bamboo Encounter is a once a month outdoor worship service that meets outside in creation as we listen to the Creator. You can click on the link above in the first mention of it to learn more.)

Here is the Advent Poem that Whitney wrote. It's in the beginning of her book:

We wait.
We notice.
We sense.
We remember.
We anticipate.
With our whole selves, we seek hope, peace, joy, and love.
They are within our reach, yet we often rush past
         and miss them.
Will we choose to slow down and embody these gifts,
         like the wise ones?
Yes. Indeed! We are wise ones.
Help us get ready; open us up, Lord.
Give us the willingness to pause and prepare to receive
         your gift this season.
Let us embody what we discover as we await the divine.
Let us savor your hope, peace, joy, and love
         more fully this season.

Here is the breath prayer that came out of the poem for me and what I shared yesterday at Bamboo Encounter:

A breath prayer is a short prayer that fits in with your breathing in and breathing out. It can be something that captured your attention from your readings or anything on your heart/mind/soul. You can use a name that you most identify with in the moment, whether that is Creator, Great Spirit, God, Divine Mystery, etc.

If I were to have a breath prayer from today’s readings, it might be this: ‘Open me up Creator to savor all things more fully this season.’  As I breathe in, I pray “Open me up Creator” and as I breathe out I pray “to savor all things more fully this season.” 

--------------------

I was able to jump into the book last night, reading the introduction, preparing for Christmas, embodiment as Presence, and contemplative practices to explore. I still have two more short chapters to go before I begin Advent 1 readings on "Slow Down and Hope".

I mentioned that I couldn't have made a better choice for a devotional this year for where I am. Though I cannot fully explain that remark, I think it has to do with how the first pages have resonated with my heart, mind, and soul. 

From the quotes at the beginning of each chapter (so far-- Howard Thurman, Charlie Brown, Thomas Merton, Claudia Mair Burney) to the content, I have felt the expansion in me as I "drank" from these waters. 

My senses are engaged from the very beginning as Whitney offers in the introduction insight into how we can feel, see, smell, taste, and hear Christmas coming. Words such as "savor" resonate deeply, likely because of the spiritual direction program I've been in these past two years and how I'm learning to savor things and invite others to savor as well. 

Hearing the coming of Christmas in the 'stillness of the earth' resonated within me as Whitney wrote: "If you take a step outside in the middle of that dark night and simply pause, you'll hear it in the silence, the anticipation, the waiting, the feeling like the entire earth is taking a deep breath, slowly inhaling and exhaling, standing on the edge of whatever comes next. It reminds you to listen." (10)

Whitney brings herself, her gifts and graces, and her experiences to this devotional. Though it has been years since I have seen Whitney in person (we met at a SoulFEAST at Lake Junaluska one year), I have kept in touch with her and followed her because she offers much to the world. I'm glad I have kept up with her so that I learned about this Advent devotional.

As I journey into Advent this year, practicing breath prayer, mindfulness, lectio divina, visio divina, meditation, contemplation, and presence, I hope to share what I learn and experience along the way.

If you haven't decided on an Advent devotional yet or if you have space for another one, I invite you to check out this one by Whitney. There's even a Wednesday online component from The Upper Room that you can join. I don't know if my schedule will allow me to do that yet or not. I haven't checked out my calendar yet for that.

Here's to savoring these next four weeks, to opening up to all that Creator has to offer, as I (hopefully) listen attentively and turn my attention and focus toward hopeful expectation to the One who is coming.

Peace on your Advent journey, 

Rev. Deb

A reflection on paths, spurred by quotes and memories

 This quote that I wrote 8 years ago showed up in my memories a few days back:

"When faced with an overgrown path between yourself and a destination, look closely for the hidden worn path of travelers gone before and follow their steps. If no such step or opening exists, it may be time to forge the path for others. ~d" [July 25, 2014]

I wrote these words based on what I saw on the property of Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, MN that year. The overgrown path had captured my attention. These words continue to ring true for me. I have followed the path of many who have led the way and I have forged paths at times.

As I reflect on this quote and some of the paths I have forged, I recognize that Bamboo Encounter is one such path that I have both followed others and forged. I followed leaders and learned from them and then forged a path that was given to me in my setting.

I am grateful for all those in the Wild Church Network that taught me and continue to teach me about Wild Churches. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit that put the idea within me and allowed it to become a reality. I have written about how Bamboo Encounter a couple of times:

Bamboo Encounter-- a nudge is becoming a reality (February 7, 2019)

Bamboo Encounter's first outdoor service-- May 25 (May 25, 2019)

There are a few more blog posts about Bamboo Encounter, but mostly you can learn about it from the link above that takes you to its Facebook page.

This week Bamboo Encounter was the "feature" wild church and that was cool.  Here is that post.  Wild Church Network FB page.

Another recent memory reminds me that many people who have walked the path have been there for me and now I walk that path with and for others.

A sign that says "Charlie's Garden" at the Cenacle in Houston, TX captured my attention. 

Here is what I wrote about that sign just this week on July 27:

"This sign. This memory. Forever a marker in my journey of Creator God's grace, compassion, and love. Unexpected, sent-me-to-my-knees attention getter, reminding me that I can breathe in and out, that I can trust the One who created Charlie." #grateful

From the memory that came up in 2020 on the same day, I had written: "Charlie's Garden. A sign at the Cenacle Center in Houston, Texas in 2016. It made my heart smile. I haven't often received literal signs of assurance, but that one summer when I needed it the most, it was there. During a retreat on compassion. Oh how that sign sent me to my knees that moment, yet how Creator God spoke words of hope, peace, comfort, and encouragement through it. Grateful for the love and guidance of the One who knows me best, the One who created me, the One who created Charlie."

I've written a blog post about that sign and names. You can find it here: Thoughts about names.

We are all in community, connected, working together, as Ram Dass says, 'to walk each other home.'

I am grateful for those who have gone before me and for those who accompany me along the many adventures.

The adventurous journey continues!

Rev. Deb

Haiku inspired by bamboo

I was reflecting on yesterday's Bamboo Encounter and this photo.

The result is this Haiku:

open space beckons 
archway invites entering
sacred space awaits

DD, 6/26/22

Bamboo Encounter-- February 22nd

This past Saturday was Bamboo Encounter day, the 4th Saturday of the month.  Five of us gathered in the bamboo for our time of silence, Scripture, sharing, and Holy Communion.  It was a beautiful clear day and the being in the space of the bamboo did not disappoint.  My spirit was refreshed from the time of worship in community in that space.


I am grateful to Joel, who led the January service so that I could attend the Resurrection weekend with the youth.  What I regret is not being there to have heard what he had to share.  I look forward to him leading another time when I can be in attendance.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's time in the bamboo, along with the worship service.

Take a moment to read over the Scriptures and the poem by Wendell Berry and reflect on them.  Picture yourself in the midst of the bamboo from the pictures.  Though it's not the same as being there because you don't feel the breeze nor can you hear the bamboo clacking against each other, you can picture the cathedral ceiling cover above you.

Bamboo Encounter is part of the Wild Church Network.  We meet at Reflection Riding, on land that is native to the Cherokee and is part of the Lookout Creek watershed.

Opening Prayer:

Lord, the air smells good today,

straight from the mysteries

within the inner courts of God.

A grace like new clothes thrown across the garden.

free medicine for everybody.

The trees in their prayer, the birds in praise,

the first blue violets kneeling.

Whatever came from Being is caught up in being,

drunkenly forgetting the way back.

RUMI

Scripture and readings:

Psalm 96:12

“Let all of the trees of the forest sing for joy.” (NIV)

“Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise.” (NLT—New Living Translation)

Isaiah 55:12

“For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

"Woods" by Wendell Berry

“I part the out thrusting branches

and come in beneath

the blessed and the blessing trees.

Though I am silent

There is singing around me.

Though I am dark

there is vision around me.

Though I am heavy

there is flight around me.”          

     ~Wendell Berry

Communion Passage:

Matthew 26: 26-28 (MSG)

^26-28 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.          
This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.

Song: 

Day by Day (Godspell)

Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

Blessing:  

(from Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore, p. 101)

                                                                                                                   

May Christ open your eyes

that you may see the light of creation.

May Christ open your ears

that you may hear the song of the earth.

May Christ open your heart

that you may give and receive love.

~SHP

Pictures by me:

Pictures by Joel Tippens:

May the bamboo bring you as much peace as it does me,

Rev. Deb

Resources: 

Spirit of Trees (a blog full of resources and writings on trees)

For the Beauty of the Earth, a Lenten Devotional, by Leah Schade

Earth Prayers

Reviewing 2019

Pentecost 2019, me and the retired guy :)

New Year's Eve is a time that allows us to think back over the past year and look forward to the new one.  As I reflect back on 2019, there were lots of celebrations and transitions, new beginnings and adventures.

In the beginning of 2019 I launched the FB page for Bamboo Encounter, preparing for the first service to be held in May.  Bamboo Encounter meets the 4th Saturday of every month and has been a great addition to 2019.

I went to Blue Ridge in February for a girls weekend, though for me it was a one-nighter.  I did my first hike since my hip replacement the previous June and that was a big accomplishment for me.

For Ash Wednesday, I participated with a colleague in doing Ashes to Go / Cenizas para el camino at a local market in Spanish.  That was neat to be able to do.

In March, Riley and I went on our first cruise and celebrated 15 years together.  The cruise was with a childhood friend and her husband, who were celebrating 30 years.  The cruise and the trips were a fun adventure.  We visited Hell in Grand Cayman, a highlight for this pastor. :)

In May, our son Charlie graduated from high school, having earned the John Philip Sousa award in band.  Graduation was a special time marked with family.

During the summer we went to Sinsinawa, Wisconsin for a Wild Church Network retreat/conference.  It was the first of its kind.  It was wonderful for me to meet others connected to the Wild Church Network and to catch up with 2 folks I knew from FUMSDRL/HOF (Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders/Hearts on Fire).

At Annual Conference in June, I was officially appointed to my 2nd appointment, St. Elmo UMC, which I began officially on July 7th, having done a soft start a little earlier to get my feet wet.

I participated in the Honeybee Metric Ride again this past year as a honeybee at a rest stop.  It was my 3rd year to be a honeybee.  I enjoy getting to cheer on the riders.

I went to the Wild Goose Festival for the first time during the summer and gave out hugs as part of the Mama Bear Den and Free Mom Hugs.  I attended some sessions and met lots of great people.  I got fairy hair from "Spark the Fairy" booth on the last day, July 14 and I still have a few pieces of fairy hair left over.  That has been a super conversation starter as folks wonder what the blue things are in my hair. :)

I attended ELMC 2019, a Hispanic training offered by the Episcopal Church at Sewanee in August.  It was a great CEU opportunity, as well as getting to meet like-minded folks who were part of the program.  A highlight was visited El Refugio at Stewart Detention center.  I chose El Refugio as my birthday fund raiser and was able to raise over $500 for them, thanks to friends and church folks.

Charlie began his freshman year at Watkins College in August, right before I headed to Sewanee.  With Charlie at college, we were now empty-nesters, though we still had Cliff.

Charlie had a super first semester at school and I made it through my first semester with him away. :)  A highlight was the Friday we took Cliff to Nashville to visit Charlie and we went to a great dog park.

2019 brought other transitions for me.  I had thought that transitioning from 3 churches and 3 communities to 1 church and 1 community would allow me to slow down a little.  I was wrong.  I haven't slowed down.  I've been pretty busy.  But it has been a good busy.  I'm still getting to know people and the community in which I serve.  I have a long way to go, but having listening sessions early on in the appointment helped. 

I used to post my sermons weekly in my first appointment, but I haven't had as much writing space, though I do post the audio weekly.  I haven't had much time for writing, period.  It takes time and energy and much of my time for writing has been sermon writing. 

Getting outdoors and into creation gives me life.  We learned of a new labyrinth that is part of the Lookout Mountain Conservancy.  That was a neat find.

Being at St. Elmo UMC these past 6 months has been life-giving.  A few of the activities that have been meaningful to me are: getting to participate in a Blessing of the Animals, giving out hugs at the Pride Festival, hosting a UMCNext conversation space at church, serving a Thanksgiving meal and giving out clothes, participating in the Cantata as the narrator, and experiencing my first Christmas Eve Candlelight service.

In the fall I applied to a spiritual direction program and was accepted.  That begins in the fall of 2020. 

As I reflect, I know I am leaving some things out (there were LOTS of things that happened this past year, like getting to visit my cousins Frank and Jonathan in Blue Ridge one day in the Spring, meeting Steve Austin and his family in Birmingham and then them coming here to Chattanooga, ETC.) 

Riley's first full year of retirement went by quickly.  Who knew that life outside of work would be so busy?!?!

I am grateful for all the connections and support, near and far, that have been part of my 2019.  From church folks, family, friends, book club, colleagues, fellow Mama Bears, etc.  THANK YOU for being part of my 2019.

I look forward to new adventures in 2020 in life and ministry.  I know there are more changes and transitions ahead.  I don't know what all the adventures or changes will be, but I hope to continue to "roll with it" as I've learned on Sunday mornings. 

My summer word was "wild" because of Wild Church Network and Wild Goose.  Things have been wild in some ways, but a very good wild.

I haven't picked a word for 2020 nor do I have any set goals yet. 

My plan is to live in the present, to walk with folks, to live, love, and lead like Jesus.

Peace on the adventures of 2020,

Debra

Bamboo Encounter-- December 28th

Today was the 8th meeting and the final meeting of 2019 of Bamboo Encounter, an outdoor worship service that is part of the Wild Church Network.  We had 11 people in the bamboo today, 3 of those were from out of town (2 from CA and 1 from KY-- all 3 with local ties).  Some of the regular folks were out of town and/or unable to attend.  For a Saturday during the holidays, it was a good-sized group of folks to hang out with in the bamboo.  The weather was warm for December.  No rain, though there were some clouds.  The sun did come out at some point.  There was a breeze today, so we were able to listen to the leaves blow and hear the bamboo clack a little.

The sharing time is always encouraging as different people share what's on their hearts and minds, reflecting on the readings or sharing what came to mind during the silence.  That always adds to our time.

Every Saturday, a quote is shared on the Bamboo Encounter FaceBook page.  Today's quote was by Katrina Mayer: "Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time."

That is how I feel about the time in the bamboo each month.  It is never wasted time for me as I enter into the bamboo.  I come out of my time in the bamboo more relaxed and more at peace than I went in.  Always.  I know that part of it is the physiological aspect of being covered by the trees.  Another part is the making time to slow down, to breathe, to be silent, to listen.

Below is the service for today, along with an additional reading from Ram Dass that came up during our sharing time after the silent reflection time.

Opening prayer (unison):

Let there be

respect for the earth

peace for its people

love in our lives

delight in the good

forgiveness for past wrongs

and from now on a new start.

(“The Millennium Resolution”, Churches Together in England, Earth Gospel, page 123)

Readings:

Psalm 104:3-4

“You ride on the wings of the wind, You make the winds your messengers.”

Quote by Thomas Merton:

“Let me seek, then, the gift of silence, and poverty, and solitude, where everything I touch is turned into prayer: where the sky is my prayer, the birds are my prayer, the wind in the trees is my prayer, for God is in all.”

Reading:  Mary Oliver “When I Am Among the Trees” [Thirst, page 4)

                          

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

     but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

                                           

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.”

Communion passage: Matthew 26: 26-28 (MSG)

^26-28 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.          
This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.

Ram Dass quote (shared here because it came up during the sharing time after the silent reflection and someone looked it up to share with us):

“When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying ‘You are too this, or I’m too this.’ That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”

Song:                                  Joy to the World (on this 4^th day of Christmas)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Blessing: from Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore, p. 92)

                                                                                                                     Based on Hosea 14:7

May you rest beneath God’s shade,

flourish like a garden,

blossom like a vine;

and your soul become as fragrant

as the finest wine.

Additional pictures taken by me and by Joel Tippens (his have credit).

May you enjoy the pictures of the bamboo and the readings from our time outdoors.

Join us on the 4th Saturday of the month, starting in January!

Debra

Photo by Joel Tippens

Photo by Joel Tippens

Photo by Joel Tippens