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

Bamboo Encounter--September 28th

I look forward to heading into the bamboo for the outdoor worship service on the 4th Saturday each month.  It has become part of my rhythm and my practice, thus part of my rule of life.  Bamboo Encounter is part of the Wild Church Network, a group of churches who encounter God in the wilderness.

I never know exactly who is going to show up or what the weather will be like or how things will go.  That is part of the adventure for me.  In allowing the Holy Spirit to move and flow, I am always refreshed and refilled after these encounters.

This past Saturday, an unexpected gift awaited us in the bamboo.  There was water in small hole in the rock that I use as the altar for Holy Communion.  Because the water was there (from a small rainstorm), we were able to remember our baptism/remember that we are baptized during our time together.  That was a neat addition to the service for me and I hope others.

For the first time this past Saturday, I noticed a small alcove to the left when I entered.  It was a neat tiny "room".  During the silence time, I went inside that space.

As always, when we open the time up for sharing, folks share things that spoke to them during the silence or through the Scriptures or readings.  This time of sharing is very meaningful to me.

After the service I took the white "event" signs back to Susan and got to meet King, the owl.  I was able to get a picture of them both.  I have enjoyed getting to know Susan on my visits to Reflection Riding.

If you are local, come check out Bamboo Encounter on a 4th Saturday at 11:30 a.m.  Check out the Facebook page for more information, for weekly quotes/Scripture, and past service blog posts.  There are also pictures and posts from folks who attend.

May you enjoy some time outside in creation!

Debra


The service:

Opening Prayer: (A Celtic Prayer from Christine Valters Painter’s book water, wind, earth & fire: the Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements, p. 15)

“Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

which fans your face on a sultry day,

the air which you breathe deeply, rhythmically,

which imparts to you energy, consciousness, life.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you!”

Readings:

Matthew 13:16

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (NIV)

Job 12:10

“In his hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of every human being.”

“No Sign but Everything That Is” ~ Wendell Berry, “Sabbaths, 1999” IX

The Incarnate Word is with us,

is still speaking—is present

always, yet leaves no sign

but everything that is.

Communion:

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 The Message (MSG)

"Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt."

Song: (Eat This Bread)

Eat this bread, drink this cup,

come to him and never be hungry.

Eat this bread, drink this cup,

trust in him and you will not thirst.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Blessing:  (from Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore, p. 33)

May you see the glory of God in sun and sky;

may you hear the Creator’s song in bird and breeze;

and may the grace of Christ’s Spirit course through you,

body and soul.