Quartz
How long does it take to unlearn a cultural inheritance that dominates you? The Israelites spent decades in the wilderness, and only a few of the original adult generation who left Egypt entered the promised land. This is often understood as a punishment, but what else was going on? (Joshua chapter 5 vs 1-8) Wilderness […]
It was a bit of a dreich day when we gathered, but that didn’t dampen proceedings. We practiced looking at the trees, and we read from the bible. As the day was colder than usual this gathering was a bit more active than the contemplative speculation we often default to! Is the a dry wit […]
(Forest Church in October will meet at 2pm on the 19th) I’ve posted about Hildegard before, and the healing power of the green. As we are moving into a time of year where trees prepare for winter we will see all the other colours in their leaves. Perhaps a walk in the woods would be […]
I took time out to travel west recently. It has been over 10 years since I have last been to a conference/retreat with others who are interested in Forest Church type things. Many of the projects Quartz has been running flowed from that. Here is a video of my journey! For those interested in finding […]
Lots of resources for celebrating a season of creation this September. Thanks to Alison for the reminder! https://ctbi.org.uk/resources/season-of-creation-2025/
Many of those who are involved in Quartz have some familiarity with the way St Ignatius went about things. Here is a handy website and guide for those who are interested. If you are interested in something closer to home (well Dumfries) There are Jesuit centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh And the Scottish Episcopal church […]
Getting back to nature and spirituality are often linked together. Even those whonare comfortable in Church buildings will often take retreats into the countryside and green spaces. The houses we live in though, where we spend a lot of our time, can be places which become a spiritual home. What do you do that lifts […]
I’ve been working on something for the holiday club at St Johns this week. While I was searching my files I found this clip I made for a school assembly. Carry on making the world a better place!
Have you been to visit the high cross at Ruthwell yet? It is one of several crosses which were raised in the area between Whithorn and Bamburgh at the hight of Anglian power. This cross is particularly famous because it has words from a poem called “The Dream of the Rood” engraved on it. The […]
Reflecting whilst Felting Quartz members contribute to using visual arts at the contemporary service in St John’s. Most church goers are used to using music and singing to aid their worship. Some of us learn as we figit, and find meaning in visualisation too. On Sunday the 11th of May we were led in a […]