Quartz gathering as Forest Church November 2025
We will meet at 2pm outside the Crichton chapel on the 16th of November. Please dress for the weather! We adapt what we do to accommodate anyone who comes and the weather we find.
Peace
We will meet in Peace and make peace by meeting. Whether you consider yourself a close friend of Jesus or are just a wee bit curious we meet in his name.
As we gather in the green we will take some time to reflect on the change in the season.
We will read from the book and read from creation – both that growing around us, and the creative acts of humans within the environment.
Prayer
Together, if you are comfortable with that:
O Lord, forgive the transgressions of your people: and by your goodness release us from the snare of sin, in which, by our frailty, we have been caught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
COLLECT (Proper 33)
Reading from the book
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Luke 21:5-19
Reading from Creation
The parkland we meet in is also home to animals – but how many of them do we notice?
Take some time to be aware of the animal life around us
- Above us
- Below us
- Standing in front of us?
We are nearing the end of the harvest season. It is also the time of year when herds of cattle and flocks of sheep would be thinned out to a number which can survive the winter on the food stores up in farms.
The winter can be a challenge! If all the comforts we had of hearth and home were to disappear, how would you survive? Each creature adapts to the change of season in it’s own way, but perhaps if we group them into hunter and hunted we can learn from them more easily.
- Imagine you are a deer, how do you prepare for winter? Where could you hide, shelter from the cold and hunters?
- Imagine you are a wolf, how do you prepare? What do you look for in a pack to run with, do you have patience and endurance for the lean months and stalking?
Perhaps you are someone who can imagine this! Perhaps you would like to choose other animals you can see the trail of around you. Perhaps you would like to imagine you are a wild animal and act like a deer or a wolf?
Gathering
We will gather to discuss what we have exepierenced and learned
Reflection
We will gather together and share our insights, or simply share the wordless experience of being in the place together.
Blessing
We will stand and sense the peace that surrounds us in the wind and sounds of the place where we are gathered.
A wee drink and a bite to eat?
We will head over to the central café for a spot of refreshment together, and to continue chatting about what we have experienced.