Transfiguration
Gathering as Quartz Forest Church on Sunday the18th of January
We will meet at 2pm outside the Crichton chapel on the 18th of February.
Peace
All are invited. Whether you consider yourself a close friend of Jesus or are just a wee bit curious we meet in his name and share his peace. We will meet in Peace and make peace through meeting.
As we gather in the green we will take some time to reflect on the change in the season. As we feel the stirring of spring take a moment to remember the grace of God and not rush headlong into the new year, yet. But today we practice #SensingSpirituality and sensing the stirring.
We will read from the book and read from creation – both that which lives around us, and the creative acts of humans within the environment.
Prayer
Almighty God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, was wonderfully transfigured before chosen witnesses upon the holy mountain, and spoke of the exodus he would accomplish at Jerusalem: give us strength so to hear his voice and bear our cross, that, in the world to come, we may see him as he is; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
SEC calendar (All years)
Reading from the book
“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
Sent from Bible Study Matt 17 1-13 NRSV
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”
(Simon’s reflection – written here for those unable to join with us on the day)
Have you ever been looking for something, been unable to find it, and then as soon as you ask it’s location is pointed out to you? Perception is not straightforward.
Did Jesus meet with Moses and Elijah regularly when he went off to wander in the hills? God is describes as God of the living after all. Perhaps the unusual thing was that he invited some of his disciples to join him, and for a moment they were able to see what was normally happening. If it was possible for them, to what extent is it possible for us?
If God creates and sustains all things in being then is it possible to discover God through created things. If we study the effect can we learn about the cause, and are our enquiries limited to our physical senses? #SensingSpirituality is an attempt to help provide a framework and language for experiencing and understanding the other senses humans have, including the experience of #SensingOtherness.
Some people may find it difficult to recognise our forest church gatherings as Christian worship, and they certainly can look very similar to a walk in the park. Those who participate describe sensing things like a changed sense of awareness. Perhaps not as dramatic as clothes of dazzling (Quartz-like) white, but maybe everyone can remember a time when they have seen someone’s face glow like the sun? Perhaps we miss the point when we understand these stories like visits from aliens in a sci-fi film. There are also stories where angels walk with humans and are not recognised as anything other than human. We enjoy eating food and find pleasure in it. Is it so strange to believe that we can learn about life and the creator of life through our physical senses and wondering in the presence of living things.
When we participate in living, we participate in life, and life flows from and back to God (more about John Scotus Eriugena here)
Reading from Creation
- Look for the “life” in things. What differences are there between the living things around us and those which are dead or dying?
- Cultivate a sense of wonder by changing your perspective. Look at the really small things using your eyes, a magnifying glass, or even the zoom on a phone camera.
- This one will take some time – but we will plant some seeds in a way which means we can watch their germination. Here is one I made earlier:
Gathering
We will use a song to gather, join in when you hear it!
Go and chase the wild goose down in the valley and over the river.
(repeat)
Follow her above waterfalls, and stones until you reach the open land of
granite, and tor.
(repeat)
Go and chase the wild goose down in the valley and over the river
Follow her above waterfalls, and stones until you reach the open land of
granite, and tor.
(And when your skin wrinkles with playfulness of waking may your head and your heart stay warm)
My guess at the lyrics we might use! This could be accompanied with flying like geese for the more active amongst us).
Reflection
We will gather together and share our insights, or simply share the wordless experience of being in the place together.
Blessing
We will rest and give ourselves time to be blessed.
[Pause and take time to anticipate]
We look outside of ourselves for an experience beyond what we can reach.
We look inside ourselves for the potential that is placed there.
We look to our friends to find the best bits of ourselves that live in relationships.
We listen to our hearts and the passions that beat there, bursting forth with life.
And we live in the grace of Jesus, with God at the start and the end of all things.
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.
Comment or Get in touch if you discern God at work and want to share what you sense!
