Forest Churches

                                              Lincoln Forest Church Closing Prayer

 I have written about various forms of what are often called Forest Churches, usually informal congregations which meet regularly or occasionally for outdoors worship. You may recall my blog about Rev. Stephen Blackmer who was featured in an excellent Harper's Magazine piece by Fred Bahnson called The Priest in the Trees https://harpers.org/archive/2016/12/the-priest-in-the-trees/2/

I've also written about the later Father Charles Brandt, a priest and hermit who lived on Vancouver Island and led people in contemplative walks near his riverside home. I visited him years ago and the encounter was life-changing. https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/the-oracle-of-oyster-river/ 

 

The Cathedral of the Trees ministry was a cosponsor of the Algonquin Park Outdoor Ministry in which I participated.. https://riseabove470.wordpress.com/cathedral-of-the-trees/

I hope these ministries flourish and will be joined by others. I see them as complementing what we consider traditional worship spaces, although truly traditional takes us back to Jesus preaching and teaching on a hillside in Galilee. 

 I came upon something about another Forest Church, this one in Great Britain and thought I'd share their "about us" blurb:  

Lincoln Forest Church is a place for nature lovers, mystics & seekers to come together and explore what it means to journey with the Creator, Christ and Spirit through creation and as created beings... 

Our quarter Meet-ups, held near the Solstices and equinoxes, are a more ritual based form of forest church than our monthly Reflective Walks ...
Though both are a time and space in nature for contemplative activities, involvements, worship, and thoughts.
Therefore we welcome involvement and suggestions from group members and encourage sharing conversation, ideas and discussion as it is through journeying together and understanding each other that we each grow and through which community is formed...

 Lincoln Forest Church generally meets most months (except August) on the fourth Sunday of the month at Whisby Nature Park (LN6 9BW), normally starting at 2pm by the bench (or just opposite it) outside the main entrance of the Natural World Centre.