The next Forest Church will be Friday April 11th 7 pm at the Landmark Tree trail in Ft Thomas, Ky

A second April gathering will be at 10 am on the 19th for a special Silent Saturday observance.

If you would like to join this gathering, email churchasfolk@gmail.com to stay looped into details.

This gathering is a way to connect with the divine, nature, and one another. It is inspired by Bruce Stanley’s book Forest Church. The heart of the approach is to first connect with a sense of awe and appreciation. Then once you feel connected to the spirit of the land and the presence of the divine, allow yourself to simply observe. What do you see, feel, hear, smell or otherwise sense? Then when you feel ready move into interpretation. What gifts do these observations hold for me? How might this wisdom be applied in my own life?

You can have “Forest Church” anytime you wish (and I encourage you to do that.) This gathering is to facilitate this experience in community. With Stanley’s “Awe, Observation, and Interpretation” at our core, I’m inviting a gathering in the following form. Some of the traditions are explicitly Christian but we welcome all. Each individual is encouraged to participate as seems true and authentic in your own heart from a place of freedom and respect for each one’s unique path and expression. You could think of this as an “order of service” for Forest Church with participation in any or all of it as optional:

1. Grounding and Centering - Let us gather together to set our intention and to connect our awareness with the spirt of the place and the presence of the divine. We may begin with engaging and connecting body, soul, and spirit with some gentle movement and meditation.

2. Invocation - Those who wish my pray the Lord’s Prayer. All are invited to ask for God’s blessing and protection on our time in the forest if and how that seems best to you.

3. Fellowship with the Forest - allow about 40 minutes or so to experience

   • Awe and appreciation - Beginning with a sense of awe engage with the forest however suites you: Walking, sauntering, standing, or sitting

   • Observation - When you’re ready move into observation. What do you observe in the flora and fauna around you? What’s going on in the forest?

   • Interpretation - As it seems right to you, begin to ask what does this mean for your life? What gift is being given to me today?

4. Circle share - Calling all the participants back together in an agreed upon spot to share and reflect as desired.

5. Celebrate communion (optional)- All who wish may partake of the Lord’s Supper and remember the one who taught us to consider the lilies, the sparrows, the ravens, and God’s good creation.

6. Blessing and dismissal - A simple benediction and closing of our time together. A blessing on our lives and a blessing on the land.

Meetings will be offered weather and conditions permitting and everyone should come according to their own comfort. Dress for the conditions expecting to be outside for 60-90 minutes. We may meet on mild rain days provided we can do so safely. Severe weather such as thunderstorms or tornado would be cause to cancel.

Email churchasfolk@gmail.com to stay looped into details.

Below is a poem inspired by visits with the forest. I hope you come and join us sometime.