Join Christian mystic and nature enthusiast Pastor Roger for a spiritual experience in the great outdoors. This week will carpool to Red Jacket Trail. We will be walking on a partially paved unpaved trails, and, if it's sunny, you may want to remember a hat.
Nature Church promotes experiencing nature as “church” & lets Creation speak! We meet at the church at 8AM and carpool to the destination. Prepare for a contemplative 1 mile hike and sit, with guided rituals optional.
A series of spiritual experiences in the great outdoors.
Free.
Dates: April 26; May 10 & 24; June 14 & 28; July 12 & 26; August 9 & 23: Sept. 13 & 27; Oct. 4 & 11. 8AM
Nature Church promotes experiencing nature as “church” & lets Creation speak! Guided contemplative hikes mostly in silence. 25 minute contemplative sit. Guided rituals optional. We talk about what we experienced and then hike back to our vehicles. Currently held in various Mankato area parks, led by Rev. Roger Wolsey who originally started this ministry in Boulder, CO in 2014.
WHAT: A series of contemplative outings in the public parks in and around Mankato, MN. We’ll invite brief moments of setting intention, contemplative reflection, and various optional rituals including communion. Ideally, you’ll be able to walk up to 1-2 miles in, and 1-2 miles out, depending on the week.
We walk on a variety of trails so if you are prone to rolling your ankles, this may not be for you. Children are welcome as long as they can keep up with the group on the hike, be silent on the hike to our destination, and silent during the contemplative sit. We don’t require silence on the hike back.
WHEN: Saturday mornings. We meet at *8AM* at the parking lot behind Centenary UMC (501 S. 2nd St) and then we hand out maps to the chosen park/trailhead of the week. We depart from the church at 8:05AM SHARP.
We typically arrive at the trailheads by 8:20AM. Each trip has us meeting in the church parking lot, then ride-sharing/car-pooling an approx. 15-20 min drive to a park/trailhead; followed by a 1 hour experience out in nature (including hike in & out). We gather at the trailhead and set our intentions together as a group and head off silently on our group hike. If done in a group, folks might consider going out for lunch/coffee afterward to share more about the experience and to make new friends!
WHY: “[Nature is] calling and I must go.”
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than they seek.” “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~ John Muir
“Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” ~ Luke 5:16
If you relate to these quotes – then this is for YOU! : )
Check the weather before you come – if it’s horrible, it’ll be cancelled that week. Check this Facebook Page! Bring good shoes/boots, a filled water bottle, jacket, brimmed hat, gloves, sunglasses, extra layers of clothing as needed, and perhaps and camera and/or binoculars. We operate from the spiritual/theological lens of “open” Christianity and Creation spirituality – but we’ll let Nature do most of the talking. : )
Try it. You’ll like it!
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Blessings to us all as we make the effort to unplug from our conventional lives and to intentionally connect with our real home – God's Good Earth, which is part of “the One in Whom we live, and move, and have our being.”
~ Roger
p.s. As the facilitator, I bring a backpack that included a first aid kit; squares of bubble packing for people to use a butt pads for sitting on the ground; some dried clay and a bowl to create a mud for people to put on themselves as part of reconnecting to their animal/natural self; communion bread and grape juice; and earth-based readings from various sacred texts around the world.
I offer a few “ritual stations” that are completely optional for people to consider partaking in. Toward the end of each “sit” out in nature, I guide the brief (totally optional) rituals and invite people to share about what they noticed and experienced during their sit.
See also the "Nature Church Global" Facebook page and click "like" & "follow"! : )
*LGBTQ+ welcoming and affirming.
**FREE!** If you feel so moved and inspired, online donations are welcome and can be made by clicking on the "Make a Donation" button at the bottom of Centenary's webpage:
https://www.mankatocentenary.org/
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