Each October for several years now, right around the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I pick the wild grapes that grow along our fence. I turn them into juice that is then used as our communion juice at Burning Bush Forest Church (and will be used at Wilmot Forest Church, too). It is a practice of gratitude, and a gift of grace, to have juice that comes from the "wild." I did not plant these grapes, and they are definitely not a cultivated variety. I rarely prune them, but every October they offer enough small little clusters to put away juice for worship. Below is my ode to wild grapes!
Wild Grapes I open the door to the wide, wild, world; crisp October air washes my face, fresh and surprising, awakening me to this day. Wild vines sprawl along an urban fence line; who planted them - human? bird? - no one knows. Through summer months tendrils stretched and grasped for the sun, reaching further and further, claiming new territory each day. Once vibrant green leaves alive with purpose now a yellowing and limp tangle. I move slowly, methodically, along the row, the vines playing a game of hide and seek with their tiny deep purple clusters. Hands stained, fingers numb, bowl filled, ample left behind for other foragers, my heart offers thanks for this small harvest, grateful for this miracle, this gift of the earth. My mind jumps ahead to jars of jewel-hued liquid that will be poured out in worship, poured out as an act of love for all. The wild Christ, present in the elements, juice and bread; in light, earth, water, and wind, in rituals that transform us and unite us with all that was and is and ever shall be. - Wendy Janzen, 2019
0 Comments
Mennonites are not known to celebrate or recognize feast days for Catholic saints. We turned away from all of that during the Radical Reformation. There are, however, some gems of wisdom in the faith heritage that preceded Anabaptism, and St. Francis is one of those figures who deserves some attention.
This 13th century saint was known for his desire to imitate the life and work of Christ, for his concern for the well-being of the poor, and for his belief that nature was the mirror of God. Over the past four years that I have been drawn into leading an ecologically-oriented outdoor worshipping community called Burning Bush Forest Church, St. Francis has become an inspiring figure of faith for me. Francis’ reverence for nature and love of animals is a helpful example of how faith informs our relationship to the earth. We are members of a community of creation and have a call to protect and enjoy nature as both stewards of God’s creation, and as creatures ourselves. Fransiscan spirituality helps to provide a beautiful perspective on our place in creation, and paints creation as revelation of God’s outpouring of love not only for us, but for all creatures. The Feast of St. Francis marks the end of the Season of Creation, a rather new liturgical season from September 1 to October 4. The Season of Creation invites Christians around the world to honour our Creator by loving creation and each other. The Feast of St. Francis is a day that some churches offer a blessing of the animals. In this day of climate crisis and mass extinctions, it seems important that churches and people of faith address these pressing issues from a moral and faith perspective. The worship gatherings I lead with Burning Bush Forest Church are an invitation for people to deepen their connection with the earth and with our loving Creator who breathed life into all that exists. I wrote this prayer a year ago to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis, and to express my gratitude for all animals. Creator of all that lives and breathes, we raise up a prayer of thanksgiving for the animals in our lives and in our world. For the great animals -- elephants, whales, grizzly bears, wolves, wild cats… For the endangered animals -- bees, caribou, orcas, whip-poor-will… For pets and companion animals -- dogs, cats, horses, rabbits… For forgotten and unpopular animals -- rats, reptiles, fish, insects… WE GIVE OUR DEEP THANKS. We are grateful for a world of beauty and diversity, for the role of each animal in its ecosystem. Stir us to action for creatures who have no voice or ability to save their habitat or affect change in our world. May we live lightly in this world so that our more-than-human neighbours may also live. With gratitude for the blessings of this earth, and for all God’s creatures we pray. Amen. - Wendy Janzen Prayer for the Autumn Equinox
September 23, 2019 As I met with two different forest church groups on Sunday, September 22, my attention kept returning to the wind. It was stronger than a breeze: it made the treetops sway, and sometimes drowned out my voice as I spoke. It was the last day of summer, the day before the autumn equinox, and the temperature was downright hot with a serving of humidity to go with the sunshine. But the wind was not a summer wind. It was the kind of wind one experiences in autumn. It was the wind of change blowing in a new season, new weather patterns. We are, right now, in the middle of a week of climate action. A week when climate change is on the forefront of the news and of our minds. There was a Global Climate Strike last Friday, and another coming this Friday. There is the UN Climate Summit happening in New York. And there are countless smaller events happening all over to highlight the issues that we have for far too long pushed to the back burner. I hope the winds of change are blowing through our towns and cities, and through the halls of power. I pray that these winds of change are bringing with them new patterns of being and a new season of action. The equinox is a liminal space, a threshold between what was and what is yet to come. Liminal spaces are pregnant with possibility. May we have the courage to heed the winds of change. To let go of our unhealthy past, so that we are unburdened to embrace a new future that is not only sustainable for all, but regenerative for so much of what is broken. Here is my prayer for today: God of the seasons, We come to you on this liminal day: The day that marks the balance between light and dark, And the turning from From summer’s fullness to autumn’s surrender. We stand at this threshold, Full to overflowing with the goodness of summer, Ready, yet not ready to let go of what was, And to embrace what lies ahead. As hard as it can be, teach us to surrender. In this age of climate crisis and mass extinction Help us to let go of our dependence on fossil fuels. Help us to let go of our rampant consumerism. Help us to let go of our disposable lifestyle. Help us to let go of our illusions of control. May we surrender to your love for all the earth. May we trust in enough rather than Grasping for more. In our letting go, may we know the freedom Of abundant life. Amen. - Wendy Janzen Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth:
We give you thanks and praise for the wonders of creation. You are robed in splendor, like maples in autumn. You have made your home among us and filled the earth with goodness. In you we live, and move, and have our being. Yet, we hear creation groaning, broken and bruised by our sinful ways. Forgive us, and restore shalom among us and all creatures of creation. Thank you for your love poured out upon the whole universe. Amen. Wendy Janzen 2018 Prayer of Thanks
(Oct 4 was the Feast Day of St Francis, the Catholic patron saint for animals and the environment, and so as it is celebrated on or close to our Canadian celebration of Thanksgiving, here is a prayer of gratitude for animals.) Creator of all that lives and breathes, we raise up a prayer of thanksgiving for the animals in our lives and in our world. For the great animals - elephants, whales, grizzly bears, wolves, wild cats... For the endangered animals - bees, caribou, orcas, whip-poor-will... For pets and companion animals - dogs, cats, horses, rabbits... For forgotten and unpopular animals - rats, reptiles, fish, insects... WE GIVE OUR DEEP THANKS. We are grateful for a world of beauty and diversity, for the role each animal in its ecosystem. Stir us to action for creatures who have no voice or ability to save their habitat or affect change in our world. May we live lightly in this world so that our more-than-human neighbours may also live. With gratitude for the blessings of this earth, and for all God's creatures we pray. Amen. Wendy Janzen 2018 |
AuthorReflections, poetry, prayers, photos, and resources written by Wendy Janzen unless otherwise noted. Archives
April 2024
categories
All
|