Today would have been our May worship gathering were it not for COVID-19. As we are not able to gather in person, I offer you this spiritual practice to do out in nature - weather it is your back yard, a park, or a wilder natural area. Sensio Divina is a sacred way of sensing the Divine in nature. Below are some detailed instructions, but basically you can simply enter prayerfully into the practice with an open heart and intention to engage with God's presence wherever or however you experience it in nature.
Sensio Divina Preparation: Take a few moments to centre yourself by taking a few deep breaths. Cross a threshold of some sort - intentionally step over a stick or a bridge or between two trees to symbolize entering into a more enchanted and alive relationship with creation, with God, with your soul. Wander: Allow yourself to be drawn to something (the river, the sun, a rock, the breeze?) or someone (a sparrow, a turtle, a bug, a tree?) that seems to be calling you. Don’t question or second guess. Just respond by opening your heart and your imagination and offering your full presence. Release agenda and expectations. Listen: Don’t overthink. Wonder. Be fully attentive, and listen with an open heart. Use all your senses. Notice little things. Smell. Touch. Observe. Share: Engage in a conversation together. Share your dreams or despair, and ask of theirs. This is a new language for you, so words sometimes don’t work. Sketch, or meditate, listening deeply, allowing images and emotions to arise. Write a poem perhaps, or sing a song. What insight comes up from this encounter that speaks to you and invites you into a larger story? Gratitude: Offer some acknowledgement of honor and gratitude - a prayer, a bow, a smile, a touch... Return: Cross over the threshold again, carrying this experience with you. - Adapted from various sources, including Victoria Loorz, Seminary of the Wild.
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O Great Love, Divine Presence, We rejoice in Our Mother Earth, Who births us, Nurtures us, Sustains us, And collects us Back into her bosom When our life Is done. Forgive us for our Greediness, our Selfishness, our Short-sightedness, our Messiness. For we have made a Mess beyond measure. Let the energy of The sunrise, The mystery of A butterfly, The beauty of Spring flowers, The fragility of Endangered species, The toxicity of Polluted waterways, The barrenness of Scorched earth Bring us to our knees. And there, on Our knees, May we be humbled To see the earth With new eyes. May we be humbled To see ourselves As humus. May we be humbled To recognize we Are but part of a Intricate web of creation, A sacred reciprocity Of belonging. Break open Our hearts To love as you love. Amen. ~ Wendy Janzen As we continue in this time of physical distancing and are unable to gather together for worship, here is a self-guided sunrise service you can do on Easter morning, or any other morning! In Advance Check the internet as to the time of sunrise in your particular location. Locally (Waterloo Region/Wilmot Township), sunrise on Easter morning is at 6:45 a.m. Each day after that it rises approximately one minute earlier. If you want to start in the darkness and hear the birds sing their dawn chorus (if you are outdoors, or if you have a window open) you probably want to start about 30 minutes before the time of the sunrise. Have either a print out or an e-copy of this self-guided service. You may want to have a candle or small flashlight for a bit of light to read by. You also may wish to have a journal or art supplies for the responding time if you choose the indoor options. Grounding Find yourself a comfortable east-facing location, either outdoors or indoors at a window where you have a view of the eastern horizon. Breathe. Take time to feel your body waking up to a new day. Feel the temperature of the cool night air on your skin. Observe the quality of the pre-dawn twilight. Listen to the stillness around you, and if you are outside, to the birds welcoming the day. Pray: Divine Presence, Midwife of Spring: awaken us to your presence within and around us this morning. Heighten our awareness to notice you with all our senses. May we open ourselves to the mystery of this new day and be reminded that each day is a day of resurrection. Amen. Reading Rise Early, by Macrina Wiederkehr Rise early when morning darkness still enwraps the trees. Walk into the darkest forest with only your attentive heart. Gaze toward the east, take a deep breath, and wait. After a short while you will see God Carrying a lantern through the forest, Bits of light bobbing up and down, In and out, higher and higher, The light climbs, spilling over Into the spaces between the leaves And on into the world beyond the forest. Than the beautiful darkness hands you over to the light. It slips away reverently into the bark of the tree trunks, Into the black earth, Into all those other countries that wait for its return. Lift your face to the daystar now. Experience the coming of dawn. Bathed in morning light, pray that the lantern of your life Move gently this day into all those places Where light is needed. Reflecting Watch and wait in silence for the sun to rise, for the beautiful darkness to hand you over to the light. Morning is a call to our own resurrection, and so reflect on what needs to rise in you today, or this season. At Sunrise Once the sun has risen, stand up, do a full body stretch with your arms reaching up to the sky and then bow to the rising sun. From a standing position, read these texts: Matthew 18:1-6 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord , descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it...the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here: for he has been raised, as he said.” Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love; So that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Responding Indoor options:
Blessing (adapted from Joyce Rupp) May your heart be opened wide to receive The eternal energy of the Dawning Sun. May the Creator’s transforming glow shine through every inner fiber of your body Until you are transparent with The power of God’s enlightening beauty. And may the lantern of your life move Joyfully this day into all those places Where light is most needed. Amen. - Wendy Janzen Vernal Blessing - in a time of pandemic
As winter gives over to spring On this vernal equinox day May we all find balance between Light and dark, Rest and activity, Body and spirit. In this time of great unknowing May we trust the earth’s Wisdom. In this time of scarcity May we experience Abundance. In this time of distancing May we trust in God’s Presence. May we awaken, Like bulbs and buds, To this new reality And rise to the occasion. May each green Shoot pushing out Through the brown leaves Be a beacon of hope For such a time as this. - Wendy Janzen A poem for Easter Sunday
Up from the ash, where once fire raged leaving scorched black earth, rise magenta-topped stems, lithe and delicate, bowing in the wind then standing tall again, laughing in the face of death. Fireweed saviour, you pave the way, flourishing on disturbed earth, bringing life again where once death reigned. A miracle of grace riding on silky-haired seeds carried by the wind to landscapes in need of salvation. Easter Jesus, you germinate seeds of new life in the burned and baren places in our world, and in the brokenness of our lives, growing beauty, hope, and love on delicate stems rising up from the ash. Wendy Janzen, 2019 Prayer for the 5th Sunday of Lent
I had a little fun with alliteration on this one... O One who welcomes wonder and wipes away tears: As we continue to wander through the weeks of Lent, O God, we pray that your tender mercy would restore our weary hearts. You know our sorrows, our fears, and our worries. Restore us, God, and turn our weeping into joy. We want to witness your works: You create new ways in the wilderness, and waterways in the desert. May we, like the wild animals, honour and worship you. Anoint us wild ones with your extravagant love, so that the fragrance of your presence may waft through the air in our wake, wherever we go. Amen. - Wendy Janzen 2019 April is national poetry month. I have to say that the emergency of spring does inspire me to write poetry. Here are a few haiku's I've written for spring.
O glorious spring! Bulbs break through warming earth and welcome the light. The Divine Presence comes like gentle spring showers that water the earth. Small beauty, springtime: sun, birdsong, feathery moss. Senses awaken. Listen to winter giving over to springtime bringing forth new life. Snowdrops, pushing up through brown grass in early spring announcing rebirth. Wendy Janzen |
AuthorReflections, poetry, prayers, photos, and resources written by Wendy Janzen unless otherwise noted. Archives
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