awayforrest

13/08/2023

In the early hours of this morning we sat silent and still in the darkness, eyes to the sky for the Perseid meteor shower. Despite our best efforts, cloud coverage and rain meant that their lights remained invisible to us. Yet beyond our sight, through the darkness and cloud, I was accutely aware that up to 100 shooting stars per hour were hitting Earth's atmosphere at 134,000mph, their heat and bright flashes visible to so many others viewing the sky from different perspectives and places.

This awesome phenomenon occurs due to debris from a comet colliding with our Earth's atmosphere and burning up. These meteors only measure from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a pea, yet these tiny pieces create an awesome display of light reaching far and wide across the globe.

For those of us who could not physically see their awesome light, we rest in the assurance and delight of their presence. We delight in the darkness as we know that the light shines within it and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

[This picture contains amazing stacked images from the BBC website, showing Perseid meteors and aircraft crossing the sky near Kumanovo, North Macedonia in the early hours of yesterday morning.]

01/08/2023

Today we're celebrating Lammas, also coinciding with the first supermoon of the month. Although we may not see the full moon behind tonight's cloud cover and rain, we know it is there and rejoice in the bright light it shines in the dark.

Lammas is the celebration of the first harvest of the year, marking the point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. We've been harvesting and giving thanks for fruit grown from seeds - blackberries, raspberries, damson, sloes and crab apples. We're also rejoicing in the promise of grapes galore from these beautiful bunches! What a blessing!

For the promise of harvest
contained within a seed
we thank you.
For the oak tree
within an acorn
The bread
within a grain
The apple
within a pip
The mystery of nature
gift wrapped
for us to sow
we thank you.
(John Birch)

‘As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
day and night will never cease.’
(Gen 8:22)

11/06/2023

Take half a minute out of your morning to breathe and reflect with us on this little ladybird...

This beautiful wanderer is such a blessing, a bright splash of colour that brings joy to the masses - it's not poisonous, doesn't bite us and helps with aphid infestations, so is much more widely accepted than other insects as a delight to come across. That in itself gives us thought for reflection...

But did you know that ladybirds have also been associated with the Virgin Mary? Some (specifically European) Christians considered the ladybird's spots to represent the seven sorrows of Mary and it is said that after farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for the protection of their crops, ladybirds appeared in substantial quantities. The same farmers then called these bugs 'Beetles of Our Lady' – a name which evolved into the name of 'ladybug' or 'ladybird', combining the etymology of the insects with the Virgin Mary.

17/05/2023

We spent last weekend up near the Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, on a site visit for a lovely little festival we help run next month. It's a beautiful place, so serene, a space of real peace and contemplation, and a place for us of such connection, community and love.

The landscape reflected here in the Creator's perfect painting is such a gift. Taking time to rest and wait with God through the pressures of busy lives here in this space is a blessing, refreshing and reviving us like the salt water spray and fresh sea air.

Here's just one minute (& 2 seconds!) of Saturday night's sunset. Spend a few moments to share it with us - walk with us and wonder at the light of the world! 😍

10/05/2023

A little announcement about awayforrest... sorry it's a bit wordy! 😊

🌱CHANGE AND GROWTH 🌱
These beautiful tadpoles were wriggling in the rain at Duffryn on Monday, a wonderful example of new life growing and developing. In time they'll become frogs, transformed into something new different from their initial form. And as we move through this spring, so too awayforrest is changing...

Over the past couple of years or so we've been meeting nomadically with others to worship in and reflect on the joys of God's creation. This has been a blessing and a joyful and fulfilling experience.

We started awayforrest responding to a vision and calling, leaning into where the Spirit called us. We've learned so much over this time about pioneering and particularly over the past 6 months we've been prayerfully discerning our way forward and where the Spirit is taking us in our ministry. As the seasons change, God is calling us into a new season of change.

So, as we move foward, for this next stage of our journey, we will be holding our gatherings less frequently, focussing on specific points of the calendar. We'll also be sharing more online with you from our own personal worship, reflections, sabbath practice and study.

We're so grateful to all of you who have supported and engaged with awayforrest and our gatherings so far - thank you and bless you all. We hope you will carry on journeying with us in faith, as we step into this new season to grow and serve our Creator in new ways!

With love and gratitude,

Oxy and Hann xx

02/05/2023

Blessings for May Day, Beltaine, Calan Mai (or Calan Haf)!

That midpoint between the spring equinox and summer solstice marking the joyful beginning of summer! Cattle were put out to summer pastures, fires were lit to purify and renew the land and encourage fertility and abundance, and flowers and branches adorned the outside of houses.

As children we would rise early, sing with the birds at sunrise on the top of the church tower and dance around a colourful maypole (known here in South Wales as 'raising the birch'/ 'codi'r fedwen'). As we grew older we would make may crowns and dance and sing, sharing bonfires the eve before and on the day.

Yesterday we rejoiced in petals and leaves unfurled, celebrating the return of fertility and life to the land and shouting praise to the Creator! We thanked God for pollinators sustaining our world, and for Hawthorn, the May Tree and ancestor of the maypole blossoms. We absolutely delighted in the new life of a Welsh Black calf and of tiny baby coots, mallard ducklings and nesting swans (though sadly didn't capture it all on camera!).

09/04/2023

HE IS RISEN! JESUS IS ALIVE! 🙌 ALLELUIA!

(Matthew 28:1-10)

Today we celebrated Easter together sharing communion at Tinkinswood Burial Chamber, making crosses, sharing light through sparklers, and with handmade trinitarian tokens to remember different parts of the Easter story.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us!

Rejoice, O earth, in glory, revealing the splendour of your creation!

08/04/2023

Today on Holy Saturday, as we rest in the waiting...

A Modern Parable: The Story of the Three Trees

Three trees on a wooded hill were discussing their hopes and dreams. The first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. People could fill me with gold, silver and precious gems. They could decorate me with intricate carvings and everyone would see its beauty.”

The second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the seas and sail to unknown places. Everyone will feel safe because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of a hill, look up to my branches and think of the heavens and God. They will remember me as the greatest tree of all time.”

After years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. One came to the first tree and said, “This looks like a strong tree. I can sell the wood to a carpenter.” After being cut down, the tree was happy because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I can sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down, his dreams would not come true. A woodsman said, “I don't need anything special from this tree so I'll just take it back with me.”

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, they made it into a feed box for animals. It was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. They cut the second tree and made a small fishing boat. They cut the third tree into large pieces and left it alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the feed box made from the first tree. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time!

Years later, a group of men got into the fishing boat made from the second tree. One man went to sleep. A great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man. He stood and said “Be calm” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. Later, they nailed the man to the tree and raised him up to die at the top of a hill. On the third day, the tree came to realise that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible.
Jesus had been crucified on it.

(source unknown)
..God is at work...

07/04/2023

IT IS FINISHED... 🙏

Today, on Good Friday, we reflect on the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10). Jesus's suffering and death marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save all people from their sins. He set us free.

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.' (John 3:16-17)

Tomorrow, we rest in the waiting...

06/04/2023

Today is Maundy Thursday. We've been remembering The Last Supper Jesus held with his disciples the night before he died (Mark 14:22).

The Last Supper gets its name from the Latin word 'mandare', from which comes the word 'command'. Today, we remember Jesus's command to us to "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34).

At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the disciples' feet as an act of humility and servitude (John 13:5). This is testament to Jesus as our servant King and provides a loving model of service for us as Christians today.

Today we reflect on how we can faithfully love and serve one another.

(The beautiful artwork below is Rembrandt's 'Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet',
c.1640-c.1650).

05/04/2023

Sealed with a kiss...

Today, on Holy Wednesday we've been listening to Joe Niemand's 'The Kiss' and reflecting on Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. (Matthew 26:14‭-‬16).

Jesus knew that Judas would betray him.
Judas’s name itself, meaning “Let God Be Praised,” is a reminder that even the worst of situations can be used by God in powerful ways. Judas reminds us that God is always in control.

God is in control and has a plan and path for each and every one of us (Proverbs 16:9). When we face tough situations let us praise God, look for the Creator's way at work, and join with the Spirit.

To commemorate the price Jesus paid for us. This song has always been of great interest to me. I like the personal touch of Jesus "speaking" to Judas.Credit ...