EcoSpirit

07/09/2021

This is the Season of Creation which will be observed in many churches and congregations for the next five weeks. Here is my posting for this week which is about the Green Bible. I hope that you find some inspiration here to live some simply so that others (two-legged, four-legged, winged, scaled, etc)may simply live.

During the Season of Creation 2021, you will be introduced to the Green Bible which was a large publishing event in 2008. The Green Bible helps us look at th...

28/03/2021

Palm Sunday & Holy Week Nature Meditations

This short video was produced to be included in a virtual church service during the COVID-19 isolation. It briefly touches on Creation Center, the Cosmic Chr...

28/03/2021

This short video was produced to be included in a virtual church service during the COVID-19 isolation to replace the traditional Episcopal Book of Common Pr...

02/02/2021

Good Day Friends,

In case you are counting we are half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox which makes today a cross-quarter day falling between the “quarters” of the natural year. For people living in the Northern Hemisphere today was celebrated by many traditions in many ways as the days where getting noticeably longer and people were tired of the cold and looking forward to spring. Our American Culture celebrates it as Groundhog Day. In Celtic circles it is celebrated at Imbolg. Christians celebrate these early days of February in a several ways.

It is the Forty days after Christmas and the celebrated as the time that Mary returns to the liturgical life of the temple/synagogue and presents Jesus and receives a prophecy that Jesus will be the light to the world. (The Feast of the Presentation also Festival of Lights). It is also Candlemas when the candles that will be used in the church for the coming year are blessed. On Feb 3rd St. Blaise was invoked with a special blessing using two candles touching the throat and in the prayer: “May God at the intercession of St. Blaise preserve you from throat trouble and every other evil.”

For Celtic Christians this also is the Feast Day for St. Brigid who is associated with a tended every burning fire in Kildare, Ireland. There is much that can be told about St. Brigid but for Marc and me she became special in our trips to Ireland because we stayed in Kildare for several days on both trips. We named our mountain home in Sierra City — “Dara na Bridget” which mean Bridget of the Oaks.

All this is stay that like the fire burning in Kildare that could be seen for miles and miles and the candles burning at Candlemas we want to feel connected to you at this time of the year and hope you will feel connected to us likewise. Our candle burns sending out light to you as we wish you many blessings.

Candlemas Bells Flowers
Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom early in the year, even before Candlemas. According to folklore, an angel helped these Candlemas bells to bloom and gave them as a sign of hope to Eve, who wept in despair over the cold and death that had entered the world. Many Christians see the flower as a symbol of Jesus Christ being the hope for the world.

23/12/2020

A story of a very special trip to Bethlehem.

Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/user?=37102035www.Ecospirit.org In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton relives a very special pilgrimage to Bethlehem ...

01/11/2020

A Nature Reflection on Autumn Leaves

EcoChaplain Roger Wharton shares an inspiration from the beautiful death of tree leaves and how it can be a reminder to us of what it means to "die to self a...

06/10/2020

Nature Wisdom Reflections on Psalm 23

Revised Common Lectionary Year A Proper 23

In this Spiritual Meditation on Psalm 23. EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores this famous psalm by digging deeper into the nature metaphors used by the psalmist. He also explains some of the knowledge about sheep and shepherding that the writer and his audience understood.

Questions for Discussion and/or Reflection

Do you think that the image of God and Jesus as shepherds is an image that works in our society today? Why? Or Why not?

Explain why you like, if you do, Psalm 23.

Who are the “despised” in our culture and how might you reach out to them?

In this Spiritual Meditation on Psalm 23 EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores this famous psalm by digging deeper into the nature metaphors used by the psalmis...

28/09/2020

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, October 4th-- (Galatians 6:14–18 Psalm 121 Matthew 11:25–30)

In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton summarizes the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, Friar, and Deacon who Pope John Paul II announced to be the patron saint of ecology in 1980. He shares Francis's meditation on the "Our Father" or the "Lord's Prayer". This is what is written in the Episcopal Lesser Feasts and Fasts about St. Francis:

In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton summarizes the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, Friar and Deacon who Pope John Paul II announced to be th...

21/09/2020

4 Wk of the Season of Creation -Called to be God’s Partners in the Care of the Planet (Care of Creation)

Bountiful God, you call us to labor with you intending the earth: Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world;
where we waste, give us discipline to conserve;
where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. May we with all your creatures honor and serve you in all things, for you live and reign with Christ, Redeemer of all, and with your Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Ezekiel 47:6–12
Psalm 33:3–9, 13–15
Romans 8:18–23
Mark 16:14–15

Ezekiel 47:6–12 Psalm 33:3–9, 13–15 Romans 8:18–23 Mark 16:14–15 In this video sermon EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores from a creation-centered theological...

14/09/2020

The Kinship & Unity of All Creation in Christ

Genesis 9:8–16 Psalm 36:5–10 Colossians 1:15–20 John 1:1–5 In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores the creation centered aspects of the Caring for C...

07/09/2020

https://youtu.be/YNDiOiYxSQ0

In this vide EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores the lectionary texts of Jonah 3:4–10, Psalm 145:8–10, 16–18, Ephesians 1:8b–10, Luke 10:25–37 with special em...

07/09/2020

In this vide EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explores the lectionary texts of Jonah 3:4–10, Psalm 145:8–10, 16–18, Ephesians 1:8b–10, Luke 10:25–37 with special emphasis on the Story of Jonah. The EcoChaplain believes that the whole book of Jonah is a great example of the ecological wisdom found in the Bible. This wisdom story is all about God's care of all of his creatures. The EcoChaplain weaves the other readings to explore the meaning of the Universal or Cosmic Christ, that all of creation is our neighbor and being brought to fullness in Christ. Check out similar materials at ecospirit.org

31/08/2020

In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explains the church's celebration of the Season of Creation and shares reflections on the lectionary reading of the day. Some of the topics of the sermon include the Christian's vocation to live an ecological and sustainable life, how Care of Creation is the foundation of social justice, finding nature wisdom and metaphors in the Bible, the Biblical Christian Nature Wisdom Tradition, the Universal and Cosmic Christ, trees in scripture and reflections on Redwoods and fire. -- Isaiah 40:21–28a Psalm 136:1–9, 25–26 Revelation 22:1–5 John 3:16–17

In this video EcoChaplain Roger Wharton explains the church's celebration of the Season of Creation and shares reflections on the lectionary reading of the d...

23/08/2020

In this video, EcoChaplain Roger Wharton introduces some examples of biblical nature wisdom and the concept of the Cosmic Christ as found in the New Testament.

15/08/2020

This is the FaceBook page of EcoChaplain Roger Wharton. Many resources for inspiration the study of the Biblical & Christian nature wisdom can be found at the ecospirit.org website. Biographical and contact information is also located there. Please enjoy, these posting and if you choose "like" and/or follow.

15/08/2020

https://youtu.be/REKBgxyFz5Y

In this video, EcoChaplain Roger Wharton gives an introduction to the concept of the Biblical and Christian Nature Wisdom Tradition at Good Shepherd Episcopa...

09/08/2020

Jesus Goes to Nature to Pray
Keyed to the Revised Common Lectionary for August 9th

This video is keyed to the Common Lectionary for August 9,2020.

29/07/2020

Christian Nature Wisdom Video for Sunday, August 2nd: God Care for all of Creation

This Psalm is appointed for use in Revised Common Lectionary A-13. This meditation on Psalm 145: 16 & 17 reflects on the open-handedness of God and how he ca...

27/07/2020

The Nature Wisdom of Solomon
Can be used with Proper A-12
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Anytime

Hello I am EcoChaplain Roger Wharton and I wish to share with you some information about the Christian Tradition that dates back to the very beginning of humankind’s spiritual and religious thinking, feelings, and expressions. It comes down to us as what scholars call the Book of Nature and is the root of our Bible. After all, nature was the first manifestation of God and it was the initial way that people encountered God. The people of the land saw God revealed in and through the phenomena of creation. Often times the miracles of nature like the rainbow was understood as acts of God for their instruction and to help them better live in relationship with their Creator.

The Lord Creator was literally present to these people in the rain that soaked their fields and gave them life as well as in the plagues that ravaged Egypt before the Exodus. The parting of the Red Sea permitting them to flee the Egyptian army and God stopping the flow of Jordan River to permit their final passage into the promised land could not be understood as anything other than the action of their loving God.

These earth-centered people often used natural metaphors as teaching tools to help them better understand their relationship with God and how to live a holy and righteous life. Actually, many of the parables of Jesus fall in this tradition of the biblical nature wisdom.


Here is one example of a nature wisdom proverb from the Hebrew Scripture — (Jerusalem Bible Proverbs 6:6-9:

Idler (lazy bones), go to the ant;
ponder her ways and grow wise:
no one gives her orders,
no overseer, no master,
yet all through the summer she makes sure of her food, and gathers her supplies at harvest time.
How long do you intend to lie there, idler?
When are you going to rise from your sleep?

Nature wisdom was not only the knowledge of the farmers, shepherds, and village folk. Understanding the natural world was also considered part of what made individuals great in the eyes of the people. King Solomon, reputed to be the wisest person in biblical literature, is described as a sage of natural wisdom.
As a child, Solomon prayed for wisdom so that he might wisely rule God’s people. What follows is an edited description of Solomon’s wisdom (I Kings 3:5-12)

The Lord God gave Solomon immense wisdom and understanding, and a heart as vast as the sand on the seashore. This wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the East, and all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other... He composed 3000 proverbs and his songs number 1005, and he could talk about plants from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop growing on the wall, and he could talk of animals, and birds, and reptiles and fish. People from all nations came to hear Solomon's wisdom.

Be wise like Solomon and learn from nature. You don’t have to be a zoologist, botanist, arborist, ornithologist, herpetologist, or even an ichthyologist but study will make your enjoyment of nature deeper and perhaps more receptive to the Holy Spirit inspiring you into new insights.

Idler (lazy bones), go to the ant;
Bird, tree, fish, lizard,
Go to Nature
ponder her ways and grow wise:

Discussion & Reflective Questions

1. What are some examples of how nature is important in Bible stories?
2. What spiritual or personal insights have you gain from time in nature?
3. Do you go to nature for refreshment, rejuvenation, or inspiration? What are some of your favorite activities and/or places you like to visit?

26/07/2020

The Nature Wisdom of Solomon
Keyed to the Sunday Lectionary for July 26th.

This video explores the biblical concept of Nature Wisdom which was one of the types of wisdom that made Solomon famous. It. It gives some examples and encou...

19/07/2020

Stones and Rocks in Scripture
Useful in conjunction with Common Revised Lectionary 11A. (video transcript)

The collect for today refers to “Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom.” One of the types of wisdom that flows from this fountain is what is known as Biblical Nature Wisdom. It is what we would call natural science. It is also the metaphors that are used from the natural world to help us learn and understand what it means to encounter God and to follow in the Way of Jesus.

Today I would like to reflect with you about Jacob’s pillow—a stone. The stone, of course, is part of the very foundations of the earth and probably not a very comfortable pillow. With his head resting on the stone he has a wonderful dream. Upon awaking he realizes that: “Surely the Lord is in this place.—and I did not know it.”

To mark this revelation Jacob anoints the stone and sets it up to designate this very special place and calls it “Bethel” which means the “House of God.” (Gen 8:10-19a)

Setting up a single stone or making a pile of stones called a cairn is often found in scripture. One example is how Jacob and Laban set up at cairn to mark their boundaries so there will be no future disputes over territory. (Gen 31:43-48)
At the end of Exodus God directs the Hebrews to erect a twelve stone cairn to be a memorial and a reminder of God's deliverance from the wilderness. The place is known as Gilgal probably meaning “a circle of stones”. (Jos 4:19-24)

Cairns were built to mark the path of travel in desert terrain and, therefore, important in cross country travel.

As you know Jesus, himself, was known as the stone which the builders rejected. (Mt 21:42, Mk 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11) Jesus stated on Palm Sunday, that if the crowds were quite “the rocks and stones themselves would start to sing," meaning that all of Creation recognizes him as the King of Kings and Lord of lords. (Luke 19:14)

Peter tells us that Jesus in the Living Stone and those who follow his Way are also living stones and precious in God’s eyes. (1Peter 2:7)

To remember this nature wisdom. You can build a cairn in your garden or even a small collection or pile of stones on your desk or altar as a reminder that God is surely in your yard or home.

It will also serve as a reminder of the awesome and beautiful gifts of Creation. The cairn can also serve as trail guide in following the Way of Jesus.

Another project is to take a small special stone and place it on your desk or home altar as a constant reminder that you are a precious jewel in God’s sight no matter what is going on in your life.

Or like Jacob you can choose to sleep on a stone pillow….

(Sweet Dreams)

Here are some possible discussion starters:

Why was the place where you picked up the stone important to you?

Why might a part of that place want to come home with you?

What might you have needed to learn from that place?

If that stone could speak to you now what would it say?
Would that stone remind you that the place where you took it from was holy - God was in that place? A “Beth-El?”

Have you ever thought of returning that stone? What might that mean, keeping it or returning it?

What feelings and/or thoughts arise when you look at your special stone?

17/07/2020

Stones and Rocks in Scripture (especially useful for the July 19 Sunday readings.)

This video tells some of the stories that use stones and rocks in helping us understand our relationship with the Creator and Jesus the Cosmic Christ. This v...

16/07/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwNTM8OKPyM

This video tells some of the stories that use stones and rocks in helping us understand our relationship with the Creator and Jesus the Cosmic Christ. This v...

16/05/2020

Mark 14:15 — Jesus said to the eleven, “Go into the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”

There is a debate among biblical scholars about this particular verse. It seems to have been added to the original Mark document at an early time in church history. The important aspect is that this verse was added to the Great Commission that Jesus gives his disciples after his Resurrection. The early church realized that the birth, life, teachings, passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus was a cosmic event that affected all of creation. With these words, Jesus is sending his disciples out to proclaim the good news to all of Creation because all of Creation is being restored and made new due to his loving sacrifice and Resurrection.

Notice this Great Commission has two parts. The first part is “go into the world” of people wherever people dwell. The second part is to “proclaim the good news to the whole creation” which brings to mind the famous paintings of the” Peaceable Kingdom” described in the Hebrew book of Isaiah 11:6-9, which we often seen portrayed on Christmas cards. The one you see projected is from the Juneau, Alaska artist Rie Munoz and is a favorite of mine.

There will be a new heaven and a new Earth and the mark of this new Earth is described in the Peaceable Kingdom passages showing us a healed relationship between all created beings. Animals that were once predator and prey now live together in peace. The animals that were often aggressive towards humankind will no longer threaten or harm us. God's redemption, extends to all of creation. Each creature lovingly created by God will be part of the new earth promised in the Bible.

Stories of St. Francis preaching to wolves and other animals and St. Anthony preaching to fishes demonstrate one way of “preaching to Creation” and speaks of the human-animal communion sought in the “Peaceable Kingdom”.

Christians are called to help bring about this Peaceable Kingdom by taking our role as caretakers of the Earth to heart by working with nature and others to protect the creatures with which we share this wonderful blue-green planet. In so doing, we are part of God's continual Resurrection effort to bring about the new earth here and now.

I close with a prayer from the Green Bible Devotional. (p.124)

Redeeming God, we wait for the day when all of Creation is healed and made new. Make us agents of change as we seek your kingdom and the redemption that is waiting for us all. Amen.

21/04/2020

Feminine Aspects of the Cross
Showy Evening Primrose
Mexican Primrose
Pinkladies
Oenothera specious

[A word about my writing style. I have a habit of unconventional capitalization which probably has its roots in my elementary study of the German language and flowered in my life as a educator/preacher. The capitalization is my way to bring emphasis to the spoken word and for the reader of the text.]

The New Testament writers reflecting back on the events of Holy Week through the lens and teachings of the Resurrected Jesus and being being inspired by the Holy Spirit began to proclaim that through the Cross and Resurrection a wholeNew Creation had begun. Not only were human beings restored to a rightful relationship with their Creator, but all of the cosmos was redeemed and began the rapid movement towards God’s loving completion through the love and action of the Cosmic Christ Jesus.

All of Creation, therefore, tales of the glory of God in Christ–all the mountains, oceans, trees, meadows, plants, creatures great and small and ecosystems. Of all of the wonders of nature there is one particular flower that helped me to ponder deeply the mysteries of the Cross and see it as a feminine symbol.

I was on retreat in Alabama having traveled from the winter weather of Wisconsin, when I encountered a common southern spring flower which I later learned is called the Showy Evening Primrose. It also has other names that I later learned included the Mexican Primrose and Pinkladies. (Oenothera specious),

On first discovery I picked one blossom to examine and immediately was overtaken by the unusual arrangement of the flower parts. As I looked several understandings and inspirations came to my mind almost all at once. I suppose it was because being on retreat my heart and spirit were particularly open and attuned that I received these teaching from nature. In retrospect this began my spiritual practice of what I call Nature Meditation.

The small common flower proudly shows forth the Cross as the most conspicuous part as the flower. The stigma is large and cross-shaped and protrudes up from the base of the flower to almost the lip of the cup formed by the flower petals. The Cross is not hidden deep inside the flower but it's out in front for all to see.

Any bee seeking the price of nectar or pollen has to pass through the arms of the Cross to reach the sweet goal. In this process pollen grains that the insect picked up earlier may get rubbed off and stuck to the Cross.

Once stuck the Cross gives nourishment and energy to the small pollen grain and it sprouts and begins to grow through the stigma carrying its genetic material to a waiting ova were fertilization takes place and a seed is produced.

The gift given to me was the realization the Cross is the means for new life. The Cross provides the nourishment and shows the path for growth for a person who chooses to follow the Way of Jesus. As in the case of this flower, the Cross reaches out embracing and ready to offer the opportunity for growth and for entrance into the New Creation of Christ Jesus.

The Cross is not the END it is only the new beginning. The Cross is the life-giving force that enables one to grow through it into a new existence in the Cosmic Christ.

When fertilization is successful the flower dies, the Cross shrivels and disappears and is gone. The new life it enabled, however is taking form in a seed which will sprout when conditions are optimal. It will send down a root and then send up a stem with leaves and in due season a bud will form and then open to the sun once again to proclaim the life giving ability of the Cross. The Cross with open arms is ready to embrace and stretch out its arms to give of itself in order to make a new life possible.

It is THROUGH the Cross and not “by” the Cross that salvation, wholeness, transformation, amendment of life, reconciliation, metanoia takes place.
The Cross means nothing as a beautiful church decoration or as a lovely piece of jewelry. It means little to hold it up and say, “I am saved by the Cross”. One has to enter into the Cross thereby permitting the Cross to nature them as the pollen grain is nurtured by the cross-stigma. Jesus, himself, was not only on the Cross for the nails drove his flesh and splintered bones into the Cross. His Sacred Blood soaked into the wood of the Cross.

The gift of the showy evening primrose caused a paradigm shift in my thinking about the Cross. The Cross has usually been understood in our culture as a masculine symbol. The masculinity that is expressed as an instrument of torture, empowerment, and death. The Cross was something that was used to enforce. The Cross turned sideways and grasped in the hand becomes a sword and a weapon. The cross-sword was and is still often used to force “conversion”.

Since that encounter with that small pink flower the Cross has taken on different symbolism for me. It has become a feminine symbol:

Embracing
Nurturing
Self-giving
Life-giving

Maybe that is the way that we should understand the Glory of the Cross rather than as a prod to eternal life.

The Christian life and ministry that follows this understanding of the Cross would be one that:

Embraces the world with all her diversity

Is Hopeful in face of difficulty

That is life-giving and always nourishes life

That stands ready to give but doesn’t prod or force

Call forth the best in each person to live the passionate and compassionate life of Christ ready to give of oneself to bring forth New Life in others and then ready to fade away as their role is completed knowing that a New Creation and a New Christian is growing and will soon show forth their loving embracing, nurturing arms just as the seed gives way to the blossom.

10/04/2020

12th Station- Jesus Dies on the Cross. Part of a collaborative project from the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real for Holy Week, 2020. In the midst of the ...

10/04/2020

Blessed Good Friday. Here is a 5+ min meditation on the 12th Station of the Cross --The Crucifixion of the Cosmic Christ.

08/04/2020

First a poem from 1869 before telephone, internet, etc which to me speaks of the hope from the lessons of this crisis for people and for the Earth.

This poem was written in 1869 by Kathleen O'Mara, a retired teacher and palliative caregiver. It was reprinted and redistributed during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919

---

And the people stayed home,

And read books, and listened, and rested,

And exercised, and made art, and played games,

And learned new ways of being, and were still.

And listened more deeply.

Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.

Some met their shadows.

And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again,

they grieved their losses,

and made new choices,

and dreamed new images,

and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.



Today marks the beginning of Passover which deeply recalls the Exodus lead by Moses. So here is a humorous thought about Moses. (just in case you are not aware —Triumph is a brand of motorcycles)

07/04/2020

Blessed Holy Tuesday! There will be Zoom mtg tonight for the EcoSpirit community. We will gather starting at 4:45 PM West Coast time for an interfaith planetary pilgrim evening prayer that will last about 20 min followed by discussion for anyone who wishes to stay connect. This will happen this week Tuesday - Saturday. If you don’t know how to use Zoom ask a friend.

On your browser go to www.zoom.us and ask to join a meeting. Some software will be added to you computer. When requested enter the following code:

833-905-1321

Hope to see you there tonight or sometime this week:

07/04/2020

Having trouble logging on -- hold on please

06/04/2020

A GREAT EXPERIMENT: As a very new FB user going to try a leap of faith and attempt a Facebook Live Event Monday evening. I am going to host an interfaith evening prayer at 6 PM California time. Let's attempt this together.

06/04/2020

There is an American legend about the dogwood tree that blooms in many locations around Easter. The story is a bit of nature wisdom and a teaching tool. (Remember this is an American Legend because dogwood does not naturally grow in the the Middle East.)

It goes like this. The cross of Jesus was made from the wood of dogwood tree. Therefore, God decreed that no dogwood tree would ever grow large enough to make a cross. That is why dogwoods today only grow as a shrub or a small tree.

The flower is also symbolic. The sepals that protect the tiny flowers in the center are in the shape of a cross. The tip of each sepals bears a rusty-red wound that represents the wounds in the hands and feet of Jesus.

The dogwood tree and it flowers are a wonderful reminder of the cosmic nature of Christ and how his sacrifice on the dogwood tree inaugurated a Cosmic New Creation.

06/04/2020

Wishing you a blessed holy week because these day are special to Christians and Jews, Every week is holy because all days are holy as the Psalm 118:24 says--"This the day which the Lord had made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Please understand this is only my fourth day of learning the technology of FaceBook so I am not always sure of what I am doing. But I ask, you the spirit of evangelism, to help spread the word to your friends.

I also understand that it is most helpful if you "like" and/or subscribe.

Also understand that I would appreciate some private messages. Many of you folk I have seen or been in contact with for a very long time.

05/04/2020

This short video was made for a COVID-19 virtual church service. It is a Creation Centered overview of the Cosmic Christ and Holy Week.

This short video was produced to be included in a virtual church service during the COVID-19 isolation. It briefly touches on Creation Center, the Cosmic Chr...