April 11, 2021

Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

Dearly Beloved, 

In the Texas Hillcountry, springtime seems to last only an instant. The benefit of its brevity here, I think, is that from the moment we spot the first bluebonnet, I try to savor every all springtime has to offer before the oppressive heat of a Texas summer sets in.

This spring, however, I want to savor even more than usual, given all that we’ve been through the past year. We have been, like the Easter hymn sings, like buried grain. We have been holed away behind closed doors, hidden away from the sunlight. But now, as more and more of us taste the small freedoms that come with vaccination, we can step out of our front doors and enjoy all that God’s Creation has to offer. 

This Eastertide we will explore in our worship both outdoors and online, “Earth as the Original Monastery,” guided by the book from Christine Valters Painter. Together we will revel in Creation as our original sanctuary, our original scriptures, our original sacrament, and more. Through our appreciation of Creation - or “forest therapy” as many are calling it today - comes a deeper faith in the Creator, and a call to care for all with which we have been entrusted.

In addition to worship, you will find opportunities to deepen your faith through an appreciation of God’s creation, such as hikes on your own or with church friends, eco-stewardship ideas from your Social Justice Team, outdoor prayer stations, and earth poetry for prayer and meditation posted on our social media platforms. Feast your eyes on the nature photography of our outdoor sanctuary from Logan DeCleene and the earthy media designs of Kelley DeCleene in our online worship. 

So come join us in the garden this Eastertide, as we deepen our faith in God’s original sanctuary. 

Much heart, 
Rev. Anna

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