Religious Campaign for Forest ConservationAn exploration of God’s creation
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Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation An exploration of God’s creation
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THIS INSIGHT FROM
St.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans reflects an htmlect of our
Christian faith which has been too little taught. It intimates a potential to learn deep truths about God and our place in creation from the streams, forests, hills and all the features of the natural world. In
contrast, the frantic pace of the urban environment deadens our sensitivities
so that we miss obvious lessons which nature would impart. During this weekend
of wilderness reflection, prayer, discussion and exploration, we will break out
of the confines of the artificial world and open up to Christ's lessons in
creation.
A
major underlying cause of ecological degradation derives from human separation
from nature and the biological processes which support human life. A
consequence is that people's feelings are seldom connected to the impressions
and lessons of nature. Wild areas become empty places with useful resources
— rather than places filled with meaning and opportunity to experience
the beauty of God's good creation.
Each weekend program examines the historical basis for learning from creation, uses group process to frame the task, and takes time to go individually into the surrounding wilderness for prayer, reflection, study and whatever else enhances our learning from creation. At predetermined times, we reconvene our group; relate our insights; digest our lessons; learn from history and one another; and take the process to a further level. From this process we will identify keys to recover what was for early Christians a primary source of wisdom, the "book of nature."
You are invited to participate. Future programs will be announced by conventional mail or E-Mail. Attendance at any event is limited to twenty (20) people. A contribution of between $45 and $245 is requested to cover the costs of your participation. After we receive your registration, a packet containing preparatory materials will be mailed to you.
If you wish to receive literature in the mail listing future events, please fill out the registration form below:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - REGISTRATION FORM
YES!
Please send me addiitonal information on the"Opening the Book of Nature" program.
Name__________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________ City__________________________________________________State________Zip___________ Phone_____________________________E-Mail________________________________________ Please mail your completed registration form and or a contribution to:
Opening the Book of Nature, 409 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
 Additional Info About Weekend Events
Early Christians, the Saints and the great reformers were eloquent and unanimous about the ability of creation to provide deep and potent spiritual instruction. Our own experience from two years of exploration confirms that this historical understanding of nature is a rich field for learning that has neither been well taught nor preserved by most churches. This program is tailored to help you connect into this tradition of learning spiritual lessons from wild nature. It will move spontaneously through a loose format and feature a quest for the way the Holy Spirit can help you discover a deeper dimension to your Christianity. While our focus is upon nature, the lessons are about ourselves, our relationships, our hopes and fears, and the quality of our spiritual life. In past outings, we have always connected into a rich store of insight and natural wisdom. People usually discover things which they do not even begin to anticipate. All this happens in a uniquely designed learning structure to facilitate penetration into nature. We will use group process alternating with periods of private prayer and reflection to produce a blend of low key instruction, personal experience plus group discussion and sharing. A pattern emerges which allows each person to share in the break-throughs made by others, to learn from one another experiences, and to go on into a more effective ability to read the lessons of creation. As we progress through the weekend, the centrality of Jesus Christ to any workable approach to the environment becomes more obvious.
Program Our program is tailored to help you start learning the spiritual lessons of nature. Our weekend program will move spontaneously through a loose format and feature a quest for the way the Holy Spirit can help you discover a deeper dimension to Christianity. While our focus is upon nature, the lessons are often about ourselves, our relationships, our hopes and fears, and the quality of our spiritual life. In past outings, we have always connected into a rich store of insight and natural wisdom. People usually discover things which they did not anticipate.
All this happens in a uniquely designed learning structure to facilitate penetration into nature. We will use group process alternating with periods of private prayer and personal reflection to produce a blend of low key instruction, solitary reflection, plus group discussion and sharing.
A pattern emerges which allows each person to share in the break-throughs by others, to learn from their experiences, and go on into a more effective practice of reading the lessons of creation. As we progress through the weekend, the group will make decisions by concensus and work together as a team. In the process we will form a mini-community for the weekend.
Materials After you register, a set of materials will be mailed to you to help you prepare for this weekend adventure. You will receive a special set of historical notes about how the Book of Nature was viewed in past centuries, a checklist of materials to bring, a map, additional travel instructions, plus other information about the Hidden Lakes area.
Arrival and departure
You can arrive anytime on Friday, to set up your camp. There is a lot of room and you can pick any spot in our area that you like. We will use Friday evening as a time for orientation, for introductions, and to slow down from the pace of the week. Friday is an informal time during which we can get acquainted. Our program begins right after breakfast, at 9:00 AM Saturday morning. We will continue through mid-afternoon on Sunday.
 Food and Accommodations
This is primarily a camping event, but all meals will be provided. Participants will pitch tents on a grassy smooth meadow with close access to bathrooms and water. Cars will be parked thirty to fifty yards from our tenting area.
Fees We would like to offer the "Opening the Book of Nature" program at no cost, but our finances do not allow this. In order to allow a maximum number of people to participate, we have established a sliding fee schedule. In this method, you pick whatever donation level fits your income level. The low is $45 and the high is $245. Whatever amount you select within this range is your fee. A receipt for your donation will be sent to you along with your registration packet. A large portion of your program contribution is tax deductible.
 Opening
the Book of Nature
409 Mendocino Avenue, Suite A Santa Rosa, California 95401 (707) 573-3162 Dear friends of Christian ecological concern,
Early Christians taught that creation is a framework for potent spiritual lessons. In large part, this legacy has been left in the past.
Over the past several years, over twenty events have been held to recover a working ability to engage a practical experience of this Christian legacy. The results from these events have allowed us to produce a unique program, not offerred anywhere else, which helps participants experience a deeper side to nature and their Christian faith. At every event participants report that this program had a dramatic effect in helping them to deepen their faith as well as to soar in an increased appreciation of God's creation.
We hold weekend events. You are invited to attend. These events recover a Christian understanding of nature as a framework for spiritual learning as it once was for early Christians. As a result of your participation, the door will be open for you to not only attain a deeper appreciation for nature, but a way to experience how the Creator interpenetrates creation.
If you have any questions, please call me at our California office during week days between 8:45 AM and 6:15 PM PDT. If you are not able to attend, please post the enclosed announcement in your church or at some other suitable location. Thank you. If you have any questions, please call our California office during week days between 8:30 AM and 6:15 PM PDT .
Yours in Christ's service,  Fred Krueger  Building an Interfaith Forest Ethic Web Address: Home E-Mail: |
