Compline and Other Online Opportunities

Last night, I participated in an online Compline service--I use the word service loosely.  It was one of my Facebook friends who was on Facebook Live.  She read the Compline service from the Book of Common Prayer.

From what I could tell, she was in a contemplative corner of her house.  It could have been a living room or a study.  She had some books in front of her, and a candle.  There was a cross on the wall.  The vibe was soothing.

We participated by making a comment in writing, but if there was a way to be more interactive, I didn't discover it.

It took all of about 10 minutes, as my Facebook friend read through the service; I had wondered if she would read or chant. 

I wish I could say that I went to bed immediately and slept through the night.  I confess that I wasted my calm feelings by going back to Internet scrolling where I found news of more closings.  It was almost an hour before I yanked myself away, went to bed, and fell asleep.

My church is about to experiment with being fully online.  Although we met in person on Sunday (a skeleton crew of a congregation), we won't be meeting in person again for at least a few weeks.

Last night's Compline service made me think about the alternate ways we might try.  I know that a lot of churches have been having online services by having the pastor do the whole service in an empty church.

Maybe we could do church REALLY differently.  I don't know what that would look like.  But I think we might be about to find out.

Invitation--Midweek Labyrinth Contemplative Worship

If you live in the Southeast Florida region, you're invited to join the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Pembroke Pines, for midweek fellowship. The journey begins on March 4, and continues March 11, March 19, March 25, and April 1 (note that most weeks, we meet on Wednesday, except for March 18, which is our time to go to First Lutheran in downtown Fort Lauderdale to serve a meal to the homeless; that week, we'll meet Thursday, March 19).

Each week’s midweek experience will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a simple supper of soup, salad, and bread. At 7:00, the participants will move chairs to the labyrinths and help set up and light the candles in the larger labyrinth. The group will read a Bible passage and then experience a labyrinth walk.

For those who want to know more about the use of prayer labyrinths in Christian tradition and on how prayer labyrinths can be utilized, these Wednesday night opportunities are an accessible entry point. We invite everyone who hungers for a contemplative spiritual discipline to join us. For more information please contact Trinity Lutheran Church at (954) 989-1903. Voicemail may be left at any time. Trinity is located at 7150 Pines Blvd, at the SE corner of Pines Blvd and 72nd Ave, due east of the BCC South Campus.

Invitations--Create In Me Retreat

Are you wishing for some sort of retreat where you have interesting Bible study, worship services drenched with meaning, and plenty of time to play with a variety of art supplies (including fabric, clay, wood, and abandoned junk)? Are you despairing of ever being able to pay for what you imagine such a retreat would likely cost.

Lutheridge, in the North Carolina mountains near Asheville, has the answer for you. Go here to read about the Create in Me retreat. This retreat is designed to appeal to a wide variety of artists and artisans. You can explore the rest of the website to discover a scrapbooking retreat or a handbell retreat (although those are done for this retreat season, Lutheridge seems to offer them each year).

I cannot recommend the Create in Me retreat enough--whether you're a professional artist or someone who would like to try being creative for the first time, you'll find a welcoming atmosphere. You can participate in everything, or take some time for yourself and enjoy nature, or Asheville, or being alone in your space.

It is a retreat with a mainline Christian focus, although the afternoon drop-in stations are arts-focused. It is a retreat at a Lutheran camp, which means you might find it rustic, unacceptably so, if you're used to spa getaways (no televisions in rooms, which I like, but others might find oppressive). But that registration fee does include lodging and meals and all your materials. It's hard to beat.

I've gone every year since 2002, and it's one of the highlights of my year, every year. It nourishes me in a way that little else does. And I come down from the mountain with all sorts of ideas, both for my personal creative life, for my students, and for my church.