The Trees: October Newsletter

October at The Trees

The Trees friend and Beloved Community member, Carolyn Kreuger, recently referred to The Trees as a “Thin Place.” And I do agree. The term “Thin Places” originates in Celtic Spirituality and refers to locations where the veil between the physical and spiritual world feels especially close, causing a profound shift in perception and a heightened sense of connection with something greater than oneself. From the first moment that I made my way down the gravel path, this place called The Trees felt different. As I walked under the green canopy and sat by the moving stream, I immediately noticed a holiness here, a simple presence of something deeper surrounding and holding this property.

Perhaps you have places in your everyday life that help you drop the busyness and noise of the world and settle into connection with something greater and deeper…a greenway, a trail behind your house, a garden, our nearby state parks or a place a little further down the road at the coast or in the mountains. I have decided that the act of putting ourselves in these places is essential right now as the noise is so very loud in our world. Seek out these spaces, bask in their presence, rest in their calm, and find deep nourishment for your soul. Thin places open us up to rawness and beauty and offer us the opportunity to experience the peace and presence of God. Join us this fall, in this thin place, The Trees.

Is this place really nearer to God?

Is the wall thin between our whispers

And His listening? I only know

The world grows less and less–

Here what matters is conquering the wind,

Coming home dryshod, getting the fire lit.

I am not sure whether there is no time here

Or more time, whether the light is stronger

Or just easier to see. That is why

I keep returning, thirsty, to this place

That is older than my understanding,

Younger than my broken spirit.

–Kenneth Stevens, “Iona” (Iona, a Celtic island, has been home to a monastery for thousands of years and currently functions as a spiritual retreat center)

Deep Peace and hope to meet you soon,

Laura

This month we are remembering the life and spirit of Jacqueline Harris who gifted her property (now The Trees) to St. Philips. Her birthday is October 8th.

Remembering Jacqueline Harris 1922-2019

Friend of The Trees, Duncan Smith, recently offered these these words about Jacqueline’s life and spirit.

Jacqueline was the daughter of Dutch merchants and spent her early years in Indonesia. She and her parents returned to the Netherlands in the 1930s. She lived under Nazi occupation, and those years could not help but have an impact on the person she became. When her town was liberated by the US Army, there was dancing in the streets and Jacqueline who was a shy and today we might say ostracized young girl, was led into the streets by an American soldier and danced with him. From that moment on, Jacqueline made a commitment to live a life filled with gratitude.
In Durham, as a practicing and respected physician at Duke, Jacqueline found her way to St. Philip’s. In 1979 when St. Philip’s was deciding whether to use its parish kitchen to feed the unhoused, Jacqueline spoke about her experience of being hungry as a medical student in post-World War II Holland. Her meals were dished out in the Chemistry building of the University of Leyden where she and other medical students also slept. Many credit her comments as the factor that moved a wavering congregation to open its kitchen to the hungry. The ministry that became Urban Ministries grew out of that kitchen.
Jacqueline loved all of God’s creation and I believe that was one of the factors that led her to purchase this land and build the house in the woods. I also believe that living a life of gratitude meant charging us with continuing to develop this place as a place where the Spirit is felt, callings discerned, souls and bodies nourished, and Creation sustained.
When asked what St. Philip’s meant to her—Jacqueline wrote: a place of peace, a place of hope, a place to receive the gifts, a place to keep a promise.

When you are on the property this month, please considering pausing to remember Jackie, her life, and her legacy. The prayer room has a small shrine of remembrance in honor of Jackie.

“Learning some of the language our ancestors spoke or walking in the landscape that shaped them can bring us home to ourselves again.”-Christine Valters Paintner in Sacred Time

The Trees October Events

Quiet Days (first Tuesday of every month)

October 7th 10 a.m. -2:30 p.m. use the time to re-center, reflect, and be refilled with the Spirit. Optional contemplative practices will be offered, creative tools available, and lots of spaciousness in the house, porch, and on the trails. No registration is required.

Planning ahead for Quiet: Nov. 4 & Dec. 2 10a.m.-2:30

Nature Journaling with Liz

art by Liz Sappenfield

Nature Journaling with Liz Every Friday morning 10:30-11:30, no class 10/31

Come observe the changing of the seasons out at The Trees. We'll use the practice of nature journaling to help us slow down and focus our attention on the wonder of creation. Bring a notebook, your favorite pen and drawing supplies (extra materials will be on hand), and sturdy shoes for walking on the trails. No experience needed – you don't need to be "good" at drawing to enjoy tuning in to nature!
Drop in or RSVP to Liz Sappenfield ([email protected])

Forest Bathing

Please join Elizabeth Newman this autumn in spending time among the trees to listen, to nestle, to turn off the voice in our heads, to allow time to nurture ourselves and our connections to the earth and all her creatures.

Forest Bathing Walks

October

Saturday 10/11 4:00 - 6:00 Register Here

Giving Thanks Walk

Sunday 11/23 12:00 - 2:00 Register Here

Limited Mobility Walk

Weekday morning in the St Philip's Church Courtyard if interested, email Elizabeth Newman [email protected]

Weekly Yoga

Join Olynda Smith for Yoga every Thursday morning 9-10:15 a.m. Please email Olynda to sign up and to learn more about her yoga offerings: [email protected]

As always and especially in these times, please be aware of and feel free to share either of these two support groups hosted by The Beloved Community:

Religious Trauma Recovery Group

1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Led by Rev. Phillip Bass MDiv, ThM, MA, LCMHC, NCC
Religious trauma occurs when a person’s religious experience is stressful, degrading, dangerous, abusive, or damaging. Traumatic religious experiences may harm or threaten to harm someone’s physical, emotional, mental, sexual, or spiritual health and safety.  You are invited to join us as we gather weekly to discuss personal experiences of religious trauma and learn together about healing.

Parents, Families & Friends of Queer Youth Support Group

2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
This group is offered for anyone who considers themselves family or friends of a queer youth. The purpose of this group is to explore together what the bible actually says about being queer, how to be supportive family, and how to process your own experiences someone who loves a queer youth.

Sunday Evening Worship with Eucharist every week at 5 p.m. Praying the Rosary being at 4:45

You can access the archive of previous support group discussions and topics here.

https://www.belovedcommunitydurham.org/

We are so filled with abundance, trust, and deep hope here at The Trees. We are grateful for all donations to The Trees or gifts in honor or memory of a friend. This is a growing ministry and all resources are used to care for the house and the land. Gifts are tax deductible. Please let us know if you'd like your donation to support a particular project. Link here

And now to close with a prayer reminding us of this season where we remember our ancestors and start lighting fires…

Light a Fire

Make your lives like this fire.

A holy life that is seen.

A life of God that is seen.

A life that has no end.

A life that darkness does not overcome.

May this light of God in you grow.

Light a fire that is worthy of your children.

Light a fire that is worthy of your fathers.

Light a fire that is worthy of your mothers.

Light a fire that is worthy of God.