Forest Church: A Field Guide to a Spiritual Connection with Nature

Brimming with insights and packed with information, this book draws you out, quite literally, into nature to experience a new, well-thought-through pattern of spiritual practice. Bruce Stanley gives you all the resources you’ll need, both practical and theoretical, to get going with a group or on your own. Many people can describe transcendent moments in nature where they feel deeply connected to something bigger than themselves, and Forest Church is a way to explore that connection within community, a fresh expression of church drawing on much older traditions when sacred places and practices were outside—but it also draws on contemporary research that highlights the benefits of spending time with nature in wild places. Throughout the ages people have walked this path within the Christ tradition and have found a meaningful expression of their spirituality, finding inspiration and structure through the rhythms of the seasons, the characteristics of plants and animals, and the sacredness of place—along with the wisdom of the scriptures and the pattern of prayers. The Forest Church movement begun by Bruce Stanley is gaining momentum in the UK, and has now been brought to the United States. This book will be a resource to anyone facilitating Forest Church, whether as a self-contained group, a retreat, a group holiday, or as an occasional event attached to an existing church. It will also inspire individuals wanting to explore their own sacred nature connections.