The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of God’s hands”
(Psalm 19:1 NIV)
Ecology & Spirituality: Church of the Wild
If you are interested in exploring the intersection of spirituality, ecology, and Church, join us as we contemplatively work through Victoria Loorz’s Church of the Wild. Learn about the greater movement that our own Prairie Church is a part of in this dive into the wild church movement.
This is an informal group, and you are welcome to come when you can and jump back in after an absence. During our time, we will talk about the book and life, enjoy our favorite treats, and practice.
About the Book: Many of us long for a deeper spirituality. Victoria Loorz certainly did. Coping with an unraveling vocation, identity, and planet, Loorz turned to the wanderings of spiritual leaders and the sanctuary of the natural world, eventually co-founding the Wild Church Network and Seminary of the Wild.
With an eco-spiritual lens on biblical narratives and a fresh look at a community larger than our own species, Church of the Wild uncovers the wild roots of faith and helps us deepen our commitment to a suffering earth by falling in love with it–and calling it church. Through mystical encounters with wild deer, whispers from a scrubby oak tree, wordless conversation with a cougar, and more, Loorz helps us connect to a love that literally holds the world together–a love that calls us into communion with all creatures.
About the Author: Victoria Loorz is a spiritual director and cofounder of the Wild Church Network and Seminary of the Wild. She is the founding pastor of the Church of the Wild in Ojai, California, and Bellingham, Washington. Loorz earned her MDiv from Fuller Seminary and has a background in strategic visioning, product development, and marketing with large organizations like the Walt Disney, WellPoint Insurance, and World Vision. She has become a leading voice for including the natural world as a companion on the spiritual journey. Loorz’s work and ministry have been covered by Spirituality & Health, Religion News Service, and other outlets, and she began the research for Church of the Wild with a grant from Louisville Institute’s Pastoral Study program. Loorz lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Quote from the Author: The time has come to lift the veil of fog and return to intimate relationship with the living world. More and more of us are taking our place, once again, as full participants in the web of life, which we remember is held together by love.
There are no magic words to incant, no spiritual laws to memorize, no ruby-slippered heels to click three times. . . . You simply need to learn how to listen. And allow your heart to be broken, just like you do every time you fall in love.