Quartz is a partnership between St John’s Dumfries and Wordsmith Crafts. Simon is supported a day a week to work flexibly to support Quartz activities, maintain this site and help people use the arts to experience, explore, and express spirituality through the arts, and for those that choose to, to enter into our heritage in […]
Categories
Viriditas 2
(Forest Church in October will meet at 2pm on the 19th) I’ve posted about Hildegard before, and the healing power of the green. As we are moving into a time of year where trees prepare for winter we will see all the other colours in their leaves. Perhaps a walk in the woods would be […]
Categories
Faith in Nature
I took time out to travel west recently. It has been over 10 years since I have last been to a conference/retreat with others who are interested in Forest Church type things. Many of the projects Quartz has been running flowed from that. Here is a video of my journey! For those interested in finding […]
Categories
September 25 QFC
Forest church in the autumn sun! It was a clear day with a warm sun when we met this month. The gift of Elizabeth Crichton inspired as we thought about the reading from Luke for the day. The world of finance and wealth is notoriously obscure. What should our approach be, and how can we […]
Categories
Forest Church in Exile
This is a new venture for myself and Gloria as we’ve been part of Forest Church for a few years now and really appreciate the direct encounters with God and each other that we have had in the gounds of the Crichton Estate in Dumfries. We are not able to be present in person for […]
Categories
Forest Church 21st September 2025
We will gather, as is our custom, at 2pm outside the Crichton chapel in Dumfries. The theme to think on is “which master do we serve?” We meet in Christ’s name and make peace as we meet in peace. Whether you consider yourself a close friend of Jesus or are simply curious, all are welcome. […]
Categories
Season of Creation 2025
Lots of resources for celebrating a season of creation this September. Thanks to Alison for the reminder! https://ctbi.org.uk/resources/season-of-creation-2025/
Categories
Lectio Divina
Many of those who are involved in Quartz have some familiarity with the way St Ignatius went about things. Here is a handy website and guide for those who are interested. If you are interested in something closer to home (well Dumfries) There are Jesuit centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh And the Scottish Episcopal church […]
Categories
Upcoming events!
Doors open and Storytelling This weekend on Saturday the 6th September (14:15 – 15:15) in St Johns St Johns Storytelling Session and Sunday the 7th of September (14:15 – 15:15) in St Michaels St Michaels Storytelling Session Simon will be opening windows on the past, telling the stories pictured in the stained glass windows of […]
We meet in St Johns Dumfries on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 6pm. This time for “The Contemporary Service”. Kate and Mark lead us in guitar based musical worship. We also take it in turns to prepare and lead reflections that use a wide range of art styles. This combination of […]
Categories
Home Printing
Getting back to nature and spirituality are often linked together. Even those whonare comfortable in Church buildings will often take retreats into the countryside and green spaces. The houses we live in though, where we spend a lot of our time, can be places which become a spiritual home. What do you do that lifts […]