This is a collaboration between MEEC and Miami River Valley Wild Church. For information on the Wild Church movement, visit wildchurchnetwork.com. If you would like to be kept informed of changes to the Wild Church schedule and receive reminders for future Wild Church events, click here.
Wild Church is an opportunity to explore nature with others, to slow down, and to renew your spirit, refresh your body and expand your mind. These gatherings are facilitated by Methodist Deaconness Beth Vanoli. We begin with a liturgy of poetry and readings, followed by a time of Centering Prayer. The “homily” is our soul in conversation with the Divine, each in our own way— around the grounds and nature trails at Mount Saint John before gathering back together for a time of sharing.
In winter, we begin in the MEEC meeting room in Saint Joseph Hall at Mount Saint John. For a map and directions, click the "visit" tab at the top of this page. Bring a reading or a poem about nature and creation to share, if you wish. We love to hear what speaks to your heart in this season. It is helpful if you can arrive a little before 10:00 so we can begin on time. If you have questions, email Beth.
What might you experience on the land in February?
- Our earliest-blooming spring wildflower, skunk cabbage, is capable of melting snow and ice in the wetland as it blooms around the third week of February.
- White-tailed deer begin shedding their antlers which are eaten by many mammals including rodents, opposums and foxes.
- Great Horned Owls set up nests.
- Hazelnut catkins (clusters of male flowers), formed last fall, swell and turn yellow as they mature. A careful examination of branches might be rewarded with a look at the miniscule, bright-magenta female flowers.
- The earliest-migrating birds, such as killdeer, begin to appear by the end of the month. Watch for killdeer in the front field and Geiger prairie after the snow melts.
- Even if you don't see them, you may smell skunks beginning to mate.