The Reading Continues ...
(and keeps us connected, no matter what is frozen!)
This week I was blessed to be away at the ELCIC Eastern Synod Bishop’s Retreat, at a VERY frozen Niagara Falls, where we had the blessing and pleasure of being together in fellowship, for learning, to worship together and LAUGH out LOUD. It was a lovely time of deep rest and enjoying friendships nurtured during those years in seminary.
One of the things I learnt from Bishop Carla was about mushrooms. The interconnectedness of mushrooms … which lead me to do some fun(gi) studying:
When most of us think of fungus, we imagine mushrooms sprouting out of the ground. Those mushrooms are in fact the “fruit” of the fungus, while the majority of the fungal organism lives in the soil interwoven with tree roots as a vast network of mycelium. Mycelium are incredibly tiny “threads” of the greater fungal organism that wrap around or bore into tree roots. Taken together, myecelium composes what’s called a “mycorrhizal network,” which connects individual plants together to transfer water, nitrogen, carbon and other minerals. German forester Peter Wohlleben dubbed this network the “woodwide web,” as it is through the mycelium that trees “communicate.” (as depicted in the photo below, taken from link)
This image of interconnectedness, and the reality of how it offers healthy support to the entire forest (not just other mushrooms) gave me a deep sense of peace. Like proof, that God is still in charge at a time when shootings, ICE and wars give cause for so much fear and despair.
Through our reading the Bible in One Year project, we are also experiencing an interconnectedness and it is kind of a time-travel version of interconnectedness, as we read the stories which Christians and Jewish people share, and the time of Exodus.
Our readings continue this week, a busy week encompassing Valentine’s Day, Family Day, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, with our
Week 7 Readings:
Thursday February 12th: Exodus 34:1 to Exodus 35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:13-22 and Proverbs 9:7-12
Friday February 13th: Exodus 35:10 to Exodus 36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10 and Proverbs 9:13-18
Saturday February 14th (Happy Valentine’s Day & resurrection reading!): Exodus 37:1 to Exodus 38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22 and Proverbs 10:1
Sunday February 15th (and we begin the Gospel of Mark): Exodus 39:1 to Exodus 40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16 and Proverbs 10:2
Monday February 16th (Happy Family Day & we begin Leviticus): Leviticus 1:1 to Leviticus 3:17, Mark 1:29 to Mark 2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 10:3
Tuesday February 17th (get your pancakes - Shrove Tuesday): Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:19, Mark 2:13 to Mark 3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 10:4
Wednesday February 18th (Ash Wednesday and Lent begins): Leviticus 6:1 to Leviticus 7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:5
Now, if you happen to fall behind a bit, do not fear (I am here to reassure you, having had much experience in these things). If you double up or even triple up on a few days, you will quickly be caught up! And remember, you are not alone in this reading exercise. Reach out if you need encouragement :)
(Our next reading group Zoom call scheduled for Tuesday February 24th at 5.30 pm - zoom link will be sent to subscribers closer to the date).
Remember we are all interconnected :)
interconnected mushrooms photo copyright Shannon Guichon
colourful mushrooms from Bishop Carla’s facebook page.