---

Questions You Might Be Asking

What’s the Celtic Seasonal Calendar all about?
We follow both the liturgical calendar and the Celtic seasonal wheel to stay in rhythm with the Earth and the flow of the year. The Celtic calendar marks solstices, equinoxes, and seasonal changes, helping us notice the cycles of nature and the lessons they offer. Alongside this, we honor the traditional Christian liturgical seasons such as Advent, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter, which guide reflection, celebration, and spiritual growth throughout the year. Together, these calendars provide a rich rhythm for our gatherings, helping us celebrate God’s presence in both the natural world and the sacred story of faith.

Do I need to be Christian to participate?
Absolutely not. Wild Church is for anyone seeking the sacred, whether you have been part of a church, stepped away, or are exploring spirituality for the first time. While our gatherings are rooted in the Christ tradition and may include Christian elements such as scripture readings or Communion, you are always welcome to observe or skip any part you are not comfortable with. Our focus is on connection with the Divine, with creation, and with one another, so everyone can participate in a way that feels authentic to them.

You say you use all pronouns for God. What does that mean?
God shows up in many ways. Sometimes as Father, sometimes as Mother, sometimes as Spirit, and sometimes in ways words cannot capture. We especially celebrate the Divine Feminine, Mother God, and all the many ways the Sacred manifests.

Do you meet in winter?
Yes. We meet outdoors year-round, rain included! Just bring warm layers, good shoes, and a sense of wonder. We do our best to find outdoor spaces with covers during the rainy season but sometimes, our gatherings will just be shorter and then we go for brunch!

How can I participate?
There are many ways to join in:

• Share a poem, reading, or sacred passage
• Volunteer to read our Land Acknowledgment or lead Communion
• Or simply show up, listen, and be present

Are there leaders?
No. Wild Church Portland is non-hierarchical and egalitarian. We meet in a circle so everyone has a voice and the Spirit can move freely among us. While there is a guide who helps facilitate and organize the flow of the gathering, every participant is invited to contribute, share, and engage in ways that feel meaningful, creating a community where all are welcome and valued equally.

Why do you meet only once a month?
We gather once a month to give each gathering space to breathe and unfold naturally. Monthly rhythms allow the seasons, the land, and our own lives to shape the experience. It also makes each Wild Church gathering feel like a true pause from the busyness of life, a time to slow down, notice creation, and reconnect with the Divine and one another.

What is the Wild Church Network?
The Wild Church Network is a nonprofit community of people and groups who gather in nature to explore faith, wonder, and the sacred. Wild Church Portland is part of this larger network, connecting us with like-minded communities around the world.