A simple template for holding a Wild Church for your community
The Wild Church way of gathering can seem mysterious but it is actually quite simple. Since Wild Church of Portland is no longer holding monthly gatherings, many people have expressed disappointment that they were unable to experience a gathering. But anyone can hold a Wild Church gathering and I’d like to share a simple format with some helpful links for you and your community to hold your own wild church gathering.
Wild Church Gathering Template
First, decide on a location. Public parks are great since they have parking and bathrooms. Consider accessibility for those attending. State parks are a great way to get out of the city but be prepared to pay for a day pass. But anywhere that offers you enough space to gather and has trails for people to wander on is ideal.
Second, gather a group and assign parts of the gathering. Since the Wild Church model is built upon partnership, we like to assign different parts of the gathering to others instead of having one person leading the gathering.
Third (and optional) is to gather a few simple supplies for your altar. We also enjoyed decorating our space to set the tone and intention of our time together.
Welcome & Land acknowledgment.
Welcome, friends.
We are an eco-spiritual community rooted in the Christ tradition, guided by the turning of the Celtic seasons.
We meet beneath open sky to reconnect—with God, the Earth, and one another—listening for the Divine presence moving through wind, water, tree, and bird.
We hold two sacred texts:
the words of Scripture,
and the wisdom of the Earth herself.
This isn’t a church service taken outside—it’s a circle without walls, where creation worships with us and every voice belongs.
And we welcome you just as you are in whatever beautiful or diverse form, just as we also welcome our more than-human friends.
Open the Circle
Here you can begin as simple as following the steps below, or anyway you’d like to!
- Speak your name and pronouns
- How are you arriving to the circle?
- Once everyone is finished, take three deep breaths for all those who are here and/or joining us in spirit
- Sing “What We Need Is Here” Chant
Grounding Activity
This is a time for grounding ourselves in the space and practicing being present where we are. This might take a little research but don’t spent too much time on this. There are great ideas in the Resources section, as well as just looking online.
- Tai Chi movements
- 5 Senses meditation
- Seasonal meditation (Here is an example of one: Darkness & Light)
- Time of silence, listening to the sounds of creation
Theme/ Season Introduction
Since our Wild Church followed both the traditional church calendar as well as the seasonal Celtic calendar, we incorporated a short time of learning about the season we were in. Sometimes the calendar and the seasonal calendar would overlap and we would acknowledge both. You can learn more about the season calendar on our Resources page.
Poetry/ Scripture/ Other Readings
At Wild Church we consistently read from a sacred text as well as a poem or two. These can go along with the season, or just a poem or text you are particularly drawn to. Once again, we have some great options on the Resource page.
If you have young children attending, this is a great time to read a Children’s book, even the adults love this time.
Wandering
So now we’ve come to the part of our gathering called “The Wander.” It is what’s unique and distinctive about Wild Churches. We’re part of a much larger growing web of some 250 independent communities around the US and the globe gather outside to connect with Nature and God, the Mystery or Spirit. We’ve all done a grounding exercise and heard some poetry and scripture, now we’re going to spend time using all our senses to see what God, through the natural world or more-than-the-human world has to say to us.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Book of Genesis says that before there was written language, God made all of this amazing natural land, sky, and creatures. This is God’s primary text and way of communicating with us.
For the next 20 to 30 minutes, wander and just pay attention. You may decide to slowly walk the whole time, or find a place that seems to be just for you and sit down. Sitting in one place for 20 minutes gives the creatures in that spot time to adjust to your presence and maybe start showing you something special.
Fellowship & Sharing
This was a time when we brought out hot drinks to warm up after our wander or ice tea on a hot day. Keep this very simple. We literally brought in a thermos of hot water, instant coffee, tea, compostable cups (of course), and a little cream. It all fit inside a backpack and we only had to carry the thermos.
After some fellowship and once everyone has arrived back to the circle after the wander, we begin a time of circle sharing. Invite open sharing and reflections that arose during the wandering time. How did you encounter the Divine in creation? How did God speak? What place or creature were you drawn to? Why?
This time of sharing is what we like to call our “sermon” – we teach each other what we have observed in our wander.
Communion
Since Wild Church of Portland was based in the Christ tradition, we did an earth based Communion practice that acknowledged Christ’s life and death. This communion reading is taken from Church of the Woods by Steven Blackmer.
Closing
We often let the Communion close our gathering but you are welcome to read a short poem or end in a time of silence. During the summer months, this is also a great time to hold a potluck and have an extended time of fellowship.
I hope this template offers you a chance to see that gathering with your community in this way can be simple and encouraging. Just a small group, outside, with a book of poetry, crackers & juices, and open hearts to experience the Divine in all created things-is all it takes!
Wild Church Portland 