Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church

Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church, Charlevoix

September 5 - September 19, 2021

Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21

Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21

Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21

Greensky Hill presents a multicultural service featuring songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by The Drum Voices of Greensky Hill, Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, “Sermo Divina” from Ezekiel 31:3-7 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and Communion. “All things are beautiful–not by a standard of ‘pretty’ as seen by our eyes, but by an essence of sacred worth that is sensed by the spirit. This is the root and heart of compassion and justice. Beauty is the threshold to Divine Goodness and a door into radical compassion. Contemplation trains our spirits to see this deeper truth. Over the next six weeks, we will pursue a contemplative life to deepen our spiritual capacities so that we might live as Beloveds of God who extend Goodness in the world." (WDS)

Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.

Beguiled by Beauty: We Are Made for the Beloved, 9/12/21

Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21

Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21

Greensky Hill presents a multicultural service featuring songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, and “Sermo Divina” from Psalm 16:7-11 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays. “A Christian mystic of the 14th century, Julian of Norwich, lived during one of the worst centuries of human history, including the black death pandemic that wiped out millions of people, famines, floods, war, and corruption. In her writing, she addresses what she believed to be at the root of suffering–the misplaced idea of God’s rejection. Without this core belief in beauty and sacred worth, we engage in self-and-other-destroying behaviors, inducing further suffering. Contemplative practices invite us into union with the Divine One, healing the wounds of forgetfulness." (WDS)

Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.

Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21

Greensky Hill continues our six-week worship series "Beguiled by Beauty," with Week 3: "Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World." This multicultural service features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English and “Sermo Divina” from Psalm 147 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays. "We try to satisfy our thirst for meaningful life with so many distractions and addictions. Awakening to beauty is to find the well that never runs dry. For it is in beginning to truly see the world with our spirits that our soul’s thirst is quenched. “The resilience and beauty of the natural world is a sign of hope, even when things are difficult.” A tree is scorched by fire and yet new sprouts shoot up, defiant and optimistically reaching toward the sun. A crack in a sidewalk reveals the seeds just beneath the surface just waiting for a chance to break through. Contemplating this resilient beauty draws us back to our own vitality and the promise that we, too, are capable of new life." (WDS)

Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.

About Greensky Hill

We share sacred space.

We remain a sanctuary of love in a setting of natural beauty.

We preserve a unique Native Heritage.

We invite people to experience community as sisters and brothers in Christ and empower people to serve all in need.

We worship together every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Online and outside in our wooded amphitheater, The Tabernacle, 7/4-8/1/21. Inside, if raining.)

Our simple log church was built in the 1840's. Surrounded by trees marking the site of a long sacred meeting place, the church was constructed with large hewn logs notched at the corners and laid horizontally over a stone foundation. Much of the lumber used in the building was brought by canoe from Traverse City. Today the church continues to be an active, racially mixed congregation, some of whom are descendants of original worshipers.

We care for creation, we care for our community, and we love sharing meals with our neighbors.

Through our partnership with Manna Food Project, we have Family Food Boxes available at no charge and with no strings attached. If you're interested in worship or other church activities, you are more than welcome; however, you should never feel obligated. We also care for our community with United Methodist Women and Men's Club meetings, Grandmother Moon ceremonies, Bible Studies, children's ministry, water protector events, and other activities.