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.
Depending on the weather, we will either begin in the MEEC meeting room in Saint Joseph Hall or at the Deacon Greg Cecere Pavilion on Lot C 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 we see on the land in April?
- Bats that spend the winter here are waking up and adding weight for the approaching mating season.
- Summer resident birds are still returning. One that has an easily-recognizable but variable song is the wood thrush. Listen to a brief presentation of their call here.
- The earliest-blooming spring ephemerals, such as bloodroot, are setting seeds; many contain an elaiosome, a fatty, protein-rich packet of that encourages dispersal by ants.
- Later-blooming spring ephemerals, such as our state wildflower great white trillium, are in flower.
- White-tailed deer are losing their winter coats, and will soon begin growing a new set of antlers.
- Many mammals are bearing young; these include chipmunks, raccoons and gray foxes. Gray fox dens may be underground or high up in a tree, giving them their nickname "tree foxes."
- New caddisflies and mayflies emerge near water, and spring azure butterflies can be seen zipping along the ground.
- Morel fungi, perhaps Ohio's most popular gourmet "mushrooms," emerge.
- Eastern garter snakes and black rat snakes begin mating. Garter snakes are known for forming mating balls of up to 20 males per female.
- Eastern box turtles emerge from their winter woodland burrows.