The Tree Became Heavy With Grief
Awaken Church Pastor: Nikayla Reize
(Bowness Weeping Tree pictured above. Photograph taken by: Nikayla Reize)
If you explored Bowmont Park before Easter, you may have spied an evergreen tree tied with hundreds of bits of cloth. This was the Bowness Weeping Tree. This past year has been a difficult one for many people, and it was felt that there would be great value in hosting a sacred space to acknowledge, grieve and pray for the pain and loss of Bownesians and those we love.
Hosted by Awaken Church, the Bowness Weeping Tree was a place during the season of Lent (the 40 day period of prayer and fasting before Easter) where anyone walking through the park could pause, tie a strip of cloth to the evergreen, pray, and join a communal expression of grief. Hand sanitizer, strips of cloth, instructions, and plenty of space were provided so this ritual could be performed safely for both participants and the tree. Folks were also invited to follow an Instagram account made specially as a space to share stories of grief.
The Tree became heavy with grief.
And it became beautiful. Multi-coloured strips of cloth adorned the tree. Messages were sent to Pastor Nikayla with prayers, stories, and reflections from many different Bownesian participants. Someone even printed off and laminated a poem to attach to the tree. The tree took something painful and turned it into something beautiful.
On Good Friday, members of Awaken Church walked to the tree to slowly remove the strips of cloth. They were ironed smooth, tied together, and hung at the front of the church and tied to the cross in time for the Easter Sunday service. The cloths are the prayers of the people of Bowness, and they are not forgotten. Thanks for joining us in making space for our shared sorrows.
To see more photos and videos of the Bowness Weeping Tree, and the art pieces made from the pieces of cloth used, visit www.instagram.com/awakenchurchbowness