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RAPID RIVER -- On Thursday, the people of Upper Michigan will be afforded the opportunity to encounter one of nature's most beautiful events -- the annual migration of the monarch butterflies.
For the scientific-minded, it will be a chance to become familiar with this important creature, to learn about its presence in our ecosystem, and to understand its role in the delicate balance of nature. For the poets and artists, it will be an explosion of colorful leaves and wings gently moving under the autumn sun. For the religious, it is an opportunity to witness and pray with creation; not just sing about it in church.
To celebrate this event, UP Wild will be hosting a Nature Gathering at 5 p.m. at the Stonington Lighthouse in Rapid River. The event should last around 60 minutes and will be followed by snacks and refreshments.
Every year, the monarch butterflies make their long pilgrimage south from Canada and the northern United States to Mexico. Central Upper Michigan, particularly the Stonington Peninsula, is one of the sites where they pause and rest along the journey. UP Wild will gather at Stonington Lighthouse to offer them a safe passage.
There will be special opening ceremony, and then, they will collectively offer them blessings and prayers for their long journey. This brings people together spiritually to celebrate the Creator no matter our backgrounds.
Bishop Rayford Ray of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan is planning to attend.
"The butterfly is a powerful symbol of the resurrection, and of life," Ray said in a press release. "UP Wild will gather in prayer to honor the land and the water and nature itself."
The beautiful eastern monarch butterfly cannot tolerate the cold of the northern region and must migrate to a warmer climate each year. The last two weeks of August and the first two weeks of September is the traditional period for their annual migration to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico, a journey of 2,500 to 3,000 miles. As they travel only by day, averaging 50 to 100 miles per day, their flight will take about five weeks.
The pilgrimage has a stopover at Stonington Point in early September where tens of thousands will pause before crossing the open water to Door County, Wisconsin. The monarchs gather in trees and bushes for warmth as they rest and wait for conditions that will allow them to continue their journey south.
Monarchs are on the Endangered Species watch list. Their numbers are down by 90% owing to loss of habitat, pesticides, and climate change. The world needs butterflies. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the monarchs alone provide for pollination of 1/3 of our food supply. Worldwide, pollinating insects account for 3/4 of the global food supply.
Bishop Ray spoke about their importance to humanity. "We are connected to the monarchs. It's a two-way thing, and if they are going extinct, it effects all of us."
All are invited to the Stonington Lighthouse to bless these amazing creatures and are encouraged to share this and invite others.
U.P. Wild Delta County is non-profit organization that is nurtured by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and the Northern Great Lakes ELCA Synod. It works to foster deeper connections with Creator through outdoor prayer services, hikes, and exploration of our Great Lakes bioregion. UP Wild Delta County is a member of the larger UP Wild Church movement which is a spiritual home for the seekers of beauty, wonder, and awe; where the 'church-goers' supplement their journey, and the 'misfits' finally feel connected.
UP Wild's intention is to provide space in which each person may express how they experience the Creator. The group accepts each other's stories, backgrounds, and language without judgment, knowing we will all be different.
For more information:
https://monarchjointventure.org/monarch-lab-redirect