Community: Monday
The very nature of the Triune God is community. The Father, Son and Spirit are One in reciprocal self-giving and love. Because human beings are made in the image of a relational God, humans are not meant to be separate and isolated from one another. Rather, we are called to live together in shared community.
– The Rev. Becky Zartman
Way of Love: Daily Practice
Read the Prayer attributed to St. Francis (BCP 833). Sit silently. Invite God to speak through this reading.
Share your experience in the comments below
One of our choir at church spent Sunday morning, via her mobile phone, singing requested hymns for each member of the congregation. We were each given a specific time to call in and had given our request in advance. Susan then sang the right hymn at the appropriate time. It was very moving and uplifting. Not being able to attend church is so hard right now as many in our village are old and lonely. Church and fellowship is a lifeline to us. Thank you for all your devotionals, I lap them up each day and especially thank you for the prayer from the New Zealand prayerbook recently provided. We say it every day.
Thanks to all of you! Sharing this today:
The very nature of the Triune God is community. The Father, Son and Spirit are One in reciprocal self-giving and love. Because human beings are made in the image of a relational God, humans are not meant to be separate and isolated from one another. Rather, we are called to live together in shared community.
Are you even aware of the Coronavirus pandemic. Talking about how important community is and showing a symbol of hands touching and people sitting close to each other is shocking. We are in crisis and need more than ever to feel the presence and support of our religious community but in a way that acknowledges the need to separate physically to slow the virus and save lives. Over the last week there has been no acknowledgement of the fears and dangers we are facing and no guidance from you as to how to connect in a safe and meaningful way
As I sat this morning after reading the Prayer of St Francis I was struck how this prayer for me is a Gospel-in-miniature: a summary of the Good News. This prayer is a working example of love in action and if asked to explain the essence of the Christian faith, this would be it.
An instrument of the Lord’s peace is not what I feel I am when I am wrapped up in my own regrets and worries. To live in community is one of the most challenging things i can do. And yet, I am aware that without community, there is no approach to God. If one can be a Christian in isolation it is by recalling the life of the faith community in some way. I liked that Brother Vryhof reminded us that tensions within community are to be expected as people rub up against each other’s rough edges. Unfortunately, conflicts may be resolved by disengagement.. This is not what St. Francis’ Prayer calls us to. As i sat meditating on the prayer, i was reminded of another prayer on page 99 of the Prayer Book asking the crucified Lord to allow us to walk in the way of the cross finding it “none other than the way of life and peace.” The loving, sacrificial way of Jesus will be the way of life and peace. I can find His peace even when I am in conflict with others or with myself because I know that Jesus has blessed me and given me his peace to endure and to change and be transformed into my true self, the self I know in the community of faith.