Quicklinks
The
Leadership Institute
Craig's ministry
with vocational Christian workers.
Ken
Collins' Web Site
Wonderful site for beginners working with a lectionary.
Northumbria
Community
Grand
people who are living out a model of following Christ
that we look to as guides.
Renovaré
Great resource ministry.
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THE RHYTHM OF OUR GATHERING TOGETHER
Daily :: Weekly :: Monthly :: Quarterly
As Needed God’s
living, moving, and dynamic activity is found within the
sphere of space and the measure of times that we all live
in. He is not just “out there” but is near and
at hand. Looking at some of the rhythms of time He has given
in the natural order and making any place a sacred gathering
space we have chosen to gather together around a daily, weekly,
monthly, quarterly, and yearly fashion. The list of our gatherings
below can certainly be adapted to fit any group’s particular
patterns, but the value of consistency and repetition is
important for the rhythm of grace to do the work of transformation.
DAILY
The monastic pattern of taking certain times during the
day to stop and pray “formally” is a helpful
tool in teaching how to practice the presence of God
throughout the
day in “informal” and natural settings. Taking
Psalm 119:164 “Seven times a day I praise you for
your righteous laws,” as a pattern, the monastic
history has set aside seven (and in more recent settings,
three to
five)
times a day to gather for prayer. This practice has been
called praying the hours or praying the office of the hours
or simply
praying the office.
In
a cloistered community this pattern is of great value,
but in a dispersed community adaptations must be made.
For our
community, at this time, we have chosen to gather each
morning for Morning Prayer. For us this is space and
time with others
to practice listening to Jesus’ voice using the
classic devotional reading method of Lectio Divina (Divine
Reading).
A gospel passage is read, listened to, and prayed through
before the beginning of the day’s activities. It
is a simple way of affirming to Jesus at the beginning
of the day, “I
am your disciple, I choose to listen and learn from You.”
WEEKLY
God lived the pattern of working six days and then taking a Sabbath rest. He
also commanded it in the Ten Commandments. Setting aside one day in seven
to rest, reflect, remember, and celebrate is a healthy pattern for the soul,
not to mention the body and mind! What seems to make Sabbath rest “work” is
the intentionality of the resting, the reflecting and remember, and the celebrating.
We
rest from labor but our entire being engages in spending
energy reflecting and remembering where and how God had
been with us during the week. We look back and remember
how He had blessed and made provision through our labor.
We look back at what He was teaching us about our transformation
through the various encounters and circumstances of the
past week. We intentionally celebrate with fellow pilgrims
in the life of freedom God has given to us to enjoy. Finally
we prepare our heart, soul, mind, and strength to engage
in the week ahead, preparing to look and listen for God’s
presence and goodness to us.
These
Sabbath disciplines can be practiced within a local church
gathering. Since we are a dispersed community, coming from
various typical churches that do not give time and space
to the practice of these disciplines, we gather on Sunday
evenings for what we call Sabbath at Sundown. This is a
time for us to practice classic spiritual disciplines that
intentionally lead us into recognizing God’s presence
and activity in our lives. Using patterns taught by Ignatius
of Loyola we move through a pattern of past, present, and
future as we look back over our week’s activities,
worship, and are encouraged through Scripture together
for hope in the coming week ahead.
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MONTHLY
Periodically it is wise to take a little more extended
time to be alone with and intentionally nurture
our relationship with Jesus. When anyone is
growing in their love and affection toward another, setting aside
special time is necessary to focus on them. In our
culture we often speak of
these special times as a “date.” We
think of these special monthly times in a similar
manner.
As a date night we conduct a monthly Intimate
Evening with Jesus.
Our Intimate Evenings with Jesus becomes an opportunity to set aside extended
time to be alone with Jesus. We gather with others for worship and a short encouragement
from the Scriptures, and then break away from one another to spend some extended
time alone with the Lord. Quiet walks, contemplative reflection, journaling,
interaction with various art mediums, are all available as vehicles for listening
to Jesus. We regroup at the end for mutual encouragement and closing prayer.
QUARTERLY
Once a quarter space and time is set aside to get outside of the normal routines
and go to a quiet place for a weekend. These weekend retreats allow participants
extended time to listen for Jesus’ voice and be with Him, to wait upon
Him, and to experience a different rhythm of His grace and love. This is
a time to rest and to reflect on the previous months activities and the pilgrimage
toward Christlikeness or to simply be still for an extended time and know
that He is God. These retreats are low on programming and high on peace and
quiet. Optional spiritual direction is available throughout the weekend.
AS NEEDED
We recognize that every follower of Christ needs help discerning the voice of
God and His movement in our lives. Our gatherings provide an atmosphere where
group spiritual direction can take place. But we also need space and time
to meet one-on-one with another who is gifted in listening with us for God's
still small voice. Rhythm of Grace provides this ministry of spiritual direction
and we would love to talk to you ab out how this ministry could be of service
to you.
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