(see Soul Tending pgs. 47-49)

Imagine being in school and in the midst of all your reading, homework, and term papers, you teacher hands you a novel with these instructions, “You don’t have to finish this book. There will be no report or test. Just find a quiet place, start wherever you like, and read slowly and carefully. When you come across a word, a phrase, or a sentence that is interesting to you, stop and think about it. Do the same thing every day for a week.” Wow! You could forget about finding the main point, identifying the climax, and labeling the protagonist and antagonist. With that type of assignment, you don’t have to worry about diagramming sentences or stress about deadlines.

But who really reads like that or has the luxury of time to do it? In the busyness of our lives, it is much easier to read as much as needed to get a good grade on the report. It is convenient to skim the newspaper, grabbing the latest headlines on our way out the door…let the pundants tell us how we should think and feel about contemporary issues. And we surf the Internet with mp3 music files playing in the background or while talking on the phone. Reading something is something people do to find specific information or to kill time hoping that something interesting will keep their attention for a few minutes.

Is this how you approach your devotional time ..your devoted time to be with God? How do you read the Bible or devotional books? Do you have a plan or a method? Are you reading for facts and information, or to deepen a relationship? Are you trying to seek answers and guidance? Are you trying to feel better?

Devotional reading allows the Spirit to move and reveal God’s love and desire for us. We do not bring a detailed assignment. The Bible is not laid out with flashing headlines to grab our attention, and the highlights are not flashing sound bytes in pop-up windows on the computer scree. Reading spiritually requires a different kind of reading.

Devotional reading provides not only a purpose but also a method. The goal is not to answer who?, what?, when?, and why? The goal in devotional reading is to find God in the words you read. Devotional reading gives you permission to slow down and helps you to truly hear what God has to say specifically through the text. As you read and pray, listen for those things that the Holy Spirit calls to your attention. An influential devotional writer, Madame Guyon, instructs devotional readers to come to the Lord quietly and humbly, absorbing the words on the page.

Take a moment and think about the books or authors that have taught you the most about your relationship with God and others. Have you read any of the writings of the saints-ancient or current?

A professor of theology once admitted that as a young adult she thought the whole history of Christianity skipped from Jesus and the apostles to her and her local church. Then she read about the rich history of the church through time and discovered the ancient church mothers, fathers, and saints of the church, like Benedict and his sister Scholastica, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and Augustine of Hippo and Julian of Norwich. She not only increased her knowledge but also found soul friends along her faith journey.

Practice: Choose a selection from a saint of the church or a favorite devotional writer. Say a brief prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God to you in the passage. Read the passage slowly to yourself. You are not skimming for a main point but looking for God. Feel free to stop at a certain word or phrase that speaks to you. Do not panic if your mind wanders. Continue to pray and listen for what God might be speaking to you. The point is not the amount of material you cover but the time you take.

Some sites to check out: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, today’s devotion (yes, I know the devotional page has music playing in the background, but you can mute it).

Homework: (1.) Visit www.NewCreationPC.org, and click on the Spirituality tab to learn more ways to practice devotional reading. Try some of the guided experiences there for you. (2.) Do some research about a particular saint of the church at a library or on the Internet. Read about her or him and then read her or his writings devotionally. (3.) Commit to reading the same short passage in a devotional every day for a week. Journal about your different insights each day. (4.) Select a devotional book and ask a friend to read it with you. Discuss your experiences and discoveries.

Reflect: How does slowing down and doing devotional reading help you slow down and devotionally read the world God has planted you within to be part of God’s presence?

(see Soul Tending pgs. 154-156)

Whenever Christians gather, they do so in the name of Jesus. He is the hidden guest at every congregational meeting, potluck dinner, church softball game, or youth lock-in.

Take a moment and read the following scriptures: Acts of the Apostles 2:43-47; Ephesians 4:1-6; and 1 John 4:7-21. Reflecting on the scripture readings, what should make a group of Christians unlike any other group of people? How is the focus of the faith-based groups you may be participating in different from other organizations and groups you may be a part of?

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:14: “Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together” (CEV). In Alice Walker’s book, The Color Purple, Shug talks about going to church to share God as opposed to finding God in church. Take a moment to reflect: Do people find God in church, do they bring God with them, or both? How is it possible to share a spiritual experience (for instance, in a worship service) when those gathered don’t necessarily know one another? What is it that binds Christians together?

Every church congregation, fellowship group, or mission organization has its own personality, but there are certain things they hold in common. Brainstorm a list of what goals such groups should have. Now read Colossians 3:12-17. How is this scripture a job description for all Christian groups?

The image of a fire is often used in describing our need for Christian community: Coals burn longer when they are heaped in a fire with other coals. When one is separated and no longer shares the warmth of the fire, it will become cold. How is this a helpful image of Christians and the purpose of Christian community? What other images come to mind? Think about reasons why Christian fellowship might or might not be important to you.

From the time of the apostles, it has been taught and experienced that Christian fellowship helps all on the spiritual path becasue in it we find persons who have a genuine desire to help us grow and from whom we learn about the faith we have inherited as a gift from God. We cannot be faithful followers of Jesus Christ in isolation. Jesus surrounded himself with others who would be a support system. In what ways have you grown spiritually through Christian fellowship? If you have had a bad experience with a particular fellowship of Christians, how could they have been more supportive and nurturing?

Homework: (1.) Take time each day this week to pray for members of your faith community. (2.) In your journal, write out the names of those persons who have supported you in your spiritual growth or shared their own faith journey with you. Spend time in prayer each day this week thanking God for their fellowship with you. (3.) Do you think it is significant that the New Testament has numerous instances where we see Jesus eating with friends, relaxing with his disciples, and talking about faith with individuals? How would the New Testament story be different is Jesus had held himself apart from the community? (4.) Using any art form you enjoy, fashion a representation of how you see Christian fellowship and community.

Reflection: What kind of ripples might (or have) come about from practicing Christian fellowship? How is your soul enriched, as well as those around you?

(see Soul Tending pgs. 99-101)

A dictionary definition of hospitality only begins to explain the word’s meaning. Yes, hospitality is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests or strangers.” However, hospitality also involves opening one’s heart to all people in the Spirit of Christ. Just as God gave us the earth as our wonderful home and reaches out to us in lone, we are called to offer that love to everyone we meet.

Have you ever been a guest in some one’s home where you immediately felt comfortable and happy? Or have you had the opposite experience where you never quite felt “at home” in a new setting? What was it that made the difference in these two situations? What words would you use to describe people who are hospitable?

In his letter to the early church, Paul repeatedly encouraged the believers to “welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). Paul was talking about more than providing a place to stay and food to eat; he meant also sharing lives and faith. As Marjorie J. Thompson writes in Soul Feast, “Hospitality is essentially an expression of love. It is a movement to include the guest in the very best of what we ourselves have received and therefore can offer. It is the act of sharing who we are as well as what we have.” In what ways can you share yourself, not just your things, with: family members, those outside your family, those who are your friends, those who are not your closest friends, those of a different faith tradition, those you don’t know but live in your community, or those who live far away in other parts of the world.

Read Matthew 25:31-40. Is Jesus clear about what he expects from his followers? Which of these situations is harder for you to think about doing: providing food, providing drink, welcoming a stranger in your home, giving clothing, caring for the sick, or visiting a prisoner? Why? Which of these situations have you helped before? How did you feel? Is it possible to do a good thing (like caring for the sick or giving clothes) without doing it in a spirit of hospitality? How?

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Do you have an example of a time you offered hospitality to someone and ended up feeling blessed from the experience?

Practice: Think about how you might show hospitality to the following people: a family who moves in next door; the homeless persons in your community; a new student at school; visitors in worship.

Homework: (1.) Invite a guest to dinner. (2.) Talk with your family or friends about possible ways to provide hospitality. You might consider hosting a holiday meal for people who don’t’ have nearby family, hosting a foreign exchange student inviting persons who live alone to join you on family activities, organizing a block party, and so forth.  (3.) Journal about any inner roadblocks for you concerning hospitality. What holds you back from fully opening your heart in the spirit of Christ? (4.) When have you “met” Jesus in another person? Reflect on how you can show Jesus to others through hospitality.

Reflect: How can you change the world by a simple act of hospitality?

(See Soul Tending, pgs. 44-46)

Most of us take our bodies for granted. We don’t notice the miracle of our organs and systems until we get sick or injured. Then we may marvel at how the body can heal itself. We inhabit the physical self, our one body/mind/spirit, yet many of us this of ourselves in separate parts. I think (mind), feel and connect to God (spirit), and move or act (body). Yet God made us to be whole selves and called us to physical, spiritual, and mental health.

Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. Why did Paul use the image of clay jars (or, in other translations, earthen vessels) to describe the human body? What do those images suggest? What are the main points of this passage? What does verse 10 mean? How do we make “the life of Jesus…visible in our bodies?” Read the quotation from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17b. What does it mean to be the “temple of God”?

We don’t always carry with us the knowledge that we are “temple of God.” We act in ways that harm us, body and soul. Think about the ways to honor God in our bodies when it comes to: diet, physical activity, sexual activity, alcohol and drug use, promoting positive mental health. In what other ways can we honor the body? What are some reasons we sometimes dishonor the body?

Studies show that mental and emotional health is closely linked to physical health. When our physical body is healthy, our spiritual life i much happier and content. Regular physical activity can help us stay balanced when we experience times of stress. What sorts of exercise do you enjoy and how might you be able to maintain a regular exercise routine? What would it take for you to love your body? How might you fully grasp that God created you to be a beautiful human being?

Each of us can take steps to claim and maintain our own health. We can eat a healthy, balanced diet with lost of fruits and vegetables. We can follow a physical regime that keeps our cardiovascular system strong and our mental state alert. We can abstain from abusing substances that are harmful to us. We can carefully think through all our choices, asking, “Will this help me be healthy? Am I honoring God in me if I do this?”

Homework: (1.) Keep a food diary for one week, writing down everything you eat. At the end of the week, think about your diet. Is it healthy? How could you commit to healthier eating? (2.) Journal about your relationship to your body. What do you do to stay fit and healthy? Do you see yourself in partnership with God who made you? Think about he gift of health. How can you work to stay healthy? (3.) Pray about giving up negative behaviors that keep you away from wholeness and health. Seek support from friends, family, or a recovery program to battle any addictions. (4.) Meditate on how your emotional and spiritual health are linked to your physical health. (5.) Do online research about a subject that may pertain to your own body experience, for instance, marijuana use, sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, or maintaining an exercise regime. (6.) Look straight into a full-length mirror for five minutes each day this week. Observe the wonderful creation God made in you. If you like what you see, thank God. If you don’t like what you see, pray that God would show you how special and wonderfully you are made. Talk to a trusted friend or mentor about ways in which you can learn to love and care for your body.

Reflect: How does caring for your body effect your daily life and that of others?

(see Soul Tending pgs 150-153)

Baptism is a rite of passage, and is a sign and symbol of being part of a family that transcends human boundaries. All baptized members of the Church universal is part of a family, the family of God. Through confirmation, Christians respond publicly to the promise of baptism, pledging to obey and follow Christ. In confirmation Christians say what they believe, tell the local church and the world that we profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Confirmation is like beginning a journey. It is the first step in becoming who we are in Christ, and publicly marking our intentions to be who God created us to be and to follow Christ all the days of our life.

Confirmation normally mean participating in some form of instruction. Confirmation is an in-depth exploration of the history of the church, doctrine, social principals, and the covenant story. Catechism teaches the same information through memorization of questions and responses. Both lead up to a confirmation service in which the participants confirm their faith in God by reaffirming their baptismal vows and receiving the biblical faith of their ancestors as their inheritance, as summed up in the ecumenical Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds.

By being confirmed, the participants adopt the mission statement of the particular church, and the faith which undergirds it. When a confirmand stands before the congregation affirms their baptismal vows, and receives their inheritance of faith as their own, and promises to be active in the prayers and work of the Church, it is a very big deal. When you accept the promises that God has made to you, you are claiming God’s promises for yourself. You belong to a God who loves you enough to die for you. God has given you a new identity and the strength and courage to live out that identity. God has called you to live not as a lone ranger, but in community - to live and work and laugh and serve with others. When you accept these promises and respond to them by standing before the church and the world, affirming your baptismal vows and the faith of the catholic Church (universal, and above denominationalism), your life will never be the same.

AS people prepare for confirmation, they have a special responsibility to learn the basics of the Christian faith. The point is not for them to memorize a bunch of information and pass a test. Rather, catechetical instruction is intended to help people realize what is at stake in standing before the church and confessing their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savor. This decision is not to be taken lightly, and those who are journeying to take the next step of committing their life to God should be fully informed. Confirming one’s faith is a commitment the will change the course of one’s life in ways that cannot be imagined. Studying the amazing story of faith is an opportunity to learn about the big picture of being followers of Christ Jesus and to ask plenty of questions about what it means to be Christian.

As people are confirmed in their faith and grow in the faith they have inherited and begin to own it as their own (hopefully the result of many questions and struggles), they also learn a new language. Getting involved in a new activity often involves learning new terminology. If you want to play the oboe, you need to learn to read music. Its’ hard to excel in basketball if you don’t know what a foul is. If you were moving to Paris, you would need to learn to speak French. So it is with being a Christian. The Christian language helps us to experience and live out the living faith we have inherited. Catechisms and confirmation classes help us to learn the new language, and provide a foundation for our continuous Christian formation.

Catechism and confirmation classes aren’t just for education. Meditating and reflecting on these truths of our faith deepen our experience of God and provided a bedrock of trust in difficult times. As you go through life, you will find that lessons you learned preparing for confirmation become lived out in the world around you.

PRACTICE: Read the Apostle’s Creed aloud.

 I believe in God, the Father Almighty,  
   creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,  his only Son, our Lord,
   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
   born of the Virgin Mary,
   suffered under Pontius Pilate,
   was crucified, died, and was buried;
   he descended to the dead.
   On the third day he rose again;
   he ascended into heaven,
   is seated at the right hand of the Father,
   and will come again to judge the living
         and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
   the holy catholic church,
   the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins,
   the resurrection of the body
   and the life everlasting. Amen  

What does it mean to you to proclaim these words? In what ways does this proclamation lead you to living a holy life?

HOMEWORK: (1) If you haven’t yet been confirmed (or even baptized), plan a time to talk with you pastor, campus minister, or youth leader about what is involved and what steps you need to take; (2) If you have been confirmed, keep a journal this week about ways your profession of faith in Christ makes a difference in your life; (3) Choose a question and answer from the Presbyterian Catechism to meditate on for the week (pdf versions or daily). Read it each night before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning. Look for connections between the question and answer you chose and the world around you. Write about these connection; (4) Write your own catechism question and answer. What is a question you have about faith? Do some research (including seeing what the bible has to say) and talk with some trusted mentors; (5) Memorize the Apostle’s Creed and say it every morning when you wake up as a declaration before you go about your day; (6) Ask Pastor Christian for a copy of the Book of Confessions, Book of Order, and the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship and learn more about not only the Christian faith, but this distinctive leaf on God’s greater family tree.

REFLECT: How does confirmation and studying the faith enrich and transform your life and the life of others?

(See Soul Tending 96-98)

Maya spent years trying to be a Christian, but she finally gave up. “The forgiveness thing was too tough for me,” she explained. “Forgiving other people sounds good on paper; but in real life, there were simply some people I could not forgive.” Maya is right. Living as a forgiven people and forgiving person is a difficult aspect of the Christian faith for many people. Yet one of the beauties of the Christian faith is the simple fact that Jesus says, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:37-38). All of us have moments when we sin in thought, word, and deed. We commit sins by doing some things and by leaving other things undone. Therefore, it is important that we know both how to seek and how to grant others forgiveness. (NOTE: a “sin” may be defined as a thought, word or deed, done or left undone, that has caused the breaking of relationship between one’s self, with others, and/or with God. If a person has a broken or fractured relationship in one of the aforementioned area, more than likely, the other two relationship are or will become broken as well.)

When Jesus taught his followers how to pray, he gave them the immediate connection between receiving forgiveness from God and granting others forgiveness. “Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others” (Matthew 6:12, CEV), the Bible says. It works both ways: Forgiveness from God is connected to our own gift of forgiveness to others. In the North American society where many of us may live, if someone is angry with the actions of others, they tend to take them to court rather than offer forgiveness, followed by working for redemption and reconciliation. This is not what Jesus had in mind!

Forgiving does not mean that a trespass is invalid or that it did not cause pain, it also doesn’t mean the trespass is forgotten or ignored. To forgive and to be forgiven means that at least one person has (and best if both parties have) recognized the sin, that personal thirst for revenge and retaliation is off the table, and the relationship is placed in God’s hands to heal through redeeming acts and processes of reconciliation.

Read the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35. Why do you think Jesus told this story right after Peter asked a question about forgiveness in verse 21? What is the point of this passage?

Some people refuse to act in revenge and retaliation. Murder Victim’s Families for Reconciliation even has a mission to abolish the death penalty. These people, all of whom have family members who were murdered, are putting their energy into working for policies and programs that reduce the rate of homicide and promote alternatives to violence. Reconciliation means accepting that you cannot undo the murder, but you can decide how you want to live afterward.

PRACTICE: Look at some different translations of Matthew 6:12. How do the different wordings clarify the meaning of this verse to you? Take a few moments and make a list of things requiring forgiveness, then pray not only for yourself, but for all humanity:

Almighty and merciful God, you made us. You love us. You forgive us. We know all that and are grateful, yet till we fail to follow the path you have set before us. We do not live out of the fullness of your love. Instead we say and do things that hurt other people, ourselves, and mar our relationship with you. We do not keep always before us your justice and righteousness but rather let our words and actions be governed by our own prejudices and misunderstandings. We are selfish and unsympathetic when you call us to live for others in a generous spirit. We are afraid to risk being different, fearful to speak out for truth, and not sure we can handle the consequences of following Jesus. And so we ask your forgiveness. Give us strength to return your love with our own loving lives. Let us forgive others as we know we need to be forgiven. All things are possible in you. Amen.

HOMEWORK: (1) Journal and/or pray about the need for forgiveness in your life; (2) Commit to seeking forgiveness from whom you need it or granting forgiveness to those who need it from you; (3) Reread Matthew 6:12 daily. If you say these words enough, do you think you can grow into living this message?; (4) Write your own prayer asking God for forgiveness. Think about any persons you may have hurt. Are you ready to ask them for forgiveness? If not, how can you grow toward that stage?; (5) Ask a person whom you admire and trust to share a time when he or she had trouble asking for or granting forgiveness.

REFLECTION: How does forgiveness change your daily life and how you relate to people?

(See Soul Tending pgs. 40-43)

What choices are easy for you to make? What choices do you face that are hard to make? What are some of the tools you use when you have to make a difficult decision? 

Each of us is called upon to make numerous decision every day of our lives. Some decisions are easy: What do I wear today? Do I raise my hand to answer the teacher’s questions? Others are harder: Do I tell my best friend I am angry at her? Do I break up with my boyfriend or girlfriend? Do I file for divorce? How we make our decisions says a lot about who we are and about our relationship with God

We can make most of our choices by ourselves, but sometimes a decisions seems complicated and we know we need God’s help. Many choices will come easily out of who we understand ourselves to be. As a person of faith, I will no spread rumors, tell lies, or abuse my body. Yet what do I do about being in relationship with a friend who encourages me to do those things? How do I know which job will be the best fit for me and my family’s needs? How do I know when I’m ready to get married? How do I choose between activities I love when there is not time to do everything?

Discernment is the process of making decisions with God’s help. Centuries ago, Ignatius of Loyola suggested a “process of discernment” to guide people of faith through their decision-making process. Here’s a simple way to follow Ignatius’ ideas:

1. Gather all the information you need in order to make a particular decision. This may include talking to persons who would have helpful insight into your situation or friends who know you well.
2. Focus on one choice for a specific period of time. Write down all the reasons that support this option. Pray about it. Try to live as though you have made this choice, then pay attention to how you feel with this choice. Next spend the same amount of time living with and praying about the other choice. How do you feel with your options now?
3. Make a tentative decision after considering your feelings with all possible choices. Do you feel more peaceful with one decision? If so, offer that decision to God and know that you made the best possible decision you could make. If you still feel troubled about the decision, try the alternative choice or postpone the decision, if possible.

Discernment is a way of making decisions that reminds us we are not alone. God undergirds us in all that we do, and we have other people who can support us as we wrestle through complicated or troubling decisions. Look to the example of Jesus and other biblical figures to see how they made choices. In all our decisions, large and small, we can raise these questions with ourselves:

• Is this choice consistent with who God calls me to be?
• Is the Holy Spirit informing this decision?
• Which choice will help me become a more complete person?
• After spending quiet time with God about this decision, do I feel a leaning toward one alternative?

PRACTICE: Read Galatians 5:25. Make a list of questions the persons below could consider in the discernment process. How could they make the right decision? Who might each of these people enlist as helpers in the process?

1. Maria is sixteen, pregnant, and has come to you to help her decide what to do for her future.

2. Sam’s wife’s new job means a move to another state. Sam would like to stay in his current town and the job he likes and is passionate about, and their children are in high school and don’t want to move. Sam has come to you for guidance.

3. Anissa has been laid off. To make ends meet she has taken a job which means she’d work on Sundays and would miss worship and church activities during the week that she greatly enjoys and gives her life. She has come to you to help her figure what God is desiring for her.

None of us knows what decisions we will be called upon to make in the future; but as followers of Jesus, we do know certain things about ourselves. Think about the statements below. Which ones can you claim in your own life? If one doesn’t sound right to you, think about why you can’t accept its truth.

• I am a child of God.
• God wants me to be content.
• God created me to do good in the world.
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

HOMEWORK: (1) Talk to your spouse, friends, or family about time they have had to make difficult decisions. Find out what process they used. If they don’t know about discernment, share what you know with them. (2) Make a list of decisions you expect to make in the next ten years. How could you begin the discernment process now? (3) Read the following passages of Scripture every day this week and consider how they apply to prayerful decision-making: Psalm 73:24; Psalm 119:105; Romans 12:2; and James 1:5. (4) If you are trying to make a decision in your life right now, use the discernment process and spend time talking to God about your options.

REFLECTION: How has your life changed as you have introduced the discernment process into your life? How is your relationship with God, with others, and with your own self been deepened?

(see Soul Tending pgs 146-149)

How many years have you been attending a church? How many different places have you worshiped? What was a favorite? Why do you attend worship services, or why don’t you attend worship services?

Worship is the gathering of God’s people to praise, honor, and glorify God. Common worship is vital to our life of faith. First of all,  common worship reminds us that we aren’t lone rangers in our faith. We cannot be Christians in isolation, for it is only together we are the body of Christ. You may find that worship is sometimes uncomfortable because you find yourself surrounded not only by the friends you love but also by hypocrites, by people who irritate you, by those who don’t approve of what your wearing, by toddlers who are noisy and disruptive, by preachers who just don’t do it for you, musicians and choir directors who don’t play your favorite kind of church music, and by others whom you just plain don’t like. And this motley crew is the very body of Christ with whom we are called to worship and serve. If we worship only with people our own age or only with people we really like, we miss out on the amazing grace of a God who brings us together as a community of forgiven sinners. Worship teaches us that we are made for communion not only with God but also with one another.

We gather in worship to remember who we are and whose we are. In worship, we hear the stories of our family of faith - stories of God’s love and God’s people that have been passed down through the ages. This “Proclamation” part of worship is like listening to your grandmother tell stories about your dad when he was young, or give you a teaching on what it means to be a part of the family. In listening, you find out more about who you are. In worship, we are nurtured as a family of faith through the sacraments. These visible signs of God’s grace claim us as children of God and strengthen us for Christ’s service. In public worship, we hear the stories of God’s grace, learn more about who we are, and we give thanks for God’s love that will never let us go. In her book, Amazing Grace, the Presbyterian elder, Kathleen Norris, talks about worship as a response to grace and a celebration for God’s continued faith in us - God’s children.

Has worship ever “moved” you to tears? to praise? to peace? to a new way of life? How did that happen?

Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish Christian philosopher who lived during the 1800’s, said worship is like a play. Many of us imagine that the ministers are the actors in the play and that the congregation is the audience. The truth is that the congregation members are the actors with the minister and the choir coaching them to do their best for the audience - God. So, when we leave worship, the question to ask isn’t “How was it?” but “How did I do?”

Furthermore, when we gather in worship to praise God, confess our need for God, give thanks for God, and pray for God to hear our prayers, God uses all of it to transform us. Through music, the preaching (despite how bad it may be), and especially through the sacraments, God is powerfully at work. The Holy Spirit sometimes grabs hold of us and moves us to new places.

But, let’s face it. Worship doesn’t always move us. Worship, especially Sunday morning worship, can be boring, frustrating, and uncomfortable. We know God is with us when we gather for worship, but sometimes it feel like God is yawning, too. This brings to light a good question: How does is worship planned so it is the worship of the whole people of God? It also begs the question of how each worshipping member faithfully engages in the practice of common worship with an attitude of praise, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, rather than one of simple duty and obligation.

If we find common worship to be boring, frustrating, or uncomfortable, we might try preparing our hearts for worship through prayer. We can pray for the worship leaders, and those worshipping with us. We can pray that God will meet us in worship and speak a personal word to us. We can pray for our hearts to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

We can prepare for common worship by spending time with the Scripture text for the week, and perhaps discussing them with friends. We can also prepare for common worship as we engage in other spiritual disciplines. As we weave Scripture reading, prayer, acts of hospitality, and bearing witness into our daily lives, we will find our minds and hearts open to receive God’s grace. As we prepare, we can be confident that God will be with us in common worship and that we will be made one with the body of Christ, the Church universal and glorious communion of saints.

PRACTICE: Find one or two other people for a time of worship. If you need help in ordering you common worship, check out the resources on the Daily Prayer page. Include in your worship time prayer (praise or adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication), scripture reading and discussion. You might even add prayer through the medium of music. Afterward, reflect together, “How did we do?”

HOMEWORK: (1) Prepare for common worship by praying each day this week for the worship leaders and those who you will be worshiping with, and that your own heart would be open to God’s leading. (2) Check out the weekly NCPC newsletter site, find out the scripture for this Sunday’s worship service. Prepare for worship by meditating on the Scripture passages each day. (3) Form a morning or evening prayer group and design a common “liturgy” you will share leadership in. (4) Volunteer to help lead worship on Sunday, from leading prayer, to sharing a music talent, to even preaching.

REFLECT: How does common worship deepen my relationship with God, other people, and my self?

(see Soul Tending pages 92-95)

What are some of the ways that we tell people who we are just by how we dress and act?

Although to believe so is to risk stereotyping, the clothes we wear and the friends we have say a lot about us. Most of us probably don’t even mind that others look at us and get a small idea of who we are. We dress and act in he way we want to present ourselves.

Usually we want to present ourselves in such a way that people look at us and know at least something about us. Yet when it comes to witnessing to our faith in Jesus Christ, most of us experience a little anxiety. This relation may be because most of us carry around negative stereotypes of “witnesses.” What are some of the images or personality types that come to mind when you think of people who “witness” about their faith?

The truth is that none of us have to fit into a particular mold of witnessing, or sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. But we are all called to bear witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ. This calling is part of who we are as Christians. We don’t necessarily have to wear “Jesus Saves” T-shirt, knock on doors, or hand out tracts; but we are to let others know through our actions and words that we profess faith in Christ. Our behaviour needs to demonstrate the values and truths we hold dear, proclaiming to others that we believe in a God who lives among us, preaches good news to the poor, heals the sick, binds up the brokenhearted, eats with outcasts, and forgives all who break relationship between themselves, others, and even God (sin). Think about witnessing, or sharing the good news of God’s love, as reflecting God’s light into the world.

Some of us might worry that we can’t let others know that we are Christians becasue they will think we are hypocrites. But you don’t have to be a “model” Christian to witness to Jesus Christ and God’s love. Witnesses point to someone other than themselves. Daniel Migliore points out several features of the act of witness in Faith Seeking Understanding. The witness swears to tell the truth. Faithful witnesses are not attention-drawing. Instead, they direct attention to someone or some event distinct from themselves. The act of witnessing requires personal participation, commitment, and risk-taking. We don’t have to be perfect to be witnesses. In the act of bearing witness and engaging in ministry, God changes us and our faith grows.

Thankfully, we don’t have to bear witness alone. The heritage of witnessing is passed on from generation to generation. We learn from the witness of those who have gone before us, and we teach the next generation by our witness.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) study catechism teaches that the mission of the church is to bear witness to God’s love for the world in Jesus Christ. The mission is lived out in all aspects of ministry from evangelism (preaching in word and deed) to simple hospitality. Bearing witness means caring for the needy whether they be homeless or our next door neighbor. The catechism teaches that we are all “the needy” becasue we all need a savior. This truth is the witness that is passed on” We have a savior who meets our needs.

Think of all the people who have pointed you toward the love of God. These people make up your “cloud of witnesses,” spoken of in Hebrew: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Sometimes we just don’t feel like we are up to the job of bearing witness. Some days it seems our prayer life is in shambles, our integrity is in question, and we aren’t sure what we believe. But we are not alone. Read aloud the last words Jesus tells his disciples before his ascension into heaven: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

PRACTICE: Think about those persons in your life who have been witnesses for you. Write down, and even perhaps share on this blog, what made them such great witnesses and for what you admire them most. Now read John 13:35. Take a minute to gather your thoughts about someone God may be underlining or pointing out to you to share God’s love. What will be your witness? How will you reflect the light of God into this persons life?

HOMEWORK: (1) Share your faith with someone in your congregation, and encourage them to do likewise with you. (2) At the beginning of each day, pray that God will lead you to someone who needs to hear your witness of God’s love and that the Holy Spirit will give you the words and encouragement to share it. (3) At the end of each day, consider the ways in which you have reflected the love of God in the world. Make a list in your journal of ways that you did this and also any missed opportunities. (4) Gather others and plan a “cloud of witnesses” party. Invite people from your congregation and the community to celebrate the ways they have been a presence of God’s love. (5) Visit http://www.evangelismcoach.org/, read articles, and even contact Chris Walker with questions you may have about witnessing.

REFLECT: How does sharing your faith deepen your relationship with God and others?

(See Soul Tending, pages 36-39)

Food is satisfying. We feel its effects in a full stomach, increased energy, and improved mental focus. We expect to eat three meals a day plus snacks. None of us like to go too long without a bite to eat, something to fill ourselves up. Think of a time when you were really hungry. How did you feel when you finally got to eat?

The spiritual writer Morton Kelsey compares our physical need for food with our spiritual need for silence. He says that as the body needs regular food intake to sustain health, the soul needs regular periods of silence in order to thrive.

Silence can be frightening. One person once said, “I don’t know what to do with silence. I always have music or the television on, even if I’m alone and have no one to talk to.” Does this sound familiar?

Our world is filled with sounds. We are rarely in total silence. Writer Dallas Willard challenges his readers to consider their inner emptiness if they must always surround themselves with noise. Take time right now to sit absolutely quiet for one minute and discover what you hear when your voice is silent.

Read the story of the prophet Elijah and how he met God at Horeb (1 Kings 19:9-15). This passage occurs when the prophet ran away becasue Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. Elijah is discouraged and wants to die because he feels his life’s work is a failure. Yet, what happens? Elijah in his experience does not find God in the wind. The Lord was not in the earthquake. The Lord was not in the fire. When Elijah finally faced the sheer silence or still, small voice, he heard God. What does this story say to you?

For centuries the breath prayer has existed as a way to connect with God. For some it is a way to befriend the silence; it gives you something to do as you begin to experience holy silence. As you repeat the prayer, its words eventually become background so you can be open to hearing what God may be saying. You can choose your own breath prayer and then repeat it over and over in rhythm with the inhale and exhale of your breath. First, choose a simple phrase that summarizes what you may need from your relationship with God right now. You may choose a line from a song or a phrase of Scripture, as long as it is not too wordy (for instance, inhale “Jesus”, exhale “Christ”).

HOMEWORK: (1) Take a silent walk by yourself through your neighborhood. Use this time of meditation, of opening yourself to God. Try to use your senses to appreciate the beauty of creation around you. (2) Find a place where you can be yourself in silence. Read Isaiah 43:1-5, substituting your own name for “O Jacob” in verse one. Get comfortable and take a few breaths. Then read the personalized verses from Isaiah over and over, slowly. Imagine God speaking these words directly to you. (3) Designate a period of time when you will fast from words. (4) Find a time where you can be still and in silence, and practice your breath prayer.

REFLECT: How is stillness and silence transform your relationship with God, and your relationship with others?