We gathered by Zoom this past Wednesday — and it was WONDERFUL to finally see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices. Gathering back into community, even after a break of just a few weeks felt holy and true.
We focused our attention around the spiritual practice of blessing, as part of our Lenten exploration of the series of Life Transformed: The Way of Love for Lent.
We tied the spiritual act of blessing one another with the Christian ritual of turning away from and then adhering ourselves toward something else. This pattern begins in our baptismal vows (renouncing the forces of evil before proclaiming our faith and trust in Jesus) and is a part of our regular lives. Much of our conversation then connecting this Christian ritual with our current situation of living with the pandemic of COVID-19.
It was a good time of being connected with one another in thoughtful discussions about our faith and life.
This past Wednesday evening, after a time of laughter, joy and a meal shared together, we settled down into a deep and profound conversation about our spiritual lives. We had each completed a Spiritual Type Inventory, based upon our natural preferences for the order in worship, in the structure and time of worship, style of prayer, music, preaching, support of causes, membership criteria, ritual and liturgy and concept of God. The four spiritual types articulated in this inventory are “Earth, Water, Air, Fire”.
To complete the inventory, please click on the link below.
We then opened up the conversation, to what specific part of the Sunday worship experience draws your heart the most. The answers were diverse and deeply profound. The idea set within our Christian lives is to deepen that experience. Our current spiritual practices keep us where we are now with God, but our spiritual life is never static, we are always called to go deeper, so we can live into and out of God’s blessing which meets us in our prayer life.
If you would like to talk with Mother Barbara or Dina Carter Ishler, our Field Placement Intern, about this Spiritual Types Inventory or how you might be able to deepen your practice, please reach out to them. You can call the parish office (717-532-8089) and leave a message for them to contact you.
Today we began our Pre-Confirmation Class– and boy, were we delighted and amazed (once again) at our young people — what they’re interested in, the questions they have, and their already deep understanding of worship.
We were blessed that Dean Robyn Szoke was with us to help facilitate the conversation about the beginning part of our Holy Eucharist Service, touching on the topics of: how we come into worship, how (and by whom) are we welcomed, and the Collect for Purity (who says it and why).
Dean Robyn Szoke teaching
Each young person contributed to the conversation and they busily wrote their amazing questions and thoughts in their special journals provided for them.
Great ideas, amazing questions
What was best of all though were their questions! It was so great to offer them the safe space to ask all the burning questions on their hearts. That makes me so happy that we have young people who are thinking and wondering and coming to us to ask our thoughts.
I also introduced them to the exercise they will do with the Bishop when she is here in two weeks. I have asked each one to bring with them something from home that is sacred. We talked about what that word “sacred” means and they came up with the definition of something that’s special or important. With this item to share, they are then going to offer why it is sacred to them. After everyone has shared (including me and the bishop), we will give the young people an opportunity to tell the bishop what it is about church that is sacred (special or important) to them, whether it’s taking communion to the residents of The Episcopal Home, or playing their musical instrument, or being an acolyte, or washing feet on Maundy Thursday. I am so happy our bishop will get to know these amazing young people.
Our next Pre-Confirmation Class will be on February 25th at 11:15 a.m. in the upstairs PLC. Parents and grandparents are always welcome to come to the class too!
