circle2022

Hello, I’m Joseph

Hello! My name is Joseph and I’ll be contributing content on a weekly basis for the Community Circle blog. I currently live in the diverse and multicultural city that is Bradford, UK, aptly titled Curry Capital of Britain. Before moving I had spent most of my life located on the rural Cornish moorlands. This meant growing up being exposed to the close ties between the historic landscapes and Celtic spirituality of the area. Both of which helped influence my own understanding of religion and meaning.

My passion for researching various religious traditions eventually inspired me to look into studying Religious Studies officially and in 2019 I enrolled into university where I specialised in New Religious Movements/Contemporary Religions. It was during my last year of university that I was exposed to the Community of Christ during the pandemic. An offhand remark regarding the Community of Christ by LDS missionaries led me down a rabbit hole of explorations, both online and in person, and eventually led me to Community Circle – the congregation which I belong to today.

During my life I’ve had the privilege of exploring a multitude of religious traditions – traditional and contemporary – and philosophies in ways which are both personal and academic in nature. My experiences solidified the importance I place on interfaith dialogue and the idea of a form of anekantavada – commonly translated as ‘many-sidedness’ – of world views in my life today. These explorations and events eventually culminated in my baptism and confirmation into the Community of Christ in June 2022 after spending many months exploring the church.

I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to write my thoughts and ideas on this website and very much look forward to sharing these with you all, and being of service to the church in this manner. At the very least I hope that my posts are interesting to read, and perhaps for some may even be found to be helpful!

Learning About Spiritual Practices

When I first came in contact with Community of Christ, I could not have told you what a spiritual practice was. I’d never heard the term, and I had no clue about engaging in the process. When I’m not certain about something new, I may hesitate in the beginning. I didn’t want to do it wrong or look stupid. What I found out is that you CAN’T do this wrong.

I’m going to use a broad definition to describe what a spiritual practice is and why e it is useful and needful in our spiritual journey.

Broadly speaking, a spiritual practice could be something that we engage in that brings us closer to our spiritual selves. We do these things thoughtfully and, many times, on a regular basis. A few of them will be mentioned below, where I suggest several ways in which we may be connecting to the divine on a daily basis.

Thoughtful Reading

It isn’t about getting through the book; it’s about doing a slow reading of the words to understand their deeper meaning and content. We practice reflective reading, stopping to take in what the author is saying and wanting us to understand, and then making our own deeper connection with what we’ve read.

A few of my favorite authors that I engage on a regular basis are Richard Rohr, Henri J. Nouwen, and Barbara Brown Taylor, to mention three of the more well-known authors. Reading these three leads to reading others and finding nourishment in new and wonderful places. I read in the morning. Reading teaches me and opens my heart and mind to places I may have never gone. Reading is food.

The Divinas!

Lectio, visio, and even an audio version. Holy reading, looking, hearing. Typically, we are seeing, reading, or hearing something three times and focusing on different aspects of a question or questions. The subject matter leads us into a deeper contemplation with our spiritual selves. It is our time to connect with our higher selves and the numinous. This practice could be done individually or in groups. I actually gain a great deal from the sharing of others in this situation. If you love the arts, this practice is for you!

Sitting with Nature

It isn’t an escape when people say that they find God in nature vs. sitting in a pew. Finding the spiritual in the song of a bird, the dancing of the butterfly, the swan gliding gracefully on the water, or the tall oak is all about connecting with our inner selves and something that is more than us. It is why people might camp, fish, or observe the sunrise or sunset. It is why we might sit by a lake and watch, or dip our feet into the water and observe. Nature as a spiritual practice is powerful.

Creativity

We each create. We cook, sew, write, sing, connect with others in conversation, and exchange ideas. Our existence brings about creation. There is creativity in each of us because we are each unique. How do you create daily? The meals you make, the playlist you’ve crafted, the stories you tell to your child? How do you touch the creative within yourself? Creativity in and of itself is a wonderous spiritual practice.

The next time you walk, ride your bike, take a hike, go for a swim, read, look at art, or enjoy music, take the time to pause and sense what you are feeling inside. How is your soul connecting with what you’re involved in?

Finding New Peace

This spring my life changed.

I didn’t know it would change the day a garden crew came in and dug up my eyesore of a front yard. The yard is enclosed and yet, for over a decade, it had not been a place of pride or peace.

That changed early in April as I stood at my kitchen window and looked at what seemed to be a bomb blast in my front yard. Over the next few days, the excitement built, and by that Friday I could exit the yard safely and go out to lunch.

The plants went in the following week, and with the plants came the realization that this black-thumbed woman would need to become a steward of life and not kill the things. Following the guidance of my gardener, I’ve watered weekly. I’ve also hoped for rainfall. I’m in The Netherlands, and here, rain happens. As I write this, the few drops that fall today have me begging for more of the wet stuff. We’ll see.

The yard has been enjoyed, and the plants are showing both growth and bloom. The yard is blooming, and something is happening within my heart: could it be bloom?

The desire to live outside for part of the day is new to me. I find myself seeking the sun, warmth, and peace of a place that eleven years ago did not welcome me. Have I become a garden lover?

My yard has rekindled my morning spiritual time. It has energized my soul and my body. This space is nurturing something I didn’t know I had! While I’m not digging in the soil, the soil of my mind is realizing that something deep within has been stirred spiritually.

I don’t know how to define it. Call it finding God in nature, finding myself in nature, worshipping the holy in my front yard, or simply holy gazing. Whatever it is, it is cultivating a love for my tiny little world in new ways. This new stewardship for the living is altering my desire to care for my little corner of the world. I feel like I’m contributing to the beauty of the world.

Within Community of Christ, we seek to follow Jesus, the Peaceful One. Since becoming a member of C of C, my understanding of world peace and peace in general has changed. As I sit in my garden, surrounded by its beauty, I’m discovering that I’m sitting in a welcoming and peaceful place. It calls out to me, softens my heart, and speaks a new language of peace to my soul. I want to sit in this place and welcome others to it.

Harlene Wood penned these words, and they ring true in so many ways for me right now: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…”

Let’s bring peace to our hearts, homes, gardens, and other spaces we inhabit.

Open Circles

Circles. What do you think of the shape? Does your mind travel to the closed circle, which is what is most commonly shown? What about an open circle?

Closed, the circle limits those who can enter. It is as if one must ask permission to enter: Please, let me in. Does this make you feel like a beggar? Do you move on in search of a place that will admit you?

Open, the circle allows us to freely enter, find a place for ourselves, and explore the environs. What lies within? Where will an open circle carry us to?

I’m Gail, and I’ve experienced both the closed and open circle—and the open circle is the best!

Community Circle is such a place. We welcome you with open arms! Who are you? LGBTQIA+, disabled, a person of color, or cisgender, you will find a seat at our table and will be included in our open circle. Whether you are from one of the many nations of Western Europe or the U.K., or maybe an expatriate living in one of these countries, enter freely.

If you are struggling with faith issues, we want your voice to be heard. It is the struggle that brings us to places of new understanding and belief. Growth and discovery are a part of being a person of faith. We seek to support everyone and hold space for those who have been spiritually abused. This is church, and church should never exclude anyone.

We desire to create a place where all are able to flourish and contribute. If you are looking for a faith home, you may find it here as part of Community of Christ. We seek to be creators of justice and peace and look to Jesus, the peaceful one, as our model.

Returning to the circle that is open, I can say that inclusion is one of the greatest gifts we as humans can offer each other. The experience of being recognized for who we are as our authentic selves is priceless. Being able to grow, share, learn, and explore together serves to create a rich environment for worship for young and for old: a place at our table to contribute and create ministry that will bless others and, we hope, bless you.

This space will seek to explore many facets of faith as we all travel to new and wonderful places where we’re free to discover how God is working in our lives. Let’s begin a discussion about faith that is open and real. Where is God working in your life? How can we help you explore how she/he/they could work in your life?

Welcome to our open circle!