What are spiritual practices – Community Circle Europe

God’s Nudge

Verse: ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it’, (Isaiah 30:21).

It can be hard to know how to live our lives at times. Sometimes the lines between what is right and wrong can become blurred and significantly less defined than we initially thought when outside of the situation. It can be easy to view the world as black and white, or right and wrong, when we are not experiencing what others are. I think this is something that all of us have experienced at some time or another and it is no different than when navigating our faith. This is why it can be seen as essential that we have some sort of grasp of our faith, whatever that may be, for these exact situations. I personally take pleasure in reading and studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon (among other scriptures from religious traditions such as the Quran and Guru Granth Sahib). In doing so I am able to learn and apply teachings of morality, philosophy, and ethics into my daily life and into any situations that may arise. Although abundant in wisdom and theology, the scriptures sometimes may not have the solutions we need in our daily challenges, especially in this modern and constantly evolving world. However, the scriptures do contain a host of wisdom when it comes to seeking advise from God.

In this regard one way the above Bible verse can be interpreted is that God is with us in scripture and our religious education to guide us when we may walk off the right path and become lost. It can be comforting to recall this verse when we are unsure of which direction to take, which decision we should select, or what action we should select. It is very common among my Latter Day Saint brethren to pray for guidance when the need to make a decision arises. Simply praying and asking for guidance and then waiting for a tug or push from the Holy Spirit can feel a bit ridiculous, especially if your faith is lacking, but is often the best way of breaking an impasse. To be nudged by God. I think it’s really important that we view God as Father. Yes, God is far greater than we can possibly imagine, but he also cares a great deal about us and seeks a personal connection with each and every soul. If I am stuck on something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, I know that God cares about me and if it’s something that troubles me, then it will trouble God too. He wants us to be happy. It is so important to know that we can come before God with our troubles and allow him to help us along with the Holy Spirit.

Keeping a Prayer Journal

Verse: ‘I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer’, (Psalm 17:6).

There is an almost unlimited number of ways to pray, some of my favourite methods have been covered before on this blog, one of these methods is something that was completely new to me. It was something that I thought I would at first struggle with but, in fact, thoroughly enjoyed. I am talking about the spiritual practice of keeping a prayer journal. There are a variety of different methods with which to conduct a prayer journal. The way that I found was best was to keep it in a similar way to a gratitude journal or diary. There is something so beautiful in thanking God for our blessings, even on the most testing and tiring of days.

I try to find things to thank Him for and then reflect on things I need to work on or perhaps vices which I have noticed myself falling into, asking God for help and faith in correcting these failings in the future. At the end of each day, either in the evening or early night, I sit for a few minutes and do a miniature version of the prayer of the Daily Examen. I then pick one blessing and one vice or error made that day and write them down in the form of a simple prayer. It may be helpful to add a date or use a diary so you can look back and see how you have progressed or grown in your faith and as a human being. I think that this is an important distinction between keeping a journal and other prayer practices which are similar such as impermeant methods of writing and burning for example. It is important to keep it and reflect on it as you go along.

Using a prayer diary or journal as a practical form of prayer can also be greatly beneficial for some practitioners. I have found it useful in the past to simply write prayers down on the pages of my journal and then once I have reread them sit in quiet contemplation waiting for the Spirit to reveal something to me. Once I have an answer – not necessarily the one I want – I can then move onto another prayer and so on and so on. I find this method effective as all too often we can stumble over the right words or get caught up in our thoughts when we try and say a prayer. It is much easier to simply write whatever prayer or request or concern comes to mind and then read it after it is written. I think this method is also useful as it allows us to sit and do something whilst we pray, praying can seem tedious if we simple try and sit still for long periods of time, this method allows you to engage multiple parts of your brain and also keeps you active as you are moving while you write.

Nephi’s Psalm

Verse: ‘Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continuously upon the things which I have seen and heard’, (2 Nephi 4:16).

When we think of the psalms, we most likely, understandably enough, immediately picture the Book of Psalms, also known as the Psalter, found in the Hebrew Bible. The Bible is certainly rich in its various works of poetry, but many may not know that it is not only the Hebrew Bible that contains these things. The Book of Mormon too has a beautiful psalm hidden away inside of it. The Psalm of Nephi, or otherwise known simply as Nephi’s Psalm, is found in 2 Nephi 4:16-35. This is called a psalm as the text shares many similarities with psalms found in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Psalms. This psalm is important as it shares the five common elements found in psalms. These are the recognition of sins, pleading for forgiveness, dedication to the Lord’s commandments, petitioning, and finally rejoicing in the forgiveness that God has given in His all-merciful nature. The Psalm of Nephi shares all five of these elements and is one of my favourite psalms found within scripture.

In Nephi’s Psalm Nephi lays out his hopes, joys, sorrows, and problems in his life, following the footsteps of the psalmist. When analysing or prayerfully reading this psalm it is crucial to understand the situation in which it is created. Nephi has just lost his father, Lehi, and these emotions of loss, which are familiar to many of us, are clear to see in this moving passage. These doubts and fears he brings up may be due to the fact that, as we know from the Book of Mormon, he is due to take over and lead not just his family but his people as their leader. Whilst we know how successful and great a leader he was, we must remember that at that time he must have been feeling all the anxieties and fears that we as humans feel also. These words of fear and sorrow are quickly replaced by praise for God and reminders of all that He has done for Nephi. We too can use these proclamations in our own prayer life as inspiration and worship.

I personally find it useful to prayerfully read and meditate this psalm in the evening before I sleep, alongside other psalms from the Hebrew Bible. It is indeed a beautiful reminder of how we should approach God, and our faith. Nephi encourages himself, as we can do ourselves if we pray his psalm as ours, to ‘no longer droop in sin’ but to ‘rejoice … and give place no more for the enemy of my soul’ (2 Nephi 4:28). He also promises that he will ‘praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation’ (2 Nephi 4:30). Let us too meditate on the words of this psalm and use it to remind ourselves how we should approach and thank God, as well as reinforce and re-establish our covenant with him as disciples.

Eternal Rest

Verse: ‘…the Lord will be your everlasting light’, (Isaiah 60:19).

A prayer that I have rapidly become familiar with due to working in a Roman Catholic school is the Eternal Rest. After Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death there was a heavy focus on her life and praying for her peaceful rest, in class as well as in Mass. It is a wonderfully simple prayer, yet one that contains much symbolism and meaning. Easy to remember, and easy to pray, for many reciting it brings both comfort and peace. During October, and more commonly November, countless Christians and members of other religious traditions will be praying in earnest for the dearly departed souls of our dead.

Whether one believes in any specific theological assumptions about the afterlife, or instead lives in hope that perhaps one may well exist, praying for our loved ones – and strangers too as many religions advocate doing – can be a cathartic experience and can help us feel like we are helping them somehow. This can help lessen grief and help us to manage, to varying degrees, the pain that we are in.

The words of the prayer in its common form are as follows:

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord,

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

In this prayer are two very important theological concepts. The first is the concept of eternal rest in the Lord and the second is the perpetual light of the Lord. It is fairly common to pray for the peaceful rest of those who are departed and the concept of rest is frequent in the Bible; in the Book of Psalms there are even a collection known as Psalms of Rest. Within the psalms are also references to the Lord being our everlasting light, or, in the light of this prayer, our perpetual light. In Isaiah 60:19, the full verse of the shortened one at the start of the post, the importance of God’s light over any other source is emphasised, ‘The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory’.

Book of Mormon Reading Plan

Verse: ‘For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them …’, (1 Nephi 10:19).

I recently began reading through the Book of Mormon again. I must admit it has been a while since I last read it cover to cover and I felt a sense of longing to explore its pages once more. Of course, like many, I began in the depths of 3 Nephi examining the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ and his disciples. As I began to read other passages too, I wondered how one could easily traverse the Book of Mormon in a quick and easy manner. Especially perhaps newcomers who don’t have the time or commitment to read all. I’ve sat down over the last week or so and put together thirty individual chapters that take no time at all to read so that someone can read through the Book of Mormon using one chapter a day. For obvious reasons this list is highly personalised and is my own opinion only, but it has been useful for myself and may therefore be useful as a ready-made list for others.

In the process I had to be fairly cutthroat and readers may notice that sections that they themselves may have chosen are missing. For example, the Book of Alma which takes up almost a third of the Book of Mormon has been cut from the list, as has the Book of Ether which is a personal favourite of mine and in an upcoming post I will be discussing why I love it so much. The aim of this list is to provide a general introduction to the Book of Mormon story, as well as including key parts such as King Benjamin’s Speech or the coming of Jesus to the Nephites. Although these chapters can be understood when read alone it is my hope that during the course of reading these chapters people will desire to delve deeper and so read around each one for further context should they feel drawn to do so. In this manner to perhaps the Holy Spirit can assist in reading through connected chapters.

Daily Reading List –

Day 1: 1 Nephi 1

Day 2: 1 Nephi 2

Day 3: 1 Nephi 17

Day 4: 1 Nephi 18

Day 5: 2 Nephi 5

Day 6: Jarom

Day 7: Words of Mormon

Day 8: Mosiah 2

Day 9: Mosiah 3

Day 10: Mosiah 4

Day 11: Mosiah 5

Day 12: 3 Nephi 6

Day 13: 3 Nephi 8

Day 14: 3 Nephi 9

Day 15: 3 Nephi 11

Day 16: 3 Nephi 12

Day 17: 3 Nephi 13

Day 18: 3 Nephi 14

Day 19: 3 Nephi 15

Day 20: 3 Nephi 16

Day 21: 3 Nephi 17

Day 22: 3 Nephi 18

Day 23: 3 Nephi 28

Day 24: 4 Nephi

Day 25: Mormon 1

Day 26: Mormon 6

Day 27: Mormon 8

Day 28: Moroni 7

Day 29: Moroni 8

Day 30: Moroni 10

Queen Elizabeth II and Christian Faith

Verse: ‘Christ not only revealed to us the truth in his teachings. He lived by what he believed and gave us the strength to try to do the same – and, finally, on the cross, he showed the supreme example of physical and moral courage’, (Queen Elizabeth II).

Given the nature and timing of Her Majesty The Queen’s passing I thought it fitting to rearrange my planned upload for this week and instead focus on reflections around two of her main qualities in life; faith and service. Her understanding of Christianity was widely respected, with even those in high-ranking positions within the Church intimidated by her knowledge. As the Queen of the United Kingdom, she automatically held the title of Defender of the Faith. This, however, wasn’t a simple title and nothing more, she was incredibly passionate about her faith, both in private and in public, and regularly discussed theological topics. For her, as should be for us all, the perfect role model was none other than Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the cross. She regularly mentioned his teachings and life in her Christmas addresses and in various discourses throughout her long reign as Queen.

Her Christian faith deeply reflected itself in her life and character, her forgiving nature was perhaps no more obvious than when she shook hands with Martin McGuinness, the former IRA commander, in 2012. No matter where your allegiance lies in this highly contested issue, the fact remains that it was a moment that had the potential to change the course of history in this part of the world for the better. As the newspapers said in amazement, it was even more impressive considering that Prince Philip’s uncle had been assassinated by the IRA during the Troubles. The Queen has also been quoted as saying in one of her Christmas addresses, that Jesus Christ is ‘a role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance, and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none’.

The Queen, during her life, was indeed a living example of how a good Christian should live out their days in service and kindness for the betterment of all people. She did not use her strong Christian faith to oppress or diminish others, but instead used it as a foundation on which to love those who were different and to protect those who needed her assistance. Christianity, for her, was not simply being morally or ethically right and holding the spiritual truth as a beacon for others loudly proclaiming the Lord. No, it was following in Jesus’ footsteps as best she could, helping those who needed her help, visiting the oppressed or fearful, and ministering to her people all around the world. The kind and warm love she had for her people was mirrored in the way that they loved her, and now sadly mourn her passing. Let us seek to live up to her standard as we too are called to be Christians.

Praying Through The Psalms

Verse: ‘For God has willed to make Himself known to us in the mystery of the Psalms’, (Praying with the Psalms, Thomas Merton).

The Psalms, the collection of which is commonly referred to as the Psalter, are widely prayed by Christians and Jews alike throughout the world. These beautiful poems and hymns are considered to be a book of worship given to God’s people to use in their lives. Praying the Psalms helps us as followers of God to draw closer to Him. They, in the words of Thomas Merton, ‘make Himself known to us’; and draw us closer they certainly do. Since the start of Christianity, the Psalms have been used by devotees in their daily prayers. In some periods of time Psalters were so widely possessed that they were even used to help teach children to read.

The Book of Psalms can often be neglected by readers as it is tucked away in the depths of the Hebrew Bible, this is a great shame as many Christian denominations and traditions throughout history have placed a great deal of importance on it for good reason. Within the Cistercian tradition, for example, all 150 psalms are sung or recited every one or two weeks depending on the structure of worship. Within Orthodoxy and Protestantism there is a similar pattern of devotion centred around the Book of Psalms. These practices are not just for the monastic or members of the priesthood; the Book of Psalms was given to us all to use in walking our path with God. A practice which is my personal favourite is to pray all 150 psalms each month (depending on the number of days).

If we split up the Psalms into 30 days then 5 psalms must be recited or sung each day. To do this multiple the date by 5, for example the 13^th day of a month would be: 13 x 5 = 65. So, you would end that day’s reading on Psalm 65. Then go back by five psalms which would give you psalms 161-165 so you know where to begin. Already this is much more manageable than it may at first have seemed. With this method the daily psalm readings will always conclude with a number ending in 0 or 5.

I personally split this number into two in my morning prayer and three in my evening/night prayer. For months where there are less than 30 days, such as February with 28, simply stop on that day’s number and go back to Psalm 1 on the 1^st March instead. For months with 31 days repeat the psalms for day 30, which would be psalms 146-150. In this manner it is possible for devotees to pray the Psalms twelve times each year! A number which at first seems so impossible and daunting to some is really so simple to put into practice. There is something incredibly beautiful and unifying in praying the same psalms which have been recited by the faithful for thousands of years.

Holding In The Light

Verse: ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people’, (1 Timothy 2:1).

Before I came to the Community of Christ, I had spent several years with the Religious Society of Friends – commonly known as the Quakers – in a variety of geographical locations across England. There are many beautiful theological and practical methods that one can learn from this rich spiritual tradition which itself bases much of its identity on inclusivity and peace, so I was incredibly excited to see on the Community of Christ’s webpage an article on the Quaker practice of Holding in the Light which I will attach for anyone who is interested (https://cofchrist.org/holding-in-the-light/). The Community of Christ contributes its own take on this practice but for all intents and purposes the method, as well as theological and pastoral uses, are the same as those practiced within Meeting Houses all over the world.

The Quaker.org Glossary informs readers that “‘Holding another in the Light” is a way of expressing concern for God’s guidance and care for a person.’ It is used commonly in Quaker Meetings and the names of ill or suffering members are read out for the whole Meeting to Hold in the Light. As the CofC webpage states, the main aim of this type of communal prayer is to visualise those being prayed for held in the light or presence of God. This form of prayer is usually silent, with members of the congregation focussing on this visualisation of God’s light being directed on those being prayed for. It is usual for this form of intercessory prayer to last around ten or fifteen minutes, but can last longer if the congregation wishes. It is best to keep the time shorter if the congregation are new to this form of mental prayer.

For my own practice I find it beneficial to Hold in the Light those belonging to, and in, the country the Daily Prayer for Peace focusses on. This is a good way of holding true to the biblical command to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2:1). It is also a nice way of combining something important from my own faith tradition history with something that I feel is important in my current faith tradition. The Daily Prayer for Peace is in itself a witness to not only the Community of Christ’s commitment to peace, but of all those who pray with them. The Daily Prayer for Peace itself has a ritual to go alongside it each day, and the CofC routinely Tweets and uploads the customised prayer for each country. This means it is incredibly easy to know who we should be Holding in the Light. It is a joyous way to stop thinking in local and nationalistic ways but to think of and care about people all over the globe. It is a prayerful way of connecting us to each other and to those who may be in need.

Rejoice Always, Pray Continually

Verse: ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

We are commanded by Jesus to pray unceasingly. Many Christian traditions have puzzled over this biblical instruction for centuries, most famously perhaps those within the Orthodox faith. Their explorations have created many well-known works such as The Way of the Pilgrim, and their monks and nuns have been led to live and practice the way of the Hesychast which has seen a revival in monastic traditions in the last century or so. This instruction isn’t just for the hermit or monastic who can devote hours of each day solely to prayer and meditation. This commandment is for all who are followers of Jesus, all who follow in His footsteps and live His truth, all who call themselves Christians. So, the question remains, how can we as followers of Christ ‘be constant in prayer’ (Romans 12:12)?

It is known from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament that it was common for people to keep a prayer rule. Daniel prayed three times a day following the traditions of the Israelites (Daniel 6:10), as did King David (Psalm 55:16-17). In the Book of Mormon Amulek instructs his brethren to pray three times a day at morning, midday, and evening (Alma 34:21). Now that the times and frequency of established prayer are laid out the question is how, or what, should prayer be. The Lord’s Prayer can be found in both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4, 3 Nephi 13:9-13).

The Lord’s Prayer and its use in daily established prayer can interestingly also be found in a manuscript called the Didache. The Didache is a first century Christian treatise which contains significant similarities to the Gospel of Matthew. As well as containing another copy of the Lord’s Prayer (Didache 8:2) the manuscript instructs the early Christian community to pray it three times a day (Didache 8:3). This would be a good start for those who are looking to establish their own prayer rule, following the prayer Jesus Himself taught us and the examples of the early Christian community. Praying in the morning, noon, and evening also helps us break up our day and clear our minds to think about and remember God. Throughout the day we can also pray to God about our troubles or concerns, looking to Him for guidance (1 Peter 5:7).

For some they may also wish to add additional prayers into their rule depending on their own spiritual preferences, perhaps devotions such as Spiritual Communion, Daily Examen, Lectio Divina, the Jesus Prayer, etcetera. Creating a prayer rule is something incredibly personal and it is important to remember there are no wrong ways to pray. In everything we do we should be thankful and remember God (Colossians 4:2). In this manner, alongside our prayer rule, we can learn to pray without ceasing throughout our day and become constantly aware of God’s presence at all times.

Interfaith Dialogue And Unity Today

Verse: ‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’, (Romans 12:17-21).

To conclude this series of posts around the topic of unity and inclusivity I thought it fitting to acknowledge the good work that is being done by countless organisations, church denominations, religious/non-religious organisations, and individuals alike. Interfaith dialogue has seen a significant increase and many organisations have been formed to improve the capacity for good together. Some of these are the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), The Inter Faith Network (IFN), and the United Religions Initiative (URI). There are many more organisations and charities that are seeking to form friendships, union, and understandings with one another in slightly different ways, one example would be the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association (AECA).

Within the Bible there is a clear instruction for living in harmony, peace, and for helping everyone. The full bible verse of the one paraphrased at the start of this post is as follows:

‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay”, says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:17-21).

The reference to burning coals may at first appear problematic to notions of peace and goodwill, but a common interpretation for this is that they symbolise remorse and embarrassment. Through acts of peace, inclusivity, and unity will Zion be created. Not with violence, aggressive treatises and letters, religious gatekeeping, or any other mode or cause of division within society in the name of a religion or faith tradition.

As mentioned, in today’s society there are increased levels of interfaith dialogue occurring at local and international levels, and this is amazing. Many universities, prisons, and hospitals in the United Kingdom now have a chaplaincy team that consists of representatives of many different worldviews. Each of these chaplains work together in unity to help those in their care. Within the military there has been change to become more inclusive, although looking at chaplain job roles via the recruitment websites for all three services (RN, Army, RAF) there is still a need for a potential chaplain to be a member of a ‘Sending Church’. Other Chaplains do exist such as Imams but they are referred to as advisors within articles on the topic. Clearly the religious and spiritual support available in the military in the United Kingdom has significant room for improvement.

We, as Christians, as followers of Christ, should follow this example of unity. For too long theological or historical differences of opinion have segregated followers. When too much time is spent fortifying metaphorical walls and towers with essays of apologetics and letters of defence, we lose sight of God. Now is the time to unify under the collective mission of Christ on Earth; to help, to aid, and to support those less fortunate than ourselves. To establish Zion on Earth.

Part 3/3