What are spiritual practices – Page 2 – Community Circle Europe

All Are Welcome At Christ’s Table

Verse: ‘…he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile’, (2 Nephi 26:33).

Welcome to the second part of the blog posts focussing on inclusivity and unity within the Church. Often churches of various denominations will focus on the fact that everyone is a child of God and therefore is called to God, often followed by a call to conversion into that particular strand of Christianity. In fact, for a sizeable number of denominations, certain sacraments are closed off unless one should convert. For example, Communion. If all are welcome to come to God, and share and partake in Christ and His message, why do we as humans see fit to restrict this gift?

There is a focus on inclusivity and openness within the Community of Christ. Set in the Enduring Principles are examples of this. With Grace and Generosity we are expected to share our sacraments according to our true capacity. All Are Called to follow Jesus Christ and become His disciples. The Worth of All Persons calls us to God as equals, for all people have inestimable and equal worth. If all people are of equal worth, then how is it possible for some to be allowed at His table and others not? How can some be welcomed into a church community and others ostracised based on opinions of worldview, culture, sexuality, gender identity, etc? Instead, all are welcome to come to Christ, and experience Communion should they wish.

Within the Community of Christ the invitation to Communion begins with this premise. That all are welcome and all are equal:

‘All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ’, Invitation to Communion, Community of Christ.

For many the Lord’s Supper is the most important moment within a church service, whether one prescribes to notions of transubstantiation or views it simply as symbolic, many will testify of its importance. It can often be hurtful and discouraging to attend collective worship only to be turned away at this pivotal moment. One of the most inclusive aspects of the Community of Christ for myself is the openness and welcoming nature of their Communion Service. As we can see in the invitation above, all are welcome to participate whether baptised or not, members or not. To be able to participate wholly in a group setting such as that is an incredible blessing and a true depiction of Christ’s love for all.

Part 2/3

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?