Dear All,
Today we are sending you some material around the theme of community, coming together, giving and receiving from each other. In our age maybe zoom helps us to be together with others as well as when we are physically close. Perhaps we can experience something of community via Saturday Reflections – there are a big number of us & reflecting on the same theme, material, and blessing regularly is, I think, a form of community.
‘My Peace’ is our blessing this week – let us pray for that peace to be more fully experienced by people in areas of conflict across our world. It comes from Keith Duke‘s CD ‘Sacred Dance’.
Love to you all, Margaret & Moira.
Information:
Zoomed Evening Prayer: there are some days coming up when it isn’t possible for us to zoom – ie Monday 22 June, Friday 3 July (Community only), Sunday 5 July, Friday 3 July (Community only). We will remind you again nearer the time.
Community Keeps the Flame of Hope Alive
Christian community is the place where we keep the flame of hope alive among us and take it seriously so that it can grow and become stronger in us. In this way we can live with courage, trusting that there is a spiritual power in us when we are together that allows us to live in this world without surrendering to the powerful forces constantly seducing us toward despair. That is how we dare to say that God is a God of love even when we see hatred all around us. That is why we can claim that God is a God of life even when we see death and destruction and agony all around us. We say it together. We affirm it in each other. Waiting together, nurturing what has already begun, expecting its fulfilment – that is the meaning of marriage, friendship, community, and the Christian life.
Henri Nouwen
GATHERED TOGETHER
There is a time for being alone
To enjoy one’s stillness with God,
To feel his spirit brooding
And growing in intensity.
To be alone and not lonely,
Pacing the bedsitter of the soul.
There is a time for assembling together,
Not just obeying a herd instinct.
But urged on by amazing assurance
That Christ will dwell in the midst of us.
When one sole companion gathers with me,
To break together with me,
To break together the divine bread
That proceeds from the mouth of God,
No wonder, Lord, that you are the power house;
You have promised to be the centre.
Author unknown
Lessons From The Geese by Angeles Arrien
FACT 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
FACT 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help others.
FACT 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
FACT 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of other) is the quality of honking we seek.
FACT 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.
Notice what you care about.
Assume that many others share your dreams.
Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.
Talk to people you know.
Talk to people you don’t know.
Talk to people you never talk to.
Be intrigued by the differences you hear.
Expect to be surprised.
Treasure curiosity more than certainty.
Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.
Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.
Know that creative solutions come from new connections.
Remember you don’t fear people whose story you know.
Real listening always brings people closer together.
Trust that meaningful conversation can change your world.
Rely on human goodness.
Stay together.
~Margaret Wheatley, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future (2002)