Image by JESUS MAFA; source
collect/opening prayer reflection June 13 and week following [Common Worship CofE]
The collect from BCP (TEC):
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love,
that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness,
and minister your justice with compassion;
for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
You can share any comments as well as any resources, ideas, sermon-starters, children’s activities, hymns, prayers, etc. in the comments section below.
I’m afraid I’m not much of a churchgoer anymore … but I get as much or more spiritual edification spending a warm, sunny Sunday morning puttering around in my garden with a cup of herbal tea. Does that count? 🙂
You will need to be clearer, “count” for whom? You individually, God, your Christian community, your local community,…? If participating in community worship is solely for individual spiritual edification, then you are saying your new spiritual discipline is at least as if not more effective. If the gathering of the Christian community includes this and is also about other things – then the answer to your question is not so clear to me.
I’m sorry, Reverend, you’re right – it’s not very clear, is it? I found awhile ago that Church doesn’t seem to hold much of anything for me anymore, nor I for it. It was a mechanical thing I did every Sunday because I did it with my family as a child. My heart just wasn’t in it. I suppose I have felt a little guilty about discontinuing the ‘tradition’, and am wondering if it’s alright to find my own kind of spirituality like this. Now that I think about it, it ABSOLUTELY counts for me – it gives me joy to share the harvest with friends, family, and our local food bank … it has spiritual meaning for me. But does it count with God? I’m not sure … I guess that’s what my question is about more than anything. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about this, Reverend, I appreciate it! 🙂
Thanks for your candid comment. Sadly, I have been to far, far too many services where, if that was all that was available, I also would not consider participating again. Worship appearing to be a mechanical routine. Those experiences are part of what motivated/motivates me to put energy into this site – that we find ways to help in leading and participating in worship. What some churches do is scandalous; others are just very bad; but there are also some communities that, if I was living nearby, I would be there as often as possible! With a community like that, I would hope I would still find my private spiritual time in whatever would be the equivalent of the garden, complemented by the community participation. Both-and, rather than either-or.
You’ve done a lovely job on this site – it has provided a lot of support for someone like me, who finds herself in rather a solitary position at present. Sister Sandra’s lecture caught my eye this morning – it’s been really interesting to read so far 🙂
I visited the Chapel as well. It is Sunday here in Canada, after all 🙂 Thank you, Reverend! 🙂 I hope your coming week is blessed! 🙂