September 20, 2018
“Discernment during transition”
At the congregational meeting on Sept. 9th I stressed the importance of discernment as we make plans for our future. Discernment is simply praying: asking God to show us the way forward. We believe that God is active in our world, and discernment tunes us in to what God is up to.
My suggestion is to begin with small groups.
Ask 2-4 people to join you for an hour of prayer. The best way to start is simply pray together! This reminds us that we are not alone in this process and we invite God to be present with us. There are many ways to pray: the Lord’s Prayer, silently, petitions asking God to help others, pray a Psalm or a hymn, sing, responsive prayer, use prayers of spiritual masters, etc…
Remember what Bill Wilson said about Spiritual Discernment…“Spiritual discernment begins by admitting we do not have the solutions. Spiritual discernment invites thinking, praying and reflecting at a level that most of us studiously avoid. [it] is messy, often slow and extremely complicated. Most churches want neat, quick and simple.”
A great spiritual leader of the past once said that the first step on a great journey is done on our knees.
An old shoe commercial encouraged us to “just do it”! That is the same instruction for praying together…just do it. Just take some time to open yourself to listen to God.
May you know the richness of God’s blessings!
Pastor Mike
“Discernment during transition”
At the congregational meeting on Sept. 9th I stressed the importance of discernment as we make plans for our future. Discernment is simply praying: asking God to show us the way forward. We believe that God is active in our world, and discernment tunes us in to what God is up to.
My suggestion is to begin with small groups.
Ask 2-4 people to join you for an hour of prayer. The best way to start is simply pray together! This reminds us that we are not alone in this process and we invite God to be present with us. There are many ways to pray: the Lord’s Prayer, silently, petitions asking God to help others, pray a Psalm or a hymn, sing, responsive prayer, use prayers of spiritual masters, etc…
Remember what Bill Wilson said about Spiritual Discernment…“Spiritual discernment begins by admitting we do not have the solutions. Spiritual discernment invites thinking, praying and reflecting at a level that most of us studiously avoid. [it] is messy, often slow and extremely complicated. Most churches want neat, quick and simple.”
A great spiritual leader of the past once said that the first step on a great journey is done on our knees.
An old shoe commercial encouraged us to “just do it”! That is the same instruction for praying together…just do it. Just take some time to open yourself to listen to God.
May you know the richness of God’s blessings!
Pastor Mike