A Year of Discernment

This Sunday we gather to make some decisions about the future of our community. We’ve come so far in such a short time and there is still a great deal of work to be done. Over the past few months I have been besieged with the concept of discernment. Along with hospitality, it is one of the significant traits of a vibrant faith community. We’ve been pretty good at getting clear about what we like and dislike, what we want and what we want to avoid, what we think and what we oppose. That’s normal but it’s not the whole picture, especially for a church, because it doesn’t consider what God wants. (Note that there may be a significant difference between what I/we desire and what God has in mind for us…yikes!) Now it is time for the next step. Discernment has the potential to take us beyond the “I-questions” and asks the “God-questions.” This process unfolds through reflection, prayer, questions, and community. So on Sunday we will begin “A Year of Discernment” in which we will learn some skills to help us discover God’s will together as we seek to become what/who God wants us to be. Here are a few ideas that I’ve had that might help us to make a start in this:

• During the summer months, we will attempt to introduce a more contemplative feel to our worship.
• The new mission committee will begin by taking a day of retreat to deepen their commitment to spiritual leadership within the community and to learn more about the process of discernment.
• The parish will plan a retreat day in the fall to explore this topic.
• Our Bible Study will begin to discuss the scriptures in light of hearing God’s word to us here and now.
• The practice of Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Friendship will be addressed within our Adult Forum.
• We will consider adding a mid-week/midday prayer time to our scheduled events.

Please pray about it and consider ways in which we might grow more deeply into God’s dream for us.

Blessings, Peter