by Melissa Millis
We’ve officially entered the 50 day period in the Church calendar known as Eastertide, or the Paschal season. In it, we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus while awaiting the observance of Jesus’ physical departure from Earth - the Ascension - and the imparting of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
In many ways, we continue to live in the waiting - in the tension we heavily experienced last week, stepping out of Lent and into Easter. We’re well acquainted with waiting, which stirs many feelings deep in our beings. Waiting isn’t easy!
Take a moment to read the longer ending of Mark 16.9-18. What do you hear Jesus saying to you as you wait? Over the next few weeks, I encourage you to re-read this text until we arrive at the Ascension (observed on Thursday, May 21st).
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We await A LOT of things these days. In this world where God can easily seem absent, we might be asking ourselves, “where is the Spirit?!”
As we search for, and grow in attunement to, the Spirit (a fancy way to refer to prayer), also consider meditating on the words of Jesus in John 14.15-31 during this season. Take a moment even now to read the passage.
In what ways do Jesus’ words bring challenge? In what ways do they bring comfort?
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We continue to gather in community, albeit differently. We are faced with both challenges and small graces as we discover and embody the love of Jesus, growing in attunement with the Spirit who brings about community through joining God in mission - the outworking of the reign of God among us. As we Gather over this season leading up to Pentecost (observed Sunday, May 31st), we’ll consider key aspects of communitas as the foundation of the smallest units - the base - of our church family.
Communitas is the “Latin noun for the spirit of community, typically those groups that form beyond regular institutions and organizations and create a profound sense of equality and togetherness....a movement of some sort of spirit in which people discover that solidarity is possible. Some sociologists have noted that communitas has spiritual or sacred dimensions through which people overcome division and achieve a new sense of identity and purpose.” (Diana Butler Bass, Grounded)
We are discovering solidarity in the midst of this pandemic - amongst our neighbors, co-workers, one another, and beyond. The Spirit moves among us, extending the invitation to join the work of God in the world, giving a sense of identity and purpose.
For many of us, the Spirit probably seems the most mysterious or unknown person of the Trinity. It’s hard to be ready for Pentecost, much less attuned to the Spirit and know how to respond, when we narrowly define our experience and understanding of the Spirit. So, each week we’ll read one of the lectionary texts for the day and consider a prayer practice as we explore a different aspect of the Spirit, stretching our understanding and wrestling with our experiences. Of course, we’ll only be scratching the surface.
Today’s text is 1 Peter 1.3-9. Get comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Take your time reading it.
What a timely text, as the world goes through such trying times. This is the good news: God graces us with mercy - kindness that meets us in our misery and affliction - standing in solidarity with us!
We are given new birth. In the Greek, these words refer to the changing of one’s mind and living life anew and in faith, conformed to the will of God. We might call this salvation by allegiance to Christ. We are born again (see John 3). This is a gift, an inheritance that will never perish. It is a faith that is refined - but not consumed - as we journey through life and encounter various trials.
This is living hope through the resurrection! In this great hope, we rejoice.
As a worshipping community, we regularly remember our salvation as we come together around the Lord’s table - confessing the lordship of Christ among us - with an unspeakable and indescribably joy. No matter where, with whom, or with how many we gather, we are connected to the universal Church - an ever-growing and deepening reality of communion with God and fellow human beings, through the Spirit.
Together, we exalt the Lord, giving thanks for a living hope. This is not a dismissal of the trails! It is finding ourselves in the presence of Christ our Lord, able to rejoice in the solidarity of God with us. And sometimes, we rejoice if even for just a moment!
It is the presence of Christ - the Spirit among us - that brings us into community, with God and one another. Oftentimes we know it because we sense it….even in the midst of misery and affliction. Our spirit groans with the Spirit and also rejoices with the Spirit in ordinary experiences of joy. Today, let’s consider the Spirit as joy - communal joy - stepping into a divine dance with the Spirit.
Given the circumstances, we might feel resistant to experiencing the Spirit as joy. And that’s ok! Together, let’s lean in and see where God takes us, also recognizing that this will not be an easy practice for most of us! Imagine how our faith might grow and how the love of Jesus might be embodied through us as we rejoice in the Lord, because as Jesus said in Matthew 18.20,
for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Amen.
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Below, and in the Guide to Pentecost, is the prayer practice for the week. As you engage in this prayer practice, consider:
how might the Spirit nudge you this week to join in mission - in the reign of God in the world?
As we gather this week - virtually or in person - may we experience the Spirit as joy, even if just for a moment. God graces us with mercy - kindness that meets us in our misery and affliction - standing in solidarity with us.
Christ is Risen!
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Prayer Practice: Rejoicing Prayer and the Holy Spirit as Joy
(adapted from A Guidebook to Prayer by Morse)
Partner Experience (we’ll engage after communal liturgy on Zoom):
Spend time giving thanks - as short prayers - for each area: (1) God and the saints; (2) difficulties and trials; (3) family and friends; (4) community, nation and world. Allow enough time for reflection and verbal prayers in each area. We’re not praying for answers or guidance or intercession, simply giving thanks.
Converse about how the call to “rejoice always” might become part of daily life. How might the Spirit of Joy be inviting you to express gratitude?
Individual Experience:
Spend at least ten minutes actually giving thanks each day; make a list for each day below and name them out loud, giving thanks as specifically as possible; consider singing before or after your times of prayer:
Day one: Give thanks for God and for people who have influenced you in your faith over the years
Day two: Give thanks for difficult circumstances. This will not be easy. Make a list of the primary circumstances, reflecting on how you were shaped and how you grew in faith because of the situations. Then rejoice as authentically as you can.
Day three: Give thanks for friends and family. Think about how these relationships have influenced you, how they have loved and cared for you.
Day four: Give thanks for your neighbors, community and government. Bless them by speaking words of peace over them. This is not the time to pray about all the things that are not going right, but for rejoicing as God calls us to do.
Journal about your experience. At the end, consider sharing with a companion what you’ve learned.
At the end of the week, reflect on how rejoicing prayer is linked to praying without ceasing. How might you incorporate rejoicing into your daily life?
Kid Friendly Experience: Help your child fill out this gratitude journal each day. Have a conversation about the things to be grateful for each day and the great things that stick with us till the next day. Chat about happiness and how it is okay if we aren’t really happy all the time. Ask them, “how can we rejoice, even when we aren’t happy?”