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more on liturgical prayer
Here are a couple of paragraphs I've borrowed from our good friend Dave Nixon in Cincinnati. Dave has this on Vineyard Central's site, speaking of their practice of praying the "office." I thought this would be helpful..."The hyper-individualism and narcissism that have taken deep root in America have led to a current notion that the only good prayers are spontaneous, created on the spot and issuing from the unique persona of the one praying. Conversely, there's a pervasive sentiment that to recite the prayers of others is somehow less authentic, less real, and certainly less efficacious. It only takes a moment's reflection to see that both of these views are nonsense. The fact that Jesus memorized and prayed the Psalms, using them extensively in his teaching, should adequately squelch any doubts about the validity and helpfulness of praying 'second-hand' prayers." (Dave Nixon, someone who is almost famous.)
The effect of establishing fixed times in the day for centering attention on God is that your life starts to bend around these significant moments. A rhyme and pattern develop to your day, and the recital of meaningful prayers and psalms slowly fills an interior spiritual reservoir which carries you through the craziness of modern life with your head screwed on straight. You become, as the ancient poet says, "a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither."
I think those are very wise words from Father Dave. Good stuff to chew on as we try to go deeper into a life of liturgical prayer with one another. I've always used something similar to something he said there to describe, partly, how this kind of prayer helps me. I say it's good for keeping my head on straight. It provides focus points along the day. It's actually one way of stepping into that injunction to "pray without ceasing." Of course there are many forms of prayer: meditation, spontaneous, silent, spoken, praying in tongues, singing, and liturgical prayer. I don't think any of them are more "legitimate" than the others. Some are more or less useful for particular things and circumstances. We're talking about this form of prayer because it does act as a rhythm for community, for spiritual focus.
| posted by + Alan | 1:57 PM | 0 comments |
Friday, November 19, 2004
daily prayer
For a while some of us have been dipping to one degree or another into the fuller liturgical prayer life found in the liturgy of the hours. We use it as a basic structure in our meetings. It gives us a rhythm of Scripture and meditation. One of the huge things about being a community in the process of transformation like this is that rhythm I think. That's what I want to lead us into more. We talked about this not long ago again. I've ordered 5 copies of the Shorter Christian Prayer book you see there. It has the Morning and Evening and Night prayer, with special content for Christmas, Easter, etc. I believe there will be something deeply formational that will happen in us if we enter into this common prayer and reading discipline together as a community. We'll be feeding off the same Scriptures daily, praying the same basic prayers. I think we'll hear common things and be able to build each other up through it as well. I'll let you know when they come in. Some of us have them already. OK, that's enough for now. Peace.
| posted by + Alan | 11:02 AM | 3 comments |
Friday, November 12, 2004
some vision
I just got through typing a hand-numbingly long post on my blog about the need, or lack thereof, for large group meetings in churches, etc. One section of it was particularly using us as an example. I thought it might be good to share that part here - stokin' the fire!
...on the local level, more connectedness, even on an "official" level - meaning for instance, Vine & Branches Christian Community will eventually be several small communities who meet together weekly at different times and places, plus an urban monastic community household and a rural monastic community. Now, they will all probably meet together, the whole of the greater community, once a month (maybe). There will be a pastoral council, elders, priests, whatever you want to call them, who will, together, oversee the whole. Even if this whole number ends up being the grand number of 75 people, there will be no need for a staff level clergy. Most care and mutual ministry will be going on in the small core communities. I'm not saying this is the perfect way to set something up, just sharing what we will do. I do think it is a good way, and consistent with our beliefs about what a church is and what it is for and how it works.
| posted by + Alan | 11:07 AM | 1 comments |