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the community blog of vine & branches christian community - a journal of who we are and what we're going through as a community of faith
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how does it work?
I had a really good conversation the other day with good friends (and vbcc advisory council members) Aaron Klinefelter and Pete Matthews. We had some free time during the day when Aaron was in town and ended up talking about all manner of very helpful things concerning our communities and how they function. As these things go, we ended up helping each other hone how we think of how things work.
One of the questions thrown out and discussed heavily was, "how does it work?" Sounds general. I guess it is. It's an overarching question, the answer to which is extremely important. I think part of the discussion was surrounding "mission" - a church "being on mission in the world" and what that means, and more importantly, how that works itself out in our respective communities. If anyone saw my model of the church quiz results, that will give you a big clue as to how I answer these questions. You'll also perhaps have noticed that this is how I have tried to lead this community. Short answer - being on mission is not about activism necessarily, but primarily about presence and being.
Now, we can flesh that out forever. We will I guess, forever, but not all right now. I do want to put maybe a little more face on these concepts for us though if you'll indulge me. What is our modus operandi as a faith community? What IS the "job" as a faith community? To answer the second question first, our "job" is to be a vehicle of transformation for those who are a part of it - the workshop, if you will, in which we are rebuilt into new beings. That's what God wants. He wants us all to be new beings. That's the whole point - the WHOLE and entire point! OK, I'll calm down. And then, and then, and then everything else flows out of that transformational reality, out of us as new beings in Christ, for real. I say "for real" because it's often stated in a way that we are only in Christ or new persons as a matter of faith in some mental way or some other way that has no teeth. This is NOT what's happening in us. Real change is taking place, as we allow it to take place, in us.
Some would say it like this: we are here to make disciples. OK, that's fine, just know what that means when you say it. There is a deep meaning to that and that's what we talk about all the time. And I'll keep talking about it and trying to live it. Some say that we are primarily here for the world. I'm fine with wanting to serve people out of love and want others to have the life of God in them. Of course. But here's our M.O. in these matters: GOD is here for the world. GOD's deal is, He created something in union with Himself - it was just here - we were just here, being in union with GOD. All was well. Now, we're operating in a broken tank.
Wow, this is getting far too long. What am I trying to say? How does it work with us - with Vine & Branches? It basically works like this. We are. We are a small group of people who are walking this thing out together. We have stepped into the ancient liturgy of the Church. We meet together and pray and build each other up and receive Grace through the Word and through the Eucharist and through one another. We are encouraged to pray together when we're apart. We maintain a posture of being here for one another. We build relationships, not through programs but organically. We open ourselves to spiritual direction from one another and from the pastoral role. We have jobs and lives that we live in the world (where else are we going to live them?). So we have the life of God in us and are being transformed into His Image. As this happens in our context, we are more and more the Presence of God, of Christ, in the world. We are a Sacrament among those who don't see it yet. We are an avenue of God's Grace - BECAUSE we are being made in His Image - NOT because we decided to do an outreach project. Presence and Being.
Our mode of operation as far as "discipleship" goes (some people's language) is simple - being a part of the community, doing what the community does, and continuing to be a part of it and do those things - continue to be in relationship, open yourself. That's the model. That's where it happens. As we are a part of this thing and participate in it, and as much as we put ourselves in it, we change, we're transformed. That IS intentional. It is certainly not programmatic and may, at times, not look like anything. Well, that's how it goes I guess. We keep on going. Please keep on going. That's all for today. That's enough I guess. Grace and Peace to you.
| posted by + Alan | 9:27 AM | 0 comments |
Monday, July 25, 2005
eucharist
Eucharist - Greek for Thanksgiving. For us it is a Sacrament, which can be called an "avenue of grace." It's a tangible (touchable) way through which we receive real and active Grace from God in this life. There are many Christian traditions who have either done away with this all-together or who have watered it down to such a degree that it has little meaning or purpose in the life of the believer. We talked last night a bit about the real, mystical stuff of which our life in Christ is made - that we are a part of that in a way we cannot fully understand. Well, this sacramental avenue of touching that Life is also something we can't fully understand, but we have been implicitly asked to have faith that it is real - that His Presence to us in and through it is indeed Real and gives us real help on our journey to union with Him.
I looked at this picture I took yesterday and felt like encouraging you about the Eucharist. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we receive Christ in the sacrament: He Loves us - that's what it's all about. He has given Himself to us and asks us to receive Him continually. It has real mystical meaning and substance. I encourage us as a community to receive it as real and give thanks for what He has and is giving us as we do. It's not about you being "worthy" to receive it. If you have some faith in Jesus, realize your brokenness and His ability to put you back together - if you are coming to Jesus in receiving the sacrament, then do it. We're all unworthy. Worthiness is not an issue. The passage in Scripture speaking of such things is speaking more, as I see it, about whether or not we recognize the Body of Christ that we are a part of and Him being the Center of it. Come to Christ and receive healing and forgiveness and strength and courage and Life. Peace be with you.
| posted by + Alan | 3:57 PM | 4 comments |
Friday, July 22, 2005
On the Liturgy of the Hours
In praying the Office, I'm being trained to quit trying to "get something out of" my reading of Scripture. It is a regular, daily practice, to be engaged in whether I feel like it or not. The Scripture reads me, and I sit with it, whether I'm in the mood for it or not. When it's done, I can trust that this is indeed part of being transformed by the renewing of my mind, whether I "feel" transformed or not.
Several friends responded to my post on the Office with thoughts of their own that are worth reading.
Bryan: testimony and resources
Peter: "...prayer and God's Word are bigger than me and what I'm feeling today."
A.: "Let it wash over me"
| posted by Kyle | 4:20 PM | 0 comments |