Eucharist-O
I’m offering you a practice that can become a habit, a way of life, a lifestyle, as your connection with Jesus grows deeper. I call the habit Eucharist-O. The name is a playful adaptation of the Greek word eucharisteo, used by the gospel writer Luke to describe what Jesus did during the last supper with his companions. Before he made the ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual freedom, he took bread and eucharisteo — he expressed his thanks.
The rhythm of this practice is simple:
First, a centering word about thankfulness and gratefulness
Second, a centering scripture
Third, an invitation to be still for a few moments before returning to the day’s activities.
Today, the invitation is to give thanks for a church family.
I’ve been rooted in one church family for the past 20 years. In a world where people are proudly deconstructing faith, I’ve been part of a church family that is growing in its faith. In a world where people are proudly leaving church, I’ve been part of a church family that values being a church. These may sound like simple, inconsequential things; they’re not. I give thanks today for a chance to know, and be known, by one family of faith for 20 years! They have given me space to grow, recover from mistakes, and learn how to present the gospel more meaningfully. They’ve grown to trust me as a guide. They’ve grown in trust of one another. Sometimes it’s messy, but I love every minute of the journey we’ve been on together to a richer, life-altering relationship with Jesus.
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The Eucharist-O for Saturday, November 16, 2024
First: A Centering Word
What to do: read the anonymous words three or four times. Pause and breath between each reading. Pay attention to what draws your attention. What are you seeing? What are you believing? What are you doubting?
Next: Read Psalm 122:1
What to do: Read the scripture words three or four times. Pay attention to what is stirring inside of you. What are you seeing? What are you believing? What are you doubting? What are you feeling? What questions are being raised?
Next: Be Still
What to do: Before returning to your full day, sit in stillness for a few moments. Your soul and imagination were possibly drawn to a word, a memory, a feeling, or a word picture in the words you read. Wherever you were drawn, be there for a few moments. Pay attention to the stirrings deep within, the questions that are forming, or the words that want to be spoken. Give your soul the gift of a few moments of stillness to let memories, questions, words, and prayers form.
Before returning to your day, let what is stirring inside become a conversation with God. The conversation, whatever its mood, is a form of prayer and communication with God who has been waiting for this moment all day.