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 spoke words of thankfuness.
Today, the invitation is to give thanks for a church family.
Today, I reflect on my gratitude for being embedded in a single church family for twenty years. Although it's common nowadays to challenge one's Christian faith and reconsider church affiliations, I am thankful for the blessing of being involved in a community that is committed to fostering and deepening our faith together.
Being part of the same church family for twenty years has not equated to an uncomplicated journey. To think so would be a gross oversimplification of the last two decades. The church previously operated on an attractional model, where growth was quantified through numerical data. The formula was straightforward: larger numbers signified greater success. However, the church recognized the limitations of this approach, and I was brought in to shift the focus toward measuring success through spiritual growth. This transition was fraught with challenges. Some thought they were better leaders, superior communicators, and more deserving of being the lead pastor of the church. Some grew disenchanted with the spiritual formation model and wanted to return to bigger + more = better.
Years have passed, and I find myself still leading a transformative church where lives are being transformed. When people inquire about my endurance, I often chuckle and respond, “I remained; they chose to leave.” While that holds some validity, the true reason for my perseverance lies in this church. At its core, the church embodies a deep yearning to be an authentic community where we can collectively discover the journey toward a more profound, life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Today, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the chance to be part of a faith family for the last 20 years. This community has nurtured my spiritual growth and has supported my development as a leader. They have given me the opportunity to make mistakes and learn valuable lessons from them. As they have placed their trust in me as a spiritual guide, I have also come to trust them as a community. Our journey may be filled with challenges, but I treasure every moment we spend together as we pursue a deeper connection with Jesus.
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The Eucharist-O for Saturday, November 16, 2024
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.
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.
Eucharist-O