Last Sunday we met for our “summer communion” service. Circumstances put us outdoors, in a picnic shelter. It was hot, but we were shaded and it was lovely to be together and surrounded by nature, by sacred creation..
Our presider was well-prepared and we experienced the tradition of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper and a familiar exploration of the scriptures. We’d been apart for a few weeks, as you know, and it was good to remember these important bits of our identity.
Of course, our conversation continued on Tuesday when our discussion group met. It was a good reminder of just how scripture has helped shape us as a group, as a congregation. It’s another area where we have been intentional about reinventing ourselves. We agreed with Affirmation One ( you can find it here Sharing in Community of Christ) that our first allegiance is to Jesus as the one to whom scripture points. But we have also found reason to agree with Affirmation Five, that scripture is “vital and essential to the church.” Not as a law book or code of conduct, but as a trustworthy anchor that nurtures a life of discipleship.
We don’t do lectionary sermons much in our little group but we try to remember to return regularly to scripture and we have often found in those “ancient words of scripture “ something revelatory for our time and place, something new, not seen or heard before.
Our presider was well-prepared and we experienced the tradition of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper and a familiar exploration of the scriptures. We’d been apart for a few weeks, as you know, and it was good to remember these important bits of our identity.
Of course, our conversation continued on Tuesday when our discussion group met. It was a good reminder of just how scripture has helped shape us as a group, as a congregation. It’s another area where we have been intentional about reinventing ourselves. We agreed with Affirmation One ( you can find it here Sharing in Community of Christ) that our first allegiance is to Jesus as the one to whom scripture points. But we have also found reason to agree with Affirmation Five, that scripture is “vital and essential to the church.” Not as a law book or code of conduct, but as a trustworthy anchor that nurtures a life of discipleship.
We don’t do lectionary sermons much in our little group but we try to remember to return regularly to scripture and we have often found in those “ancient words of scripture “ something revelatory for our time and place, something new, not seen or heard before.
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