Reflecting on Community

An important aspect of my Lenten reflection has been focused on evaluating my parish internship experience and looking forward to what a future parish assignment might bring. In light of my formation as a member of Middleham and St. Peter’s for twenty five years, I have come to recognize the most important factor in the church equation for me is community. The two most significant examples of community I’ve ever experienced were through Middleham and St. Peter’s.

The winter of 2009-2010 when my husband had his heart surgery, the support through community that I received was what sustained me during that time of fear, stress, and a complete overhaul of my mindset of Tim’s mortality. The prayers, visits, food, and people staying with him while I was in Baltimore, and not able to be home, are just some of the ways that people poured out their love. The most moving of all was the delivery of a prayer shawl to the hospital just prior to his coming out of surgery, so that when he woke up it was covering him. Knowing that loving hands had made it and so many people had prayed over it gave me great comfort.

The most significant spiritual experience I ever had came through the community that developed among those who served on the search committee as we looked for a new rector, resulting in calling Father David. That group was led by the spirit. Such a strong sense of community was felt among the members, that there is no doubt in my mind that it was God’s will that Father David be among us.

Interestingly, community spirituality is a Biblical concept. The story of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures is more about the community’s relationship with God than about individual relationship with God. Surely they would have developed a keen sense of community as they wandered through the desert for forty years.

In the New Testament, Paul uses the expression in Christ frequently as the image of life in a community that is centered in Christ. These communities were small and intimate groups who met in small spaces where only 10-15 could gather.

The sharing of food marked these Spirit centered communities. Not really so different from our gatherings today. We socialize around pot luck, serve food for meetings, and most importantly are fed from the Holy Table at the Eucharist.

Community makes our sorrows easier to bear and joy more complete. As we enter into Holy Week, we can be mindful of the love that surrounds us in this community. It is a precious gift.

Nancy Wakeman

Lent, with a Twist

So, what are you afraid of? I’m sure the list is extremely varied and lengthy. I am also sure that none of us is afraid of everything, a diagnosis that Lucy gives to Charlie Brown at her five-cent psychiatry stand in A Charlie Brown Christmas. She says he has pantaphobia. Actually, pantaphobia means “absolute fearlessness,” the fear of nothing. Panphobia is the fear of everything. It would not be a good thing to be afraid of everything or afraid of nothing. From phobias to monsters under the bed, I’m guessing we all fall somewhere in between. Now that I have you contemplating what you might be afraid of, the true point of this letter is to get you thinking about Lent, with a twist.

Just as Advent prepares us for Christmas and the birth of Christ, the purpose of Lent is to prepare us for Easter and the death of Christ. It is usually a time of sacrifice, repentance and reflection. Traditionally Lent is a time for us to give up something. I have found that giving up something for 40 days is very doable, but once the 40 days are over, I usually revert to incorporating whatever I have given up back into my life. This year, I think we should give up something that may just change our lives permanently.

So, take stock of your life. What are your bad habits or things you want to change? I have heard that it takes 21 days to change a habit. That gives us 19 extra days to work with. What do you want to change? What are you afraid of? Can you face that fear and change it? It has been said that our ultimate fear is the fear of death. Don’t fear that this is going to be a psychological diatribe about fearing death. It’s not. Suffice it to say that Jesus came to reconcile us with God, free us from the fear of death and dying and give us the assurance of eternal life. That’s why we pass through Lent and celebrate Easter.

While we think about change and fear during Lent, let’s take death off the table and concentrate on something else. For Lent I think you should consider changing how you feel about the negativity in life and search for the positive. Don’t hate, love. Don’t panic, take a deep breath. Don’t think differences are bad, embrace them. Don’t let fear guide you, make an effort to understand what you are afraid of. Don’t judge someone or something based on ignorance, learn about it. You might be surprised to see that your fears are unfounded and that your life can be enriched by your new found knowledge. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Be brave. Find the courage to face something you fear and give it up for Lent.

Joan Shisler