This week’s content has brought me to reflect on how the context in which prayer and scripture reading are practiced effect how I understand my place or role in the body of Christ.  Until now my perception of prayer and scripture reading were as personal spiritual disciplines practiced in order to engage on a personal level with God.  Although I don’t want to disregard these ideas I want to honestly assess how they influence my relationship to God and to those around me.

In recent months I have been attending an Anglican worship service somewhat regularly and have been encouraged by the time designated to corporate prayer.  In these times I find that understanding my place (not in the sense of a particular role in the body but simply the realization the body is what I am a part of as a follower of Christ) in the body of Christ comes more naturally.  As the entire congregation engages in corporate prayer the sense of ‘me and God’ gives way to ‘us and God’ in a real and tangible way.  The requests for revelation, for understanding, for healing of the sick, and for the safety of those serving overseas become a concern of mine not so much as an individual but as a member of the body of Christ.  This is contrasted with a personal prayer life that whether conscious or not often orders the world as me and God and everyone else, sometimes resulting in arrogance or self-righteousness.  I wonder whether in my prayers my attitude more often reflects that of an outsider stepping in to help rather than a brother sharing the burden.

I find a similar thought pattern taking root in the practice of Scripture reading.  That in my practice of personal scripture reading I almost find myself as a third party observer, standing outside the event and analyzing it.  Drawing what I can from the story and allowing it affect my life to varying degrees.  I wonder whether in my personal reading of scripture I fail to identify with it.  Whether the reading of scriptures in community creates an environment where one can identify much more readily with the biblical story-line. Perhaps it is the simple fact that the stories of the nation of Israel, the disciples, or the early churches (all communities pursuing God) are easier to identify with as a community.  

Maybe I am just being reminded of God’s love for his bride and realizing that in my personal walk with God, ‘personal’ has come to mean more than it should.

 ”Forgetting brings death, but remembering brings life.”

This quote  opened the gates on a stream of thought that feels like it has been sitting on the tip of my brain for a while.  I have always held the idea of remembering Christ close to my heart, but it has tended to be more in terms of my own walk with God.    Remembering what I have seen, and what I have experienced and allowing God to speak through those times into the present.  However this quote took this idea of remembering and breathed new life into it.  I feel like the events on the Christian calendar have new importance to me.  Not only as an individual pursuing Christ, but as a member of the body of Christ, called to be a part of His community and to remember this story. I feel as though I have renewed excitement to celebrate the incarnation, the resurrection, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Christ’s body and blood given for us.  

But I also have renewed vision for celebration outside the holidays and seasons on the church calendar.  This week I have found myself thinking of who or what I can celebrate.  Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries etc.  What is next?  I find myself thinking of the various communities I am a part of and how each of these communities can celebrate the gifts and workings of God within themselves.  Where the entire church celebrates the story of Jesus Christ and honors God in remembering Lent, Easter, Christmas etc., I am reflecting on the moments where God’s presence was felt within my immediate family , within my extended family, or among my friends.  How can I remember God working in each of these communities.  How can we best celebrate it?  

Finally I begin to imagine what the alternative to celebration is (if there is one), or rather what the absence of celebration will eventually result in.  What forgetting will eventually do to a person.   What removing oneself from the story of ‘God with us’ does.  What forgetting the humble God, the self-sacrificing love of this God will result in.  In this context I feel like remembering and celebrating become even more significant.