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Community Worship
Sep. 25th, 2005 04:11 pmThis morning I returned to worship with the local Swedenborgian congregation for the first time in over a year. It is a 30-40 minute drive to get there from my home, and for a long time I simply did not have the energy on Sunday mornings. Besides, while I was attending seminary, it fulfilled my need for involvement in spiritual community. But since I'm on a leave from school right now, I don't have that community, and I've been missing it.
It was good to be back, welcomed with hugs and friendly questions about where I'd been and what I've been doing, with lots of gasps of surprise and admiration about how my daughter is growing up. I was invited to take part in the opening ritual, which is always a pleasure. It is a very small congregation, with only 20-30 people (at most) there on any given Sunday, so it's not a place where one can slip in and out without being noticed.
Each Sunday, the service begins with centering, then group singing, then a welcome, a children's message, and then the children are dismissed to Sunday School. Then there is the official 'opening ritual.'
The altar is set with a closed Bible, a center candle, and four smaller candles. Two people from the congregation come forward. One opens the Bible and says, "We open the Bible, one of many sacred writings in the world, as a symbol that God's Word is open and available to all." Then there is a quotation from one of the world's sacred scriptures or spiritual elders.
This morning, I read the words of an Australian Aboriginal elder who spoke of the Dreamtime. The last words were: "Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love. . . and then we return home." I found it particularly lovely to be given those words today since my studies over the past few months have been focused on shamanism.
Then the center candle is lit with these words: "We light the flame to remind us that the light of Divine Wisdom and the warmth of Divine Love are ever present." Followed by another quotation. [According to Swedenborgian doctrine, Love and Wisdom are the two fundamental attributes of God.]
The four outer candles are lit to the following words, each then followed by a quotation.
"We honor the good and truth found in all spiritual traditions."
"We honor and support the variety of individual paths which together make our one spiritual community."
"We honor an enlightened Christianity found in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who wrote. . . "
"We honor and provide an open and safe place for all who seek a greater understanding and a life of deepening spirituality."
( This morning's quote from Swedenborg sums up very nicely why, if I identify myself with any Christian denomination, I identify as Swedenborgian. )
For our closing ceremony, we stand and form a circle with joined hands. Names are offered and repeated by the group as a prayer, and then we close with a simple benediction song sung to the tune of Eidelweiss. The song is particularly special to me because it was also frequently used as a closing hymn in the church where I grew up. This morning as I started to sing, I felt the tie going back to those roots. I would never have expected to find myself where I am today, spiritually speaking -- but I also know that if I went back to that church where I grew up, I would also be greeted with love and with friendly questions. I'm sure the reactions to where I am now in my spiritual life would be mixed, but I am also sure that most of them would do their best to try to understand, out of love.
It was good to be back, welcomed with hugs and friendly questions about where I'd been and what I've been doing, with lots of gasps of surprise and admiration about how my daughter is growing up. I was invited to take part in the opening ritual, which is always a pleasure. It is a very small congregation, with only 20-30 people (at most) there on any given Sunday, so it's not a place where one can slip in and out without being noticed.
Each Sunday, the service begins with centering, then group singing, then a welcome, a children's message, and then the children are dismissed to Sunday School. Then there is the official 'opening ritual.'
The altar is set with a closed Bible, a center candle, and four smaller candles. Two people from the congregation come forward. One opens the Bible and says, "We open the Bible, one of many sacred writings in the world, as a symbol that God's Word is open and available to all." Then there is a quotation from one of the world's sacred scriptures or spiritual elders.
This morning, I read the words of an Australian Aboriginal elder who spoke of the Dreamtime. The last words were: "Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love. . . and then we return home." I found it particularly lovely to be given those words today since my studies over the past few months have been focused on shamanism.
Then the center candle is lit with these words: "We light the flame to remind us that the light of Divine Wisdom and the warmth of Divine Love are ever present." Followed by another quotation. [According to Swedenborgian doctrine, Love and Wisdom are the two fundamental attributes of God.]
The four outer candles are lit to the following words, each then followed by a quotation.
"We honor the good and truth found in all spiritual traditions."
"We honor and support the variety of individual paths which together make our one spiritual community."
"We honor an enlightened Christianity found in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who wrote. . . "
"We honor and provide an open and safe place for all who seek a greater understanding and a life of deepening spirituality."
( This morning's quote from Swedenborg sums up very nicely why, if I identify myself with any Christian denomination, I identify as Swedenborgian. )
For our closing ceremony, we stand and form a circle with joined hands. Names are offered and repeated by the group as a prayer, and then we close with a simple benediction song sung to the tune of Eidelweiss. The song is particularly special to me because it was also frequently used as a closing hymn in the church where I grew up. This morning as I started to sing, I felt the tie going back to those roots. I would never have expected to find myself where I am today, spiritually speaking -- but I also know that if I went back to that church where I grew up, I would also be greeted with love and with friendly questions. I'm sure the reactions to where I am now in my spiritual life would be mixed, but I am also sure that most of them would do their best to try to understand, out of love.
