The Way of Love
The Way of Love Step 7: Go
The 7th step on the Way of Love is GO. To go means to move, leave or depart from one place to another. A second definition is to pass into a specified state, another way of being. Every week after receiving communion, we pray this prayer, or another form of this prayer:
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We come to church to be fed spiritually in many ways, and we are then called to go out and feed others. The act of going looks different for each of us. At times, it means placing our hearts in a place of prayer and study. At other times, it means literally going to be a part of a mission or ministry in another place, such as Under the Bridge, Snack Pak 4 Kids, Meals on Wheels, taking communion or altar flowers to someone who is suffering or unable to get to church. Going may mean making a hospital visit, leading the Sunday service at Park Lane or Mission Road, participating in a mission trip, or even prayerfully making a vocational shift or to look at our vocation differently as a ministry.
Sometimes we answer God’s call immediately and at other times, we spend time in prayer and reflection. Often we feel ready, while at others we drag our feet, wondering what in the world God is up to in our lives. But if it is a call, God will keep calling us in different ways, slowly turning our hearts to God’s desire for our lives. Remember, we ask God to send us out, to call us to go, and be used for instruments of peace, love, and light wherever and however we are sent. Sometimes God calls us to go far, such as to New York and at other times, very close. God promises to equip us and be present with us as we go. Whether it is near or far, we are never alone when we say yes to God’s call.
Lisa Mason
The Way of Love Step 6: Rest
Our lives are busier than ever and rest often times is not a priority for us until we can no longer avoid it. The responsibilities of our work and personal lives can feel as though it is ever increasing, leaving us with little time to rest and ultimately to give ourselves--our souls and bodies--the care that we so desperately need.
We were not created to be individuals and communities who could endlessly create and produce without rest and replenishment. Even our ancient ancestors in the faith recognized that rest was an essential part of our lives and part of the divine pattern by which we were created. The authors of the creation account found in the first two chapters of Genesis even included that God, our divine parent and the one after whom we should model our lives, chose to take a full day of rest after spending the first six days of the week calling the universe into creation.
We need to rid ourselves of the misconception that to rest is lazy or a loss of productivity. Despite what we might believe, our value is not derived from our ability to produce, but it is instead grounded in the foundational idea that we were created in God’s image and should model our lives after the commands of God and the examples of Godly living we find in scripture. We might even be surprised to find that we are often more creative and more productive after caring for ourselves and getting the proper amount of rest.
Josh Woods
The Way of Love Step 5: Bless
Each Sunday, our Eucharist services are bookended with blessings. The officiate begins the service by saying, “Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” to which the congregation responds, “And blessed be [God’s] kingdom, now and forever. Amen.” At the end of the service, our prayer book calls for the officiate to bless the people before the dismissal. Blessings, then, frame not only our times of corporate worship, but they also frame the time outside of our corporate worship. In this way, both offering and receiving blessing should be an everyday part of the believer’s life.
The English word ‘Blessing’ is derived from the Hebrew word, ‘Berakah,’ which literally means to acknowledge God as the source of all good things. Acknowledging this allows us to see how God is present and active in even the most mundane details of our everyday life. Did you wake up with breath in your lungs? Do you have a roof over your head and food on your table? Are the basic needs of your family met and are they safe from harm?
Answering ‘yes’ to the above questions can help us to see how God has already blessed our lives, and it can also help us to see how we might be capable of blessing others. When we realize that God has already blessed our lives, often times with great abundance, we just might find ourselves compelled to share those blessings with others in need. Imagine today how the world might change if we acknowledged our blessings and actively shared them with one another.
Go Deeper:
Josh Woods
The Way of Love Step 4: Worship
What is corporate worship? In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God’s Word, to offer prayers, and to celebrate the sacraments. (from the Catechism on page 857 of The Book of Common Prayer).
The hymns, psalms and service music which we sing on Sunday mornings are significant ways of assisting in the acts of corporate worship listed above. There is a palpable energy generated by a congregation praying and singing together. Scientific studies have demonstrated that corporate singing by a congregation produces a common heartbeat, centers the mind and uplifts the soul as we unite with Christians around the world. I am particularly fond of stanza three from Hymn #24 in The Hymnal 1982, “The day that thou gavest, Lord, is ended.”
“As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day.
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.”
In preparation for your worship this Sunday, July 7th, I would encourage you to spend some time with #657 in The Hymnal 1982. This marvelous text is by Charles Wesley, the writer of some 6,500 hymns! The last stanza of the hymn ends with the words:
“Changed from glory into glory
Till in heaven we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
Let this text wash over you this week, Then, as you sing it next Sunday morning with your fellow parishioners, see if it does not indeed transport you into a deeper sense of “wonder, love, and praise.”
Ed Rieke
Resources:
The Way of Love Step 3: Pray
How does one communicate regularly and effectively with a being they cannot see? For me, it’s through practice, allowing myself grace often. I try to redirect my inner dialogue into a conversation with God that is left open to be continued throughout my day. In our loud, fast-paced world of instant gratification, it can be hard to still our minds and bodies enough to hear the soft whisper of God’s voice in our hearts or to wait on God’s answers to our prayers. Building my relationship with my Creator through communication helps me to stay grounded and connected to His presence in my life.
Mary Hayden Manning
**********
Several years ago I was selected to serve on the jury for a high-profile murder trial. This was one of the hardest experiences I have had. I am wired to process verbally, but I was unable to talk through the horrific things I was seeing and hearing with anyone else, even those serving on the jury with me. Instead, I talked to God. I covered that courtroom in prayers because it was the only option I had: prayers for the judge, court recorder, officers and plaintiffs, the family of the victim, our final sentencing document, and even the defendant himself. Prayer became a necessity to get me through those intense and painful days. Despite the emotional toll this took on me, it was one of the times in my life I felt closest to God because I had to rely on Him so heavily.
A couple weeks ago, Lisa, Sarah, and I were able to spend a week out at Camp Capers for the high school session. We spent one morning rotating through prayer stations, allowing the students time to practice different forms of prayer. What a truly holy experience! We each prayed with individual youth as we observed others practicing new ways of praying. Some were standing and lifting their hands in prayer, others were writing beautiful prayers in journals, praying creatively with colored pencils, sitting in silence to listen, using song books and Books of Common Prayer, and praying while sitting outside in this beautiful piece of creation. We encouraged them to try praying in a different way or in a way that felt uncomfortable to them to see if it helped them hear God in a new way. I encourage you to do the same.
Resources:
The Way of Love Step 2: Learn
I truly believe God wants nothing more than to connect to his people. God gives us each unique passions, which ultimately draw us near to him. I believe we all have a desire to learn about our Creator. Where do you go to learn?
We learn at school, work, church, home, from family, people, travel, books, the Bible, at youth group and conferences…
God peaks our interests and tries to get our attention with the wonders and marvels of this world. God wants us to learn about one another in community, about his word, creation, and so much more. We have the ability to learn so we can draw closer to God and glorify him.
I am remembering a time when I thought I knew so much about everything. (Ahem, right after college). Little did I know God was preparing my heart to come work at a church in San Antonio. What a humbling experience it has been. I had no idea what this job at St David’s really entailed. I am thankful for my willingness to learn, to ask for forgiveness and to keep going. God’s blessings are abundant.
While Jesus was in the desert he was tempted to turn stones into bread and his response was “Man can't live on bread alone.” God wants us to live on food that feeds our souls. We are constantly learning about the food that feeds our souls. God is drawing us in to a relationship with Him and our neighbors. God wants us to live on the relationship highs we find in our community and from discovering our passions and sharing them with the world. This is our bread of life.
What are your passions?
How do you learn in community?
How can you share a little more of your passions with the world in order to glorify God?
Sarah Kates
The Way of Love Step 1: Turn
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent (turn) and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
As human beings committed to following Jesus, we are easily distracted by things that lead us off the path of love and mercy that God calls us to follow. We succumb to temptations that allure us to seek immediate gratification or a sense of “happiness.” But God never stops loving us and is always ready to forgive us when we turn looking for light and healing and new life. God picks us up out of the muck and darkness in our lives and gives us a fresh start.
Peace,
Lisa+
**********
I hurt a really good childhood friend by not returning her phone call in a timely manner. Her life was/is falling apart, and I let the business of my schedule distract me from remembering to set aside the time to really listen to her. She was not asking me to fix the situation or even to listen to her as a priest, but rather to just be willing to let her vent safely. I woke up in the middle of the night three days later and was ashamed at my self- centeredness. I immediately turned to God seeking forgiveness. I called her the following morning and expressed my remorse. She forgave me, with more grace and love than I deserved, but I am still wrestling with forgiving myself.
Resources:
The Confession in the Book of Common Prayer
Reconciliation of a Penitent
The Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer
The Examen
This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.
The 7th step on the Way of Love is GO. To go means to move, leave or depart from one place to another. A second definition is to pass into a specified state, another way of being. Every week after receiving communion, we pray this prayer, or another form of this prayer:
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We come to church to be fed spiritually in many ways, and we are then called to go out and feed others. The act of going looks different for each of us. At times, it means placing our hearts in a place of prayer and study. At other times, it means literally going to be a part of a mission or ministry in another place, such as Under the Bridge, Snack Pak 4 Kids, Meals on Wheels, taking communion or altar flowers to someone who is suffering or unable to get to church. Going may mean making a hospital visit, leading the Sunday service at Park Lane or Mission Road, participating in a mission trip, or even prayerfully making a vocational shift or to look at our vocation differently as a ministry.
Sometimes we answer God’s call immediately and at other times, we spend time in prayer and reflection. Often we feel ready, while at others we drag our feet, wondering what in the world God is up to in our lives. But if it is a call, God will keep calling us in different ways, slowly turning our hearts to God’s desire for our lives. Remember, we ask God to send us out, to call us to go, and be used for instruments of peace, love, and light wherever and however we are sent. Sometimes God calls us to go far, such as to New York and at other times, very close. God promises to equip us and be present with us as we go. Whether it is near or far, we are never alone when we say yes to God’s call.
Lisa Mason
The Way of Love Step 6: Rest
Our lives are busier than ever and rest often times is not a priority for us until we can no longer avoid it. The responsibilities of our work and personal lives can feel as though it is ever increasing, leaving us with little time to rest and ultimately to give ourselves--our souls and bodies--the care that we so desperately need.
We were not created to be individuals and communities who could endlessly create and produce without rest and replenishment. Even our ancient ancestors in the faith recognized that rest was an essential part of our lives and part of the divine pattern by which we were created. The authors of the creation account found in the first two chapters of Genesis even included that God, our divine parent and the one after whom we should model our lives, chose to take a full day of rest after spending the first six days of the week calling the universe into creation.
We need to rid ourselves of the misconception that to rest is lazy or a loss of productivity. Despite what we might believe, our value is not derived from our ability to produce, but it is instead grounded in the foundational idea that we were created in God’s image and should model our lives after the commands of God and the examples of Godly living we find in scripture. We might even be surprised to find that we are often more creative and more productive after caring for ourselves and getting the proper amount of rest.
- Read Genesis 1-2:4 and reflect on why God chose to rest on the seventh day
- Keep a journal for 1-2 weeks and record the time(s) you take to rest and recover
- Getting enough rest might require a new rule of life. Consider scheduling times of intentional rest. Write it down on your calendar/schedule and keep the appointment!
Josh Woods
The Way of Love Step 5: Bless
Each Sunday, our Eucharist services are bookended with blessings. The officiate begins the service by saying, “Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” to which the congregation responds, “And blessed be [God’s] kingdom, now and forever. Amen.” At the end of the service, our prayer book calls for the officiate to bless the people before the dismissal. Blessings, then, frame not only our times of corporate worship, but they also frame the time outside of our corporate worship. In this way, both offering and receiving blessing should be an everyday part of the believer’s life.
The English word ‘Blessing’ is derived from the Hebrew word, ‘Berakah,’ which literally means to acknowledge God as the source of all good things. Acknowledging this allows us to see how God is present and active in even the most mundane details of our everyday life. Did you wake up with breath in your lungs? Do you have a roof over your head and food on your table? Are the basic needs of your family met and are they safe from harm?
Answering ‘yes’ to the above questions can help us to see how God has already blessed our lives, and it can also help us to see how we might be capable of blessing others. When we realize that God has already blessed our lives, often times with great abundance, we just might find ourselves compelled to share those blessings with others in need. Imagine today how the world might change if we acknowledged our blessings and actively shared them with one another.
Go Deeper:
- Reflect on the idea of God as the source of all good things.
- Create a ‘Gratitude List’ compiling all the ways that God has blessed your life. Be specific and list even the smallest ways you have experienced the goodness of God in your life.
- Take time to pray and thank God for what you already have received.
- Ask yourself if you have been blessed with abundance where others have need. Consider how you might share your blessings with others.
- Pray and ask God to reveal ways that you might be a blessings to others.
Josh Woods
The Way of Love Step 4: Worship
What is corporate worship? In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God’s Word, to offer prayers, and to celebrate the sacraments. (from the Catechism on page 857 of The Book of Common Prayer).
The hymns, psalms and service music which we sing on Sunday mornings are significant ways of assisting in the acts of corporate worship listed above. There is a palpable energy generated by a congregation praying and singing together. Scientific studies have demonstrated that corporate singing by a congregation produces a common heartbeat, centers the mind and uplifts the soul as we unite with Christians around the world. I am particularly fond of stanza three from Hymn #24 in The Hymnal 1982, “The day that thou gavest, Lord, is ended.”
“As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day.
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.”
In preparation for your worship this Sunday, July 7th, I would encourage you to spend some time with #657 in The Hymnal 1982. This marvelous text is by Charles Wesley, the writer of some 6,500 hymns! The last stanza of the hymn ends with the words:
“Changed from glory into glory
Till in heaven we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
Let this text wash over you this week, Then, as you sing it next Sunday morning with your fellow parishioners, see if it does not indeed transport you into a deeper sense of “wonder, love, and praise.”
Ed Rieke
Resources:
- The Book of Common Prayer
- The Hymnal 1982 -- Consider having this at home as the companion to the Prayer Book (as it was intended) to assist you in your daily devotions.
The Way of Love Step 3: Pray
How does one communicate regularly and effectively with a being they cannot see? For me, it’s through practice, allowing myself grace often. I try to redirect my inner dialogue into a conversation with God that is left open to be continued throughout my day. In our loud, fast-paced world of instant gratification, it can be hard to still our minds and bodies enough to hear the soft whisper of God’s voice in our hearts or to wait on God’s answers to our prayers. Building my relationship with my Creator through communication helps me to stay grounded and connected to His presence in my life.
Mary Hayden Manning
**********
Several years ago I was selected to serve on the jury for a high-profile murder trial. This was one of the hardest experiences I have had. I am wired to process verbally, but I was unable to talk through the horrific things I was seeing and hearing with anyone else, even those serving on the jury with me. Instead, I talked to God. I covered that courtroom in prayers because it was the only option I had: prayers for the judge, court recorder, officers and plaintiffs, the family of the victim, our final sentencing document, and even the defendant himself. Prayer became a necessity to get me through those intense and painful days. Despite the emotional toll this took on me, it was one of the times in my life I felt closest to God because I had to rely on Him so heavily.
A couple weeks ago, Lisa, Sarah, and I were able to spend a week out at Camp Capers for the high school session. We spent one morning rotating through prayer stations, allowing the students time to practice different forms of prayer. What a truly holy experience! We each prayed with individual youth as we observed others practicing new ways of praying. Some were standing and lifting their hands in prayer, others were writing beautiful prayers in journals, praying creatively with colored pencils, sitting in silence to listen, using song books and Books of Common Prayer, and praying while sitting outside in this beautiful piece of creation. We encouraged them to try praying in a different way or in a way that felt uncomfortable to them to see if it helped them hear God in a new way. I encourage you to do the same.
Resources:
- Add to our church prayer list
- Prayers of the People in the Book of Common Prayer
- Pray The Daily Office
- Pray through the prayer stations used at Camp Capers Senior High A 2019
The Way of Love Step 2: Learn
I truly believe God wants nothing more than to connect to his people. God gives us each unique passions, which ultimately draw us near to him. I believe we all have a desire to learn about our Creator. Where do you go to learn?
We learn at school, work, church, home, from family, people, travel, books, the Bible, at youth group and conferences…
God peaks our interests and tries to get our attention with the wonders and marvels of this world. God wants us to learn about one another in community, about his word, creation, and so much more. We have the ability to learn so we can draw closer to God and glorify him.
I am remembering a time when I thought I knew so much about everything. (Ahem, right after college). Little did I know God was preparing my heart to come work at a church in San Antonio. What a humbling experience it has been. I had no idea what this job at St David’s really entailed. I am thankful for my willingness to learn, to ask for forgiveness and to keep going. God’s blessings are abundant.
While Jesus was in the desert he was tempted to turn stones into bread and his response was “Man can't live on bread alone.” God wants us to live on food that feeds our souls. We are constantly learning about the food that feeds our souls. God is drawing us in to a relationship with Him and our neighbors. God wants us to live on the relationship highs we find in our community and from discovering our passions and sharing them with the world. This is our bread of life.
What are your passions?
How do you learn in community?
How can you share a little more of your passions with the world in order to glorify God?
Sarah Kates
The Way of Love Step 1: Turn
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent (turn) and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
As human beings committed to following Jesus, we are easily distracted by things that lead us off the path of love and mercy that God calls us to follow. We succumb to temptations that allure us to seek immediate gratification or a sense of “happiness.” But God never stops loving us and is always ready to forgive us when we turn looking for light and healing and new life. God picks us up out of the muck and darkness in our lives and gives us a fresh start.
Peace,
Lisa+
**********
I hurt a really good childhood friend by not returning her phone call in a timely manner. Her life was/is falling apart, and I let the business of my schedule distract me from remembering to set aside the time to really listen to her. She was not asking me to fix the situation or even to listen to her as a priest, but rather to just be willing to let her vent safely. I woke up in the middle of the night three days later and was ashamed at my self- centeredness. I immediately turned to God seeking forgiveness. I called her the following morning and expressed my remorse. She forgave me, with more grace and love than I deserved, but I am still wrestling with forgiving myself.
Resources:
The Confession in the Book of Common Prayer
Reconciliation of a Penitent
The Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer
The Examen
This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.