A Congregational Blessing Resource

Appendix. 3.A—Practicing the Disciplines

What are my spiritual disciplines?

Appendix. 3.B—Designing a Rule of Life

What Is It?

A rule of life is a personal plan or pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness. The call to holiness is an ancient, yet always applicable, practice of drawing closer to God. Perhaps the Christian concept of developing personal holiness has been emphasized less in recent years? Our responses will be personal. The purpose of the rule of life is to focus our hearts and minds on God’s invitation for us to be holy, as God is holy; to grow in greater intimacy with the One we are created to resemble.

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.—I John 3:2

Why am I being invited to incorporate these disciplines into my life?

The ultimate answer is to be inspired, transformed and empowered for your unique mission. For a Community of Christ congregation, the Temple Grove and Burning Bush display remind us of the call to Hear Ye Him. A formative movement on the path of a disciple is to move closer to God through spiritual renewal. Our congregation is com-mitted to going deeper in discipleship by renewing our inner, spiritual selves.

Designing a rule of life is one assurance that we are com-mitted to becoming a transformed people. That includes being spiritually prepared to hear and to do the will of God. Importantly, kingdom missions require personal response to Christ as stewards of mission.

Stewardship is the response of my people to the ministry of my Son and is required alike of all who seek to establish the cause of the kingdom. —Doctrine and Covenants 147:5a

A disciple’s generosity is directly intertwined with a personal walk with Christ, through interactions with the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian disciple involves personal time with God—as Jesus took time while ministering in the flesh.

How Do I Start?

The congregation is preparing to receive an evangelist blessing. We seek to be blessed to be a blessing to others.

We all are encouraged to contact an evangelist or another entrusted caregiver to discuss ways to respond. You are invited to participate in a spiritual support group.

Examples of Personal Rules

When Pope John XXIII was a seminary student, he included the following elements in his rule:

• When rising: 15 minutes of silent prayer and 15 minutes of spiritual reading.
• Before sleeping: A general examination of conscience followed by confession; then, identifying issues for the next morning’s prayers.
• Arrange the hours of the day to make the rule possible, setting aside specific time for prayer, study, recreation, and sleep (balance).• Making a habit of turning the mind to God in prayer. z
       Martin Luther King Jr. developed a rule to guide the non-violent protests of the civil-rights movement. His rule emphasized the spiritual principle and inner attitudes under-girding one’s action, although it also included specific practices like meditation, prayer, and service.
• Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
• Remember always that the nonviolent movement in Birmingham seeks justice and reconciliation, not victory.
• Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
• Pray daily to be used by God in order that all might be free.
• Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free.
• Observe with friend and foe the ordinary rule of courtesy.
• Seek to perform regular service for others and the world.
• Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
• Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

A rule of life is not meant to be restrictive, although it asks for genuine commitment. It is meant to help us to establish a rhythm of daily living, a basic order within which new freedom can grow. —Marjorie J. Thompson, Soul Feast, page 138

It should be clear that from these examples that there is great latitude in a personal rule of life. Your rule will be unique to your circumstances, personality, and needs, yet in harmony with the basic historic practices of Christian life and faith throughout the centuries. Let us choose to be open to God’s blessings by becoming present to God. Transforming encounters await those who design and practice their rule of life. We promise.

Appendix. 3.C—Sample Daily Preparation

Dear friends,

We have asked the evangelists in our mission center to come January 27, 2008, to offer the sacrament of blessing to our congregation. As with all sacraments, preparation is a key part to the actual blessing endeavor. Please take some time each day leading up to the congregational blessing to read and pray together. How powerful and uplifting this sacrament will be when we come ready to receive!

In Christ’s love, Pastor Sherry Vojcsik.

Daily Preparation for Gatchelville, Pennsylvania, Congregational Blessing

Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Reading: Genesis 28:13, 14
Activity: List the strengths of your family and thank God in prayer for those blessings.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Reading: Matthew 7:7–11
Activity: Talk about and list the needs of your family and lift those to God in prayer.

Thursday, January 3, 2008
Reading: I John 4:7–12
Activity: Select someone who has blessed your family. Write a thank-you note together as a family and mail it.

Friday, January 4, 2008
Reading: Romans 12:1–2
Activity: Each person lists three accomplishments in life and tells why they are important.

Saturday, January 5, 2008
Reading: I Thessalonians 2:9–12
Activity: List five things you would like to try to do in your lifetime.

Sunday, January 6, 2008
Prayer: Recite the Lord’s Prayer together as a family before coming to church.
Activity: Come to worship prepared to share one item above from this week.

Monday, January 7, 2008
Reading: II Nephi 1:115
Activity: List 10 things you enjoy doing alone or with the family. Do something this week to have fun together.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Reading: Luke 10:29–37
Activity: List and talk about needs and concerns of neighbors, friends, and loved ones. Lift them up in prayer.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:10
Activity: List five changes you would like to make in your life. Select one thing you want to change and work on throughout this period of preparation.

Thursday, January 10, 2008
Reading: Psalm 139:1–18
Activity: To each person gathered, read the following quote from Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved, substituting each person’s name at the beginning of the reading:

(Name), I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own as I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse…yes, even your child…wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.

Friday, January 11, 2008
Reading: John 13:34, 35
Activity: Tell all people gathered how they have been a blessing to you. Praise God for each other.

Saturday, January 12, 2008
Reading: I Corinthians 12:12–31
Activity: Talk about your involvement with your congregation and how you would like to see that continue and/or change. Pray for God’s guidance.

Sunday, January 13, 2008
Prayer: Recite the Lord’s Prayer together as a family before going to church.
Activity: Come to worship prepared to share one of the items above from this week.

Monday, January 14, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:11a
Activity: List the strengths of our congregation and thank God for those blessings.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Reading: Hymn #378 HS verse 5:

Commit your hearts to seek The paths which Christ has trod, And quickened by the Spirit’s power Rise up, O saints of God!

Activity: List what you consider to be three accomplishments of your congregation and tell why they are important. Praise God for those accomplishments.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
Activity: List three things you would like to see our congregation do this year.

Thursday, January 17, 2008
Reading: Hymn #312 HS verse 1

Let us pray for one another That our minds and hearts may blend
As we grow in love and mercy, Day by day, till life shall end.
We can see how others need us;
May we also dare to say
That in love we’ll share together;
For each other let us pray.

Activity: Talk about the needs and concerns of individual members and friends. Lift them up in prayer.

Friday, January 18, 2008
Reading: Matthew 25:31–40
Activity: Talk about the surrounding community of Gatchelville and list how we might reach out to that community. Pray together for that community.

Saturday, January 19, 2008
Reading: Hymn #190 HS verse 4

Almighty God, for this new day,
We need your presence still.
Create, redeem, sustain us now
To do your work and will.

Activity: List changes you would like our congregation to make and tell why they are important.

Sunday, January 20, 2008
Prayer: Recite the Lord’s Prayer together before going to church.
Activity: Come to worship prepared to share one of the items above from this week.

Monday, January 21, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 59:3a, b
Activity: Discuss fasting and how you can fast together (or individually) this week in preparation for the blessing.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 153:9c
Activity: Talk about and list our congregation’s needs and lift them to God in prayer.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Reading: In blessing we also remember persons in our past and present. We cherish them and honor their contributions to our lives and the current experiences of our common faith journey. —The Congregational Blessing (an out-of-print brochure)
Activity: Select someone who has blessed (past or present) our congregation. Write a thank-you letter together as a family and mail it.

Thursday, January 24, 2008
Reading:

The congregational blessing is to strengthen the faith of the congregation in its mission to be the community of Christ. It is to strengthen the bonds of love and commitment of each person to Christ and the community of the congregation…The blessing will help identify the uniqueness of God’s call and intent for the congregation in relationship to the larger community. —The Congregational Blessing

Activity: Pray together about the upcoming experience of the sacrament of blessing.

Friday, January 25, 2008
Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 125:3a, b
Activity: Talk about the evangelists involved in the blessing and how they may have touched your personal lives and/or the life of our congregation. Lift them up in prayer as they make their final preparations for the blessing.

Saturday, January 26, 2008
Reading: Hymn #497 HS verse 1

With a steadfast faith together let us walk
As we seek our Father’s mind;
In our daily task, and in his word revealed
His eternal purpose find.

Activity: List several activities you like doing as a congregation and thank God for those blessings of being together.

Sunday, January 27, 2008
Prayer: Recite the Lord’s Prayer together before going to church.
Activity: Come to worship and participate in the congregational blessing.