Weekly Liturgy : August 31-September 6
Matthew 18:15-20
NIV
15-17 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19-20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
REFLECTION
from John
None of us get through this life without community. In fact, Jesus seems to be suggesting that God’s very design for the universe is about community.
The invitation is to live congruently with this design, in our dreams and desires, in our conflicts and resolutions, and everything in between. If we’re willing to be so courageous, we might find God’s own dreams coming true right in our midst.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Find a colleague you spend less time interacting with than others. Ask them about their role and their experience of your shared environment. What can you learn from the way they understand the world you both inhabit?
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
The next time you have a strong sense or opinion about something, ask yourself:
Is my way of understanding a fact? Or is it just my perception?
Pathway Toward Center
Asceticism (Loving God by abstaining from comforts):
It’s supposed to rain this week. When it does, stand outside in the rain for as long as you are willing. Let the rain hit your face. Be grateful that this water sustains life.
Questions for Reflection
Where is your community thriving? Where is it in need of attention?
What is your role in both of those areas?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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