Dear Incarnation,
This weekend is the fall retreat, and much of my attention this week has been focused on those preparations. But sadly, I know not everyone can come on the retreat — you will be missed! This letter will offer a preview of what we'll focus on at the retreat with some simple suggestions for retreating at home for those who can't attend.
We will spend Saturday morning engaging in scripture together. Our focus text is Acts 3:1-10, the first story told of the church engaging in mission after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Why this passage?
After Pentecost earlier this summer, we preached a sermon series called Ordinary Church. Over four Sundays, we read Acts 2:41-47, a short text that describes the Christian community formed in the wake of Pentecost. From that text, we preached on four 'ways of being' that characterized that community, and that we hope will characterize our life together at Incarnation:
We are worshipers.
We are generous.
We are peacemakers.
We are citizens of God's kingdom.
You can hear those four sermons again on Soundcloud or Spotify (or Apple Podcasts, but I can't figure out how to make a playlist there!).
We wanted to revisit these 'ways of being' on our fall retreat, but through the lens of a different story. We'll witness them in action in the life of the church as we read Acts 3:1-10 together. Our time in scripture together will range from silly (yes, there will be playdough and pipe cleaners again!) to serious.
We also wanted more time to reflect on each of these areas as we consider our own 'ways of being' — our worship, generosity, peacemaking, and kingdom citizenship — both as individual followers of Jesus and as members of the Incarnation community. There will be opportunities to reflect in a variety of ways: journaling, scripture study, personal reflection, art, music, and more.
Not able to come on the retreat? Why not revisit one of those Ordinary Church sermons and spend some time reflecting on that area of your life? Or read the Acts 3 passage in a lectio divina style over the course of the weekend (instructions at the bottom of this email), to hear what God might be saying to you through his word?
And most of our time at the retreat will simply be free time for relaxing, playing, and enjoying God's gifts; it's more like a family reunion than a monastic retreat. So perhaps the best way to experience the retreat at home is to have fun and enjoy creation.
Below is a suggested retreating-in-place routine. I am praying for all those who can't come this weekend, that you will encounter the love, rest, joy, and peace of God in your everyday life. Your presence will be missed!
Retreating at Home
1. Greet the day by inviting God's presence. Find a quiet room or comfortable chair, enjoy a favorite morning beverage, sit in silence for several minutes, and take whatever posture will help you prepare to experience God’s presence. Here are several helpful prayers from the Book of Common Prayer:
O God, grant that I may desire you, and desiring you seek you, and seeking you find you, and finding you be satisfied in you for ever. Amen.
Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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2. Spend some time reflecting on the past week. What are you carrying from the previous week that you would like to set down and entrust to God's hands? What would you like to pick up as a gift of God's grace as you enter into the weekend?
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3. Read Acts 3:1-10. You may wish to read this in a meditative way called lectio divina (Latin for "divine reading"). Here are some simple lectio divina instructions:
Reading/Listening
Slowly read the passage (you may want to alternate between reading silently and aloud). Don’t move quickly through any sentence or phrase. As you read, pay attention to what word or phrase or idea catches your attention.
Meditation
Next, begin to meditate on the word, phrase, or idea that captured your attention. Repeat it again and again. What thoughts come to mind as you meditate on this word, phrase or idea? What are you reminded of in your life? What does it make you hope for? Meditation is no easy task. As you try to concentrate, don’t be disappointed if random thoughts enter your head. As they do, offer them to God. Read the passage again.
Prayer
Now begin to speak to God. Tell God what word, phrase or idea captured your attention and what came to mind as you meditated upon it. How is God using this word, phrase or idea to bless and transform you? Tell God what you have been thinking and feeling as you’ve listened and meditated. Tell God how you hope this word, phrase or idea will change your heart to be more like his. Read the passage again.
Contemplation
Finish by focusing your attention on the fact that God’s presence is with you. If as you try to focus on God’s presence you sense a need to read the text again, or continue meditating, or to simply continue talking with God, allow yourself to do so. As you do, know that you are in the presence of God. Read the passage one final time.
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4. Now, go about your day! If you can, try to set aside some time to rest and be refreshed by the good gifts of God's creation: plan a walk in a beautiful spot, enjoy a book or podcast that makes you laugh, listen to a beautiful piece of music, linger over a good meal, or call an old friend. Take a nap, if you can!
One activity at the retreat will be neurographic art, which you can create at home with minimal supplies. Read these instructions and give it a shot; it's very soothing!
But if your weekend is full of errands, caregiving, or other business that simply cannot be moved, then try to invite God's loving presence into your ordinary work as often as you remember. I like to pray what is called The Jesus Prayer, which has been prayed since the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the 4th century. The words come from Luke 9:13, and are timed with your breath:
"Lord Jesus Christ (inhale), Son of God (exhale), have mercy on me (inhale), a sinner (exhale)."
It's short and simple enough to remember while washing dishes, and I find it always helps to me to slow down and remember God's mercy in the midst of whatever I'm doing.
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5. End the day in prayer. Reflect on the good gifts of the day with gratitude. You may want to pray the Compline service from the Book of Common Prayer to hem in your day. Here is a simple prayer for sleep from the Book of Common Prayer:
Father, in your mercy dispel the darkness of this night, and let your servant sleep in peace, that at the dawn of a new day I may wake with joy in your Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wherever you are this weekend, I pray that you are able to rest and enjoy God!
With love,
Amy
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