Communities of love, prayer and service: Parish Development during the Virus
And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24: 52-53)
The Order of the Ascension has taken on a small effort to offer members of their parishes a pathway into a deeper Christian life by associating themselves with one of the church’s religious orders. Maybe you’d like to be part of that effort.
I’d suggest three reasons to join us and a few ideas about how to do that.
The renewal of the parish
It’s pretty basic organizational psychology and ascetical theology—"power from the center pervades the whole.”[i] The holiness and love of the Apostolic at the center of parish life is what makes a parish a true parish. It creates a kind of synergy in the parish system.
The true center of any parish consists of those most given to that mixture of consistent prayer, love and service. Those that live in the Rule of the Church. The center isn’t the rector and the vestry (that’s an institutional center whose ministry of oversight is made worthy when half of them are of the spiritual center of the community).
Two related PDFs – the Shape of the Parish The Threefold Rule of the Church
To have several people in the parish community who become associates of a religious order adds to and nurtures the parish’s apostolic center.
The renewal of a person’s inner life
There are some people in your parish who would find themselves strengthened by participation as an associate. You can probably guess who some of them are—those you could speak with directly, “I’ve been wondering if you might find it spiritually beneficial to do this.”
There are also some who would value such a connection, but you don’t know who they are—those might be reached by making the offer with a few website/Facebook postings and making use of examples of the religious life in a few sermons and teaching sessions.
The renewal of the whole church
Historically these communities of love, prayer and service have often been central to the renewal of the church. We saw it during the restoration of the religious orders in the late 19th century. There’s was “a life which overflowed into activity, not an activity supported by a life.”[ii] It was from the life of love and prayer in these communities that service flowed into the world and the church. They worked with the poor and desperate, those most impacted by plagues and hunger, with orphans and prostitutes. They partnered with the priests of the slum parishes. Their love and prayer overflowed into activity. And that life of sacrifice and compassion kindled a flame in much of the church. Over the past 100 years they have served as centers of liturgical and spiritual renewal. The church’s life of common prayer, urban witness and ascetical wisdom has continued to be fed by the religious orders and their associates. In these days many parishes have been drawn by the Spirit to say, on-line, Morning and/or Evening Prayer each day. The religious orders have played a significant role in why the Daily Office is still a strong part of the church's life. While we know that for some this use of the Office has been a temporary filler of a program; other clergy and laity have experienced it as the work of the Ascended Christ abiding with his beloved Church.
Offering this life of love, prayer and service to the people of your parish
It is a Eucharistic offering not a marketing campaign
Offer the possibility gently, with humility. Communicate in a manner that is respectful, timely, direct, and complete.
And think in terms of our Eucharistic life—take, bless, break, share. My primary point here is this --the bread and wine must be laid upon the altar; those bringing it to the altar must let go; and once upon the altar the mystery of Christ’s sacrificial love for the church is made incarnate. So, it is with what we offer to the people of the parish—be straight forward, thorough, and humble.
And timely. For some of our people this time of the virus has been used by the Holy Spirit to generate a longing for a deeper relationship with God and the Church.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Below you’ll find some resources from Sister Michelle Heyne, OA --you might want to use in this effort.
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[i] In Pastoral Theology: A Reorientation Martin Thornton presented his understanding of the parish church as the Body of Christ, “the complete Body in microcosm,” and his Remnant Concept, “in which power from the center pervades the whole.”
[ii] A. M. Allchin, “The Theology of the Religious Life: An Anglican Approach”, S.L.G. Press, 1971
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Here are a few ideas of what you might take on. We invite you to use your imagination and commitment to engage work appropriate for you and your situation.
1) Invite people to consider becoming an Associate using your websites, Facebook site, e-newsletters, and so on.
2) Invite a few people personally
3) Provide a backdrop of ascetical thought that engages people in the possibility—sermons, written reflections, blogs.
4) Include in parish intercessions each week -- a) prayers for one of the church's religious orders b) for the religious orders represented in your parish.
Implementation Guidance: Following are a few initial thoughts.
Building internal commitment
You want to do this in a way that helps the individuals who enter into discernment to end up with a high level of internal commitment to whatever decisions they make—associate with an order or that this pathway doesn’t fit them at this time. You might use Intervention Theory as a resource in your own thinking.
For the person to arrive at a strong internal commitment they need to have real choices. So, among the several actions you take you may want to include material on the associate groups of several orders. You don’t want to overwhelm them with choices. That will paralyze some people. Put forward material of 5 or 6 groups. You might also provide a link to a larger list so they can explore more widely if they wish.
Having choices also involves them experiencing that you are first concerned with their inner life and the overall spiritual life of the parish. But that needs to arise from the work of the Holy Spirit in them. Your role is to offer information and options in a manner that is timely, adequately thorough, direct, and respectful.
Broad and long term
Think about the nurturing of possible associates in broad terms (associates with any Order is good) and long term (think 18 months rather than 2 months).
Narrow and focused
Deeper
And
Harriet Starr Cannon by Morgan Dix. Other Historical Documents and Resources for CSM from Project Canterbury
Some existing resources:
Religious Communities – on the OA web site, an overview
Associates of the Order of the Ascension – On the OA site, includes the rule for Associates
Associates of the Order of the Ascension – On the “Means of Grace, Hope of Glory” blog
Becoming an Associate of a Religious Order – Five associate groups are listed
Religious Orders Recognized by the Episcopal Church – national church website
Religious Orders – Anglicans On-Line list
Related pieces: These might be more useful for your reflection and selected people than sharing widely.
Spiritual Vitality and Authenticity
Religious Communities in the Parish
Doing Parish Development during the Virus: Power form the center pervades the whole
Turn everything that happens to account
Readings on religious Orders
Telling a few stories can help people see what their participation can offer themselves and the church.
Books
Memories of a Sister of S. Saviour’s Priory
The Cowley Fathers, Serenhedd James
The House of my Pilgrimage, Sister Catherine Louise, S.S.M.
Stars in His Crown, Simpson and Story
The Labour of Obedience, Peta Dunstan
The Community of the Resurrection, Alan Wilkinson
Websites with history, stories and resources for spiritual life
Order of the Ascension To Make a Beginning
SSJE Wisdom on the Eucharist On forgiveness
Sisters of Saint Margaret History
Community of St. John Baptist History Blog
Community of Julian of Norwich Reflections
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Postings on the inner life and the virus
You know, and they know, that they are offering their lives
Intercessions and the virus Solitude.
The mystery of the cross Solitude in Surrey
We'll meet again God's not indifferent to our pain
Endures all things Becoming an Associate of a Religious Order
Spiritual vitality and authenticity The path of servanthood
Down into the mess Missing the Eucharist
In you we live Faith to perceive
Faith to perceive: In your great compassion
Turn everything that happens to account
We no longer know what to do The cares and occupations
Postings on Parish Development during the Virus
Power from the center pervades the whole To everything there is a season
Faith to perceive: Remaining inseparable Communities of love, prayer and service