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Synergy!
“The effect that is created by the combined cooperative efforts of a willing community.”
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Lent – Our Season of Reflection
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As we move into this time of Lent in the midst of a global economic crisis I am reminded that spiritual practices sustain us in all seasons of life. It is hard enough to make this 40 day journey of self reflection and renewal when you have a job and the economy is decent, much less make it when you are worried about paying the bills and keeping groceries on the table. I want to share a few resources with you that are free and can be helpful to you in your Lenten journey as well as your journey as a leader in MCC through these difficult times.
Remember the ‘spiritual literacy’ couple, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat? They published two books a while back titled Spiritual Literacy and Spiritual RX. Their website, www.spiritualityandpractice.com, features a self guided course on Living with Financial Insecurity. The Brussats are collecting excerpts from books reviewed on the website that show how teachers of different spiritual traditions approach living with less and facing loss and impermanence. “We’ve learned through experience,” they note, “that spiritual practices are helpful, practical, and relevant in today’s world. They offer people concrete ways to address challenges from the depths of their spirituality.” The collection of readings and practices, Living with Financial Insecurity, is now posted at SpiritualityandPractice.com and new readings and practices are added regularly.
The Alban Institute is offering on line webinars that are very affordable ($39) on topics from Writing Grant Proposals to Spirit Led Living. And their weekly e-newsletter is free. The current issue includes a powerful article on “Ministry in Hard Times” http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=7184 from which I share this quote, “Worship attendance rates in mainline churches reached record lows during the Great Depression and record highs during the prosperous 1950s. Why would people go to church more when they have more money? The possible explanations are many; the most likely one, in my opinion, is that people are ashamed to worship where they no longer fit the economic profile of the congregation.”
More than any other season of the church year Lent reminds us that we do not make the journey alone. Each of us and each of our congregations may have specific practices we are engaging during these forty days, but ALL of us are pilgrims together on the road to transformation and the promise of resurrection.
Peace, Mona
Rev. Mona West, Ph.D Director of Formation and Leadership Development Metropolitan Community Churches P.O. Box 1374 Abilene, TX 79604 Fax: 310-388-1252 Skype: mona.west1
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