Our first gathering of FaithJustice & Fellowship took place on 10/7/09.
We started off with a simple meal of soup and moved into the Chapel for a beautiful Evening Prayer led by the incredibly talented Martha Dudich. Our prayer started with this introduction and reading:
In the New Testament canon, there are twenty-one documents that take the form of letters. Most are actual letters; some are more like treatises in the form of letters. Fourteen of these are attributed to Paul and, with occasional variation, there is a virtually standard form: a greeting, followed by a prayer, an explanation of some Christian teaching and a farewell that includes advice. It seemed appropriate, as we begin our times of prayer together in this place, to hear these imperatives – gathered from several of Paul’s epistles – and consider how they might inform this next phase of our journey of faith.
Listen then to the Word of God from the letters of Paul.
"Draw your strength from God and stand fast."
"Pray at every opportunity in the Spirit."
"Let mutual love continue."
"Never tire of doing good and sharing whatever you have, for in due time you shall reap the harvest, if you do not give up."
"Proclaim the word; be persistent, whether it is convenient or not."
"Encourage one another."
"Live in peace."
"Cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all."
"Rejoice always."
"In every circumstance, give thanks."
"In every circumstance, give thanks."
"Be certain of this: the One who calls you is faithful and will accomplish all good in you." "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
"Grace be with all who love God and the Lord Jesus Christ!"
Martha then offered the following reflection:
"Earlier this week I sent out birthday greetings succinctly announcing: YOUNG. OLD. JUST WORDS. While I understand the wisdom on its face – we’re as young or old as we feel, age is a matter of mind (if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter) – I must admit to strong objections at the belittling tone. JUST WORDS. As offensive to me as the carelessly dismissive “Just friends.” There is nothing JUST – mere, simply, no more than – about either. How many of us truly believed the schoolyard taunt “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me”? Whose life changed forever hearing simply: “It’s a girl!”? Think of those whose very beings are lessened by only four words: “Don’t ask. Don’t tell.” Scientific study revealed that simply hearing sentences about elderly people led research subjects to walk more slowly.
Words create impressions, images and expectations, build connections and shatter relationships. They influence how we think and feel, whom we trust, what we purchase, how we vote, where we devote our time and treasure, what we believe.
Would you rather your boss see your mistake as a problem or a challenge? Prefer that your bank spend your money or invest it? Poorly chosen words can kill enthusiasm and joy, can diminish, exclude, wound. Thoughtfully chosen words can offer hope and motivation, can inspire, embrace, comfort and sustain. I see the impact of words I choose on my fragment of the universe and my own biases and selective attention in the words I hear. Only yesterday, speaking on the phone with a hopelessly lost delivery man, likely of a different racial or ethnic group than mine and speaking with some slang and grammatical error, I immediately projected an image of someone less intelligent, less capable, less than. Based on the words he used. I am truly ashamed, and must remain attentive to those prejudices in me, perhaps too easily obscured in a cultural climate of intolerance for weakness or error of any sort.
PROCLAIM. ENCOURAGE. BE CERTAIN. BE PATIENT. REJOICE. ACCOMPLISH. GRACE.
Saint Paul’s words, whether inspiring or infuriating, cheerful or chiding, were no doubt carefully chosen and are the primary impact he has left on Christianity. Letters to his precious, often petulant communities of believers. Those he knew well and some he would never meet. Letters. Affording an intimacy for, as the 12th century French abbess, scholar and legendary correspondent Heloise insisted, letters have souls. Flesh touching pen touching paper. Technology has clearly altered our use of and skills at written correspondence. An entire generation no doubt believes all letters begin “You have been pre-approved.” Paul opens each of his epistles from a place of genuine care. “To the holy and faithful ones.” “I give thanks for you.” “Grace and peace.”
I suspect Saint Paul would have had a field day with today’s rapid and varied styles of electronic communication, the awesome ease holding spellbound this inveterate letter writer. The actual composition and writing of the letter posed some difficulty in the era of the New Testament’s formation. On average, each papyrus sheet held about 140 words. To write 3 syllables required about 1 minute, and an hour’s work produced about 72 words. Scholar’s estimate that the oldest text in the New Testament, Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, required about 11 sheets of papyrus and 20 hours of writing. His longest letter, to the Romans, needed 50 sheets and 100 hours to complete. Because writing was a tedious task, only 2 or 3 hours in a working day could be devoted to a letter. It is estimated then that the Letter to the Romans must have occupied Paul and his secretary anywhere from 32 to 49 days. Thank God the phone wasn’t ringing to interrupt his train of thought! Not an easy task, but a true labor of love.
The known effects of a personal letter are remarkable. For better or worse there was only one Saint Paul, but each of us have the ability and opportunity to cheer, console, cajole, congratulate, and encourage each other. Letter writing is a valuable apostolic venture, and an effective tool for promoting justice and peace. A beloved mentor in the earliest days of my ministry would spend every Friday morning writing thank you notes to those who had helped his work in some way that week. These days it could be said he was building an important network. For John, it was all about gratitude, about letting people know that every effort built up the Body of Christ. Writing a personal letter is a wonderful and warm expression of thoughtfulness and courtesy and appreciation. Writing to civic leaders, social organizations, and businesses can produce improvements for society. So I’m wondering, Who needs these words from you, from me, in the coming days?
I once read that a word is like a living organism, capable of growing, changing, spreading, and influencing the world in many ways, directly and indirectly through others. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul insists “the word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any sword.” How many words have been spoken, written down and passed through generations, still quite alive when read or recited today, having lived thousands of years? As we consider the power of the Word – God’s word, our words – to incite and divide, to calm and connect, to create and effect change, we know for certain what has brought us to this place and to this good work. FAITH. JUSTICE. JUST WORDS?
Like I said, beautiful! After prayer, we gathered for coffee and conversation... a truly blessed start to our new effort to build a community of faith and justice.
Please consider joining us next week, Wednesday, October 14th. Dinner is at 6:30 PM, prayer at 7:15 PM. We'd love to have you with us!
