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jade_sabreFaith is an intensely private thing, not isolated and yet seemingly utterly between you and God, which is what makes a community of believers so wonderfully awesome. There are few feelings to describe that emotion felt when one lifts up their eyes and realizes that all of those surrounding them are present because they believe. Some of them may be lukewarm, some lost and fading, some floundering, some drowning in tears of joy--but all have made the choice to be there. All have considered going and not going, and all have come to the water.
Because we do not speak to God in private, nor pray in isolation. Our prayers are joined with all, heard individually yet traveling together to God our Almighty Father. We do not know the prayers of others, yet we know they pray; we join with them to seek comfort in one another's company, to live out His promise of presence even if we cannot grasp it ourselves. We ask prayers of each other, when we are praying with all our soul; we ask others pray for us, when we can no longer pray ourselves.
We gather together amidst darkness, amidst smoke-filled light, with silence, with songs (singers and tone-deaf alike), with prescribed prayer, with offerings from the secret places in our hearts, as children, parents, friends, neighbors, lonely and loved, for we are together, and together, we are one in the image of the eternal One who made us, seeking his blessing, singing his praise.
Because we do not speak to God in private, nor pray in isolation. Our prayers are joined with all, heard individually yet traveling together to God our Almighty Father. We do not know the prayers of others, yet we know they pray; we join with them to seek comfort in one another's company, to live out His promise of presence even if we cannot grasp it ourselves. We ask prayers of each other, when we are praying with all our soul; we ask others pray for us, when we can no longer pray ourselves.
We gather together amidst darkness, amidst smoke-filled light, with silence, with songs (singers and tone-deaf alike), with prescribed prayer, with offerings from the secret places in our hearts, as children, parents, friends, neighbors, lonely and loved, for we are together, and together, we are one in the image of the eternal One who made us, seeking his blessing, singing his praise.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:20 am (UTC)I have been praying for you.
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Date: 2009-04-13 02:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:02 am (UTC)I also like that despite there being a crowd listening to the same thing, the Word hits everyone uniquely and personally. I'm all pumped and ready to kick my fears in the face knowing that whatever happens (re: passing my dissertation defense, finding a job, etc.), the strength of the risen God is with me.
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Date: 2009-04-13 05:49 am (UTC)YES. This. It's one of the first things I was told about lectoring, how you have to remember, every time you're up there, that someone out there somewhere needs to hear what you're about to proclaim. Me, I'm trying to figure out how to better seek what is above, and dwelling on that awful, wonderful phrase: "They have taken our Lord and I do not know where they have put him." Because her question doesn't get resolved in the reading for today, but I know the answer, and if it makes me this happy, imagine how happy Mary was to hear her name.
Christ is risen, alleluia!
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Date: 2009-04-13 08:11 pm (UTC)I am honored and blessed to know someone like you, Jade.
<3
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Date: 2009-04-14 04:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 05:50 am (UTC)