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(Rembrandt Van Rijin, The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1662) 2010 Annual Aim 'MERCY'
Invitation
You are invited to join in community
... to participate in intention and will to God
... to renew your commitment to the spiritual journey,
moving every deeper together as a community of intention, practice and devotion.
... and in so doing, manifest
TRUTH
BEAUTY
GOODNESS
MERCY
for the love of God, our Father,
for the glory of His Kingdom on Earth
and so that our joy may be complete.
AMEN.
To participate, phone the church office and provide your mailing address to receive an invitation and acceptance card. Once completed and returned, a fulfillment packet will be provided. 512-347-9673
Acceptance
In faith, I wish to fully engage in the annual aim of
Mercy
and to deepen my relationship with God through...
____ a daily Centering Prayer practice.
_____ attending a multi-day Centering Prayer retreat away from home.
_____ daily study and practice of the Work.
_____ a practice of tithing.
_____ an additional self-declared aim.
We believe...
God is One, eternally present in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, active within us, as us.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, eternally present as the Logos, the coming of Divine Light to the world.
We are all one in the Body of Christ.
Man is created in the image and likeness of God.
Man's basic nature, like God's nature, is absolute good. Humanity is asleep and called to awaken.
Self-knowledge and daily spiritual practice are necessary for those who wish to awaken.
Transformation into conscious unity with The Living God is possible in this life. Indeed, theosis, or divinization of the flesh, is the aim and purpose of a human life.
Transformation is only possible through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
God is Love and His Love is eternally present.
Love bears all.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
January
HOPE
I pray ...
Lord, make me know Your ways.
Lord, teach me Your paths.
Make me walk in Your truth, and teach me
... in You I hope all day long
... Remember Your mercy, Lord, and the love You have shown from of old. Psalm 25
I affirm ...
If we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. Romans 8: 24-25
February
RECONCILIATION
I pray ...
'My refuge and my strength;
in You alone will I trust.'
For You deliver me from the webs of fear,
from all that separates and divides. Psalm 91
I affirm ...
In Him all things hold together and through Him reconcile all things. Colossians 1: 17, 20
March
THE EUCHARIST
He spread a cloud as a cover, and made a fire to light up the night.
They asked and He brought them food; with bread from heaven He filled them.
He split the rock and water gushed forth; it flowed through the desert like a river.
Psalm 105
I affirm ...
Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and share it among yourselves.'
Mark 22: 17
April
PRAYER
Come in; let us bow and bend low;
let us kneel before the God who made us
for He is our God and we
His people.
Psalm 95
I affirm ...
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
Mark 22: 17
May
POWER
Mortals are a mere breadth, the powerful but an illusion;
on a balance they rise;
together they are lighter than air.
...One thing God has said; two things I have heard:
power belongs to God; so too, Lord, does kindness.
Psalm 62
I affirm ...
My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12: 9
SERVICE
Teach us to count our days,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
... Fill us at daybreak with Your love,
that all our days we may sing for joy.
... And prosper for us the work of our hands-
O prosper the work of our hands!
Psalm 90
I affirm ...
Who was the neighbor to the robbers' victim?
And he answered, 'The one who treated him with mercy.'
Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'
Luke 10: 36-37
INNER SILENCE
God is our refuge and our strength
... the Lord of hosts is with us.
God is in our midst
... the Lord of host is with us.
Be still and know that I am God
... the Lord of hosts is with us.
Psalm 46
I affirm ...
The Lord was not in the wind ... not in the earthquake ... not in the fire.
After the fire there was a sound of sheer silence.
1 Kings 19: 11-12
HUMILITY
Why do nations and people plot against one another,
setting themselves apart and conspiring
...They say to themselves,
'We are free of Love's law: humility and service are for others.'
The Beloved, who is ever present, can but smile
at their foolishness, knowing that one day,
they will fall to their knees in regret.
Psalm 2
I affirm ...
Though He was in the form of God,
He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, He emptied Himself.
Philippians 2: 6-7
GOODNESS
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures He gives me repose;
beside restful waters He leads me;
He refreshes my soul.
Only goodness and kindness
follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23
I affirm ...
Live as children of light, for light produces
every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Ephesians 5: 8
