Living the Liturgy

 Week 1: Generosity
The word generosity comes from the Latin word generosus and originally meant “of noble birth.” As Nicole Howe taught on Sunday, the ancient understanding of generosity is less about how much wealth one has and far more about identity and heritage. Therefore, the Christian understanding of generosity is deeply tied to who we are as image-bearers of God. If we recognize our “noble” heritage as originating from a compassionate, loving, self-giving God, then we practice true generosity only when we mirror those characteristics into the world. Even more, generosity seeks to restore others to their God-given nobility as well. In this way, generosity is deeply tied to justice.

Kingdom Practices
This week, you have several options for kingdom practices. You may choose to:

• Continue meditating on the generosity prayer Nicole guided us through on Sunday. Linger with the questions and consider how God might be inviting you into greater alignment with biblical ideas of generosity.
• Consider if there is one action step God is asking you to take today to practice generosity in a tangible and embodied way? Is there one thing you can do to move toward greater freedom?
• If you heart is moved with the current issues of immigration and resettlement, please consider supporting organizations like World Relief. They have many practical ways to help right now, including signing a letter of support for refugees that will be sent to the current administration. There are also educational opportunities if you would like to understand more about how immigration policy affects the vulnerable.

Week 2: Worship
This week, Bethany Timmons walked us through what it means to worship liturgically and how it shapes our everyday lives. We explored some challenges that can arise when worshiping with classical liturgy and how we might practice new ways of engaging. Bethany showed us how ancient practices of worship can be both authentic and relevant for the way they invite us to participate in God’s story and the work God is doing in the world. 

Kingdom Practice
This week you may choose to: 

Continue reflecting on the questions Bethany led us through in our practice. Notice how these questions shape us – not only when we come together but also in our every day lives. Questions to consider are: Which part of the liturgy do you find easiest to connect with? Which part of the liturgy feels harder to access or feels like you need to look at with fresh eyes? Is there a part of the liturgy you are feeling invited to re-explore? What difference does it make when you find yourself inside God’s story? Is there a practical way you can remind yourself of God’s story? 

Consider reviewing your Order of Practice from Sunday morning. Throughout your week, spend time reading through the Scriptures and prayers again, contemplating the story they are telling and how God may be inviting you to live it out.

Week 3: Confession

This week, Jason walked us through the sometimes challenging practice of confession. Why do we take time every week to reflect on places where we miss the mark – both by what we have done and by what we have left undone? Though it can be difficult to confront broken places in our hearts, confession is ultimately a practice of surrender that forms us to live more freely into our true identities as God’s beloved children.

Kingdom Practices
This week you may choose to:

Continue to pay attention to the ways our culture denies the beloved-ness of others. Whether in the realm of politics or in other places where there is strong disagreement, how might the practice of confession and assurance be counter-formational? What might change?

Normalize the practice of confession by bringing it into your everyday life. When you come to understand ways in which your sin has polluted the world others live in, practice bringing it into the light. You may feel led to confess to the person(s) you directly impacted or you may feel led to confess to a safe person who can direct you to next steps. As you do, can you receive the assurance of God’s forgiveness? You may not hear it from the person you impacted, and that’s OK. How might you recenter yourself in your beloved-ness? Additionally, how might you offer forgiveness to those who have actively acknowledged their sin? Remember confession is more than just an apology, it is a counter-formational practice that shapes us to be more like Jesus.