Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
---Psalm
51: 10-12
On
March 8th, 2023, members of the congregation gathered via Zoom to
hear a presentation that talked about one option available in this time of transition.
One option is redeveloping or repurposing assets that the congregation has,
specifically buildings and land. This option requires involvement and
dedication by members to the task. It is not for the faint of heart.
I
wonder about the words of the Psalmist, “Create in me a clean heart, and put
a new and right spirit within me.” The season of Lent uses these words to have
individuals look at their hearts and the separation or sin, between their heart
and God. Could the plea also apply to a new heart, where the heart discerns the
leading of God’s spirit and opens to new ways of being (new ways of being
community, being church)? Can these verses from Psalm 51 be our prayer during
this time of transition?
Being
faithful -having a new and open heart- in time of transition means that the
community is willing to take risks, seek relationships, and embrace change.
A reply to last week’s “Together We
Know” devotion reads: The use of the word transition is very appropriate in
my mind. Transition and evolution imply movement and action. What could be will
be dependent on us seeing the words Church and Congregation as
more of a verb than a noun ----John
Did
you notice in Psalm 51 the importance of verbs? Create, put, cast, take,
restore, sustain: each thought begins with a verb. The prayer asks God to BE
working in us, transforming who we are by transforming our hearts, spirits, and
wills.
Clean
hearts, new and right spirits, restored joy, and sustained willing spirits – asking
these things of God means a change in us and a responsibility to take action;
to be living verbs. John’s “Together We Know” thoughts included a piece that in
my mind explains living into create in me a clean heart and a right spirit:
4 essential practices to sustain the community
through transition:
- Be
there!
We will all need to be more emotionally present for people and
strengthen relationships.
- Play! We will have to
approach this with enthusiasm and fun. Play drives the spirit of
creativity.
- Make
someone’s day! Ways will need to be found to serve and
delight our members in a meaningful and memorable way.
- Choose
our attitude! Our behavioural choices impact others in the
congregation and is this attitude helping me to be the person I am called
to be.
Please continue
to reflect and share your responses to: “What Could Be” and “What My
Contribution Will Be…” For a fuller explanation of the activity, click this
link:
Engaging Grace: TOGETHER WE KNOW - Reflecting in this Time
of Transition (revkimber.blogspot.com)
Through
this season of transition you are invited to daily pray Psalm 51: 10-12.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not
cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. AMEN and AMEN
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