This is lovely and wise. Rituals/Sacraments are what I miss about church.
I miss the Doxology and Gloria Patri. I miss communion and prayer. When I taught Sunday School and led youth group I incorporated the “three Rs”: Routine (structure), Ritual, and Relationship. Creating some meaningful rituals of my own, or borrowing them from my church life will be a thoughtful exercise.
Except I don’t want to be alone with my rituals.
I know church is community, but I rarely felt a part of that community. I think my natural shyness made me too self conscious to fully appreciate that what I felt (exclusion) wasn’t entirely accurate. It takes humility to fully belong in community, and I think my ego interfered with the process of belonging.
Your writing has given me a lot to consider and reconsider. Thank you.
Thank you for your thoughtful writing. I will try some of these ideas. I also recall the words of a friend I met in my protest/activist group who said “I’m just searching for community.” May we find our way.
I lost my mother when I was twenty. We had a memorial, we said goodbye and we spread her ashes. These rituals never worked for me. My emotions still feel raw. Even 25 years l later I still feel like I haven't properly said goodbye to my mother. The grief has never ended, maybe it has softened but the pain still lingers but I have learned to tolerate it.
This is lovely and wise. Rituals/Sacraments are what I miss about church.
I miss the Doxology and Gloria Patri. I miss communion and prayer. When I taught Sunday School and led youth group I incorporated the “three Rs”: Routine (structure), Ritual, and Relationship. Creating some meaningful rituals of my own, or borrowing them from my church life will be a thoughtful exercise.
Except I don’t want to be alone with my rituals.
I know church is community, but I rarely felt a part of that community. I think my natural shyness made me too self conscious to fully appreciate that what I felt (exclusion) wasn’t entirely accurate. It takes humility to fully belong in community, and I think my ego interfered with the process of belonging.
Your writing has given me a lot to consider and reconsider. Thank you.
Thank you. If I gave you something to ponder than I have achieved what I’d hoped for.
Thank you for your thoughtful writing. I will try some of these ideas. I also recall the words of a friend I met in my protest/activist group who said “I’m just searching for community.” May we find our way.
Thank you! I discuss in previous essays what community meant in the church and why we miss it.
I lost my mother when I was twenty. We had a memorial, we said goodbye and we spread her ashes. These rituals never worked for me. My emotions still feel raw. Even 25 years l later I still feel like I haven't properly said goodbye to my mother. The grief has never ended, maybe it has softened but the pain still lingers but I have learned to tolerate it.
Erik I empathize with losing a parent early. I’m sorry dude.
Thank you