Thursday, October 1, 2020

Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Strengthening Bonds with Communities

Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS, Chapter 15, "Finding Community", Question 2, Page 101.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Is there any community that requires greater attention and involvement on your part?
PHOTO: Is there any community that requires greater attention and involvement on your part?
We must also remember that we belong to "the communion of saints" that stretches across time and space. In Christian tradition, we remember those who have gone to be with Jesus, who are part of the "great cloud of witnesses" that cheer us on the way (Hebrews 12:1). As Frederick Buechner points out, we try to understand them, but "through them we come to understand ourselves" too. [58] Advanced in years, we know that we shall soon join them and become part of that wonderful community.


What specific actions can you take to strengthen your bonds with your various communities?
Meanwhile, we should aim to grow old while warm and lovingly connected, not cold and lonely. For this to happen, we must look out for the good of others in our community and give of ourselves to them. We are called to be hospitable and loving in this life. We can touch many groups of people: relatives, friends, colleagues, and others who come into contact with us. This can be done in many ways, depending on our circumstances and health. An active ageing person can meet up regularly with significant others in his life (including family, friends, church members, visitors to church, those they are mentoring). Meeting for a meal, inviting them home, and visiting those who need help and company are some ways this can be done. There are also elder activity centres run by churches where one can enjoy social and spiritual interaction with fellow seniors and volunteers. Seniors can also minister to others through letters, text messages, phone calls, and so on.

Those named or referred to in Paul's list encompass a very broad spectrum. There are men and women, Jews and Gentiles, leaders (see Romans 16:7) and servants, slaves and nobility, and (very likely) rich and poor. Paul died as a man whose life was richly interwoven with his community. It did not happen overnight, but was a sign of a life spent loving, serving, and connecting - and belonging.

Let's be inspired to do the same.

Picture posted by amolol.top
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRcE3AgYx4I685Y0wW2ceCMzIL_DamgkfWqqPmhzT6wG9vdvGZcWgIz_ISrN52wpcCBj2N_hoq9ght4acIBswwS8gMUnZQ2GvMeU2g7Yiip4PSMqFx14YXELWVRC37XRh4PmZiieca2Q/s1500/chiffon_1.jpg
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https://www.amolol.top/ProductDetail.aspx?iid=57487232&pr=68.99



Is there any community that requires greater attention and involvement on your part? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your bonds with your various communities?

Is there any community that requires greater attention and involvement on your part?
[1]
We must also remember that we belong to "the communion of saints" that stretches across time and space. In Christian tradition, we remember those who have gone to be with Jesus, who are part of the "great cloud of witnesses" that cheer us on the way (Hebrews 12:1). As Frederick Buechner points out, we try to understand them, but "through them we come to understand ourselves" too. [58] Advanced in years, we know that we shall soon join them and become part of that wonderful community.


We must also remember that we belong to 'the communion of saints' that stretches across time and space.
PHOTO: We must also remember that we belong to "the communion of saints" that stretches across time and space. We remember those who have gone to be with Jesus, who are part of the "great cloud of witnesses" that cheer us on the way (Hebrews 12:1). Advanced in years, we know that we shall soon join them and become part of that wonderful community.
Picture posted by Beverly Everson Photography on 12 July 2015 - Cloud of Witnesses

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lAL84CJ5NQ2oJmwlKwQFamTX-gq22yW42RoHvj6xlPLggMBV8vMegfw637DrZEKCW6fltyiJv6Erw2UKnMfpvNe61BqRr76Ux1vPBjygj9rtOyMVdpxcj-Of3bAdHhD7dgTGiWB_Zn0/s1500/cloud-of-witnesses-5sm.jpg
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/563e2521e4b0cbe0c52dab78/1446914912153-IEH2DIPUT3TXXL9LO2PP/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJx-0GonUOcY3XQKEuFl10N7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UVH79KdQy8X9UU7i0YPvBiQTWRPi2GBevSodSx7WMwe2Ti8HWjhfOMceW7FFMLdz1Q/cloud-of-witnesses-5sm.jpg?format=1500w
http://www.eversonphotography.com/blog/2015/07/12/cloud-of-witnesses



What specific actions can you take to strengthen your bonds with your various communities? [1]
Meanwhile, we should aim to grow old while warm and lovingly connected, not cold and lonely. For this to happen, we must look out for the good of others in our community and give of ourselves to them. We are called to be hospitable and loving in this life. We can touch many groups of people: relatives, friends, colleagues, and others who come into contact with us. This can be done in many ways, depending on our circumstances and health. An active ageing person can meet up regularly with significant others in his life (including family, friends, church members, visitors to church, those they are mentoring). Meeting for a meal, inviting them home, and visiting those who need help and company are some ways this can be done. There are also elder activity centres run by churches where one can enjoy social and spiritual interaction with fellow seniors and volunteers. Seniors can also minister to others through letters, text messages, phone calls, and so on.


Specific actions to strengthen communities bond. we should aim to grow old while warm and lovingly connected, not cold and lonely.
PHOTO: Specific actions to strengthen communities bond. we should aim to grow old while warm and lovingly connected, not cold and lonely. For this to happen, we must look out for the good of others in our community and give of ourselves to them. We are called to be hospitable and loving in this life. An active ageing person can meet up regularly with significant others in his life (including family, friends, church members, visitors to church, those they are mentoring). There are also elder activity centres run by churches where one can enjoy social and spiritual interaction with fellow seniors and volunteers. Seniors can also minister to others through letters, text messages, and phone calls.
Picture posted by Vitality Magazine - Senior Women Showing Farm Vegetables in a Basket.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY54iMF9n3iHHYP-nODl-fZHDlqIoiRT-ZRvat_qdMzKIdCsRsRlwmgcresVw-QAXKLnr5bJVHuHx4UN-HIEULFgE832z_f-mB1sj6mXMLvzD9u7FlOWuMfDXdcOEb_7n3LyuLGPJc8x0/s1213/Calpic_AugSEPT18women_harvest_.jpg
https://vitalitymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Calpic_AugSEPT18women_harvest_.jpg
https://vitalitymagazine.com/calendar-of-events/senior-women-showing-farm-vegetables-in-a-basket/



Those named or referred to in Paul's list encompass a very broad spectrum. There are men and women, Jews and Gentiles, leaders (see Romans 16:7) and servants, slaves and nobility, and (very likely) rich and poor. Paul died as a man whose life was richly interwoven with his community. It did not happen overnight, but was a sign of a life spent loving, serving, and connecting - and belonging.

Let's be inspired to do the same.


Paul's community list encompass a very broad spectrum.
PHOTO: Paul's community list encompass a very broad spectrum. There are men and women, Jews and Gentiles, leaders (see Romans 16:7) and servants, slaves and nobility, and (very likely) rich and poor. Paul died as a man whose life was richly interwoven with his community. It did not happen overnight, but was a sign of a life spent loving, serving, and connecting - and belonging.
Picture posted by Pr. Ernie Hinojosa, Daily Reflections on Scripture on 07 October 2019

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39WD-Szo9QNvmpdFSbFRo32mZ1xFTApEr4S3_rikrXVL6GTDOoTkiwwdV85AcfTcS0RrlxySWPH4DQMYSLCjvgmrvVjGYh4ZNxrbVgAm4hPgzm4SFVLgBIL0V5Ko3AQu8FVHIHecOWjw/s800/cloud-of-witnesses.jpg
https://pastorernieblog.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/cloud-of-witnesses.jpg
https://pastorernieblog.org/2019/10/07/my-cloud-of-witnesses/



Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, help us to remember that we belong to ‘the communion of saints’ that stretches across time and space. This is the community that requires greater attention and involvement on our part. In Christian tradition, we remember those who have gone to be with Jesus, who are part of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that cheer us on the way. Help us to try to understand them, but ‘through them we come to understand ourselves’ too.

We too need Your help to take specific actions to strengthen our bonds with our various communities. We want to grow old while warm and lovingly connected, not cold and lonely. For this to happen, help us to look out for the good of others in our community and give of ourselves to them.

May we be hospitable and loving in this life, and touch many groups of people: relatives, friends, colleagues, and others who come into contact with us. Depending on our circumstances and health, show and guide us with Your ways.

We learn that an active ageing person can meet up regularly with significant others in his life (including family, friends, church members, visitors to church, those they are mentoring). Meeting for a meal, inviting them home, and visiting those who need help and company are some ways this can be done. Also there are also elder activity centres run by churches where one can enjoy social and spiritual interaction with fellow seniors and volunteers. Seniors can also minister to others through letters, text messages, and phone calls.

Paul's list of communities encompass a very broad spectrum. There are men and women, Jews and Gentiles, leaders and servants, slaves and nobility, and (very likely) rich and poor. Like Paul, and advanced in years, we know that we shall soon join the ‘great cloud of witnesses, and become part of that wonderful community. Let us died as persons whose life are richly interwoven with our community.

Although this cannot happen overnight, but is a sign of a life spent loving, serving, and connecting - and belonging.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!
"
Picture posted by Guido Masé on 06 May 2019 - The Benefits of Gardening
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https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2184/8197/files/jovial-gardening-web.jpg?v=1514324842
https://www.urbanmoonshine.com/blogs/blog/science-update-the-benefits-of-gardening

Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Strengthening Bonds with Communities
Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS, Chapter 15, "Finding Community", Question 2, Page 101.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


 




Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, ©
2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020

https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 


Reference
[1] From "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, Copyright © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-14-1836-5, PART II: SPIRITUAL HABITS, Chapter 15, "Finding Community", Page 99-100.

[58] Frederick Buechner, The Sacred Journey (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1982), 21-22.


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