Be God's Light that Shines in the Darkness.
The purpose of the Spiritual Life Commission at Christ Church is to provide nourishment for our souls and to provide ways to strengthen our faith over the Church year. The SLC coordinates many programs throughout the year. For example, they organize the weekly Prayers of the People by members of the congregation for the Sunday services, as well as provide an annual inspirational theme for Christ Church. During a typical year, they also sponsor an Advent Quiet Day, coordinate a Christmas Gathering in Old Brick, present a Lenten Reflection Day, curate a 5-week, Wednesday Night Lenten Supper Series with invited presenters, as well as design a weekend family retreat in October at the DuPont Center in Rehoboth, Delaware. Through these gatherings, the SLC aims to help build community and inspiration around each and every Christ Church parishioner.
Recently, the SLC has chosen a theme for the upcoming year at Christ Church, and that theme is...
BE GOD'S LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS.
Light brings vision and the ability to confront the unknown. Faith, encouragement and hope are key to overcoming disappointment, fear of the future, frustration with confinement, and the major disruptions in our lives, especially in this time of the pandemic. God’s love empowers us and gives us strength to help others in their life journeys. Let us be agents of kindness and persons of integrity, respectful and understanding to all people. Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world” and “to let our light shine before others” (Matthew 5: 14-15). In John’s Gospel we are told, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The light of God coming to mankind is a key concept in the Old Testament prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels and in Paul’s letters to the early Church. May we all proclaim the Good News by word and example, serve others with love, and strive for justice and peace for all people in the world; these promises from our Baptismal covenant inspire us to be light-bearers for God. Being God’s light is a privilege and a wonderful responsibility. Let us go forth on our spiritual journeys, both individually and collectively as the Body of Christ, with intentionality in being a beacon of God’s light and love.
If you'd like to know more about the SLC or how you can help in the future, please email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org.