Communion Meditations

The great spiritual task facing me is to so fully trust that I belong to God that I can be free in the world--free to speak even when my words are not received; free to act even when my actions are criticized, ridiculed, or considered useless; free also to receive love from people and to be grateful for all the signs of God's presence in the world. I am convinced that I will truly be able to love the world when I fully believe that I am loved far beyond its boundaries.

Henri J. M. Nouwen in Beyond the Mirror.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are, it seems to me, largely fruits of

sustained interaction with God. Just as a child picks up traits more or less simply by dwelling in the presence of her parent, so the Christian develops tenderheartedness, compassion, humility, forgiveness, joy, and hope through "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"--that is, by dwelling in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. And this means, to a very large

extent, living in a community of serious believers.

Robert C. Roberts in The Reformed Journal

Community ... means people who have to learn how to care for each other.

Eugene Peterson

One of the greatest expressions of love is simply to notice people and to pay attention to them.

Richard Foster

No man should be alone when he opposes Satan. The church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands may be joined together and one may help another. If the prayer of one doesn't help, the prayer of another will.

Martin Luther, "Martin Luther--The Early Years,"