In the five years since the first Introductory Seminar, the Prayer of the Lamb has been shared in one format or another with 17 congregations in this diocese, as well as workshops at Ministry Resource Days and other offerings. There have also been seminars, retreats or presentations in six other dioceses, as well as seminars and retreats for Lutherans and Roman Catholics. There was also the presence at the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and 900 sets of beads that many of you put together and used in meditation with the Prayer of the Lamb that were given to Deputies and Bishops and visitors. I estimate that in the last five years this ministry has reached 1600 people through all these various offerings.
Now it seems that it would be appropriate and beneficial to have a physical presence, a place where quiet days and short retreats could be given, where a meditation group could meet on a regular basis, where the Supper of the Lamb could be offered, and where there could be an office for meeting with individuals for meditation instruction or for spiritual direction, and where the newsletter could be produced.
I am glad to announce that we have begun to realize this dream! We have just been offered space for an office at St. Dunstan Episcopal Church, Shoreline, with use of their facilities for day retreats and such events. This is a congregation where we have held an Introductory Seminar, had a 12 week group, have a monthly on-going group, and where we have had celebrations of the Supper of the Lamb and Quiet Days. I am tremendously grateful for this generous offer, and feel that this reflects appreciation by the congregation for this ministry and its benefits for them. I am also pleased because this church is easy to get to, is handicap accessible, and is set in 4+ acres for beautiful, wooded grounds. The church and its setting are very conducive for meditation and prayer.
We will be getting the Community of the Lamb office set up in the next few weeks in the lower level of St. Dunstan. Now I will have space where I can meet with individuals for spiritual direction and individualized meditation instruction, a need that was becoming more and more apparent with the passage of time.
A second development in the mission of the Community of the Lamb is offering the ministry of intercession through the Prayer of the Lamb on a wider basis, inviting congregations and individuals to bring us prayer requests. I have a dream that the Community of the Lamb will become an association of those who pray the Prayer of the Lamb regularly and who offer the Prayer as intercessory intention for prayer requests entrusted to us from throughout the diocese and beyond. The Prayer of the Lamb is, I believe, so well suited for this way of offering intercession, because whatever the need or request the intercession is offered in trust without condition and inclusively. It is an act of faith in the abundant and unconditional mercy, love, compassion and care of God. I envision a regularly offered Eucharist, a Supper of the Lamb, at which the Community could gather to offer this meditation of intercession within the context of the sacrament. This would be a ministry of outreach and service, an ecological and spiritually based offering for the sake of the world.
It goes without saying that this is certainly a time when intercession for the world is needed. Not only is this a time for critical change going on in the institutional church on the congregational level, diocesan or synod level, and internationally, challenging how mission and ministry is focused, calling for greater clarity about the spiritual basis for what all we do and how we are to be, but this is also a time of urgent need for intervention worldwide in the escalation of violence, war, poverty, epidemic, and ecological disaster. Fundamental to all action in the world is the spiritual basis out of which this action flows.
Our purpose here is service, and what that service is arises from what we experience deeply as confining limits in this world. This purpose here is the service of sharing the radiant love and mercy of the Lamb of God which releases hearts to the freedom that God intends for all. We cooperate in fulfilling this service first by realizing ourselves the love and compassion Jesus/Yeshua has for us, and by offering compassion to ourselves. And this has an ecological effect. Then out of that compassion and out of that being a place where intercession is offered the radiance of the Light of God gives light and guidance and direction for active service in the world.
Blessings in the Lamb,
Beverly
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