The Power of Community

The Power of Community Kayla McClurg "The community of persons closest to us has the power to keep us in the tomb of fear or to call us into the daybreak of hope. Do those around us call us to huddle more closely together...or do they help us throw the doors open because we have experienced together the freeing call to action that is the Spirit of Jesus in our midst?" - Sr. Lauretta Miles These words were among the earliest posted at inward/outward, and they speak to what we've wanted this service to be--a sharing of ideas to help break open our tombs of fear and move us toward freeing action. The goal has been simple: to share a wide range of spiritual, theological and secular writings to lead us into deeper reflection on the inward/outward way of Jesus. On the first day there were three subscribers. Today, six years and 1,900 postings later, the subscription service has grown to 10,000, with an unknown number receiving the quotes in other ways. It seems that inward/outward has struck a chord, and sometimes a nerve, for those of us who like to ponder ideas for awhile, letting their layers peel back slowly over time--folks who don't mind disagreeing and learning from different perspectives. Readers of this site are scattered around the world, yet also connected. We sense that connection in the comments and in the automated responses that say you are away from email right now because you are on mission trips and honeymoons and silent retreats; you are biking across the country, moving to new cities, attending conferences or just fasting from email. Last week, the quote titled "Birth Pains of the New" brought word that at least one of you is on maternity leave! (That's what we call taking the quotes seriously!) The growth of inward/outward has been exciting but has also brought challenges. Some of you aren't receiving the quotes consistently, can't get the automated subscribe/unsubscribe system to work or have trouble posting comments. Others of you want to add us to Twitter and Facebook but can't do so easily. You are frustrated by the glitches, and so are we. Rest assured, we have been listening! For the past several months we have been busy expanding the capacity of inward/outward and creating some new features. Besides the daily quotes, we want to offer longer reflections, more information about the Church of the Saviour communities and--if funding allows--we want to offer an audio archive of Gordon Cosby's sermons from past decades, a gallery of art that has been significant to the community and ready-to-print publications. INWARD/OUTWARD WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED AS A FREE SERVICE...but we need your help. Will you, dear subscribers, consider making a financial gift to support the next phase of inward/outward's life? If you can give the equivalent of a few days' worth of coffee or soft drinks, we will have what we need. Some of you will not be able to give quite that much; others can give more. God will work it out. If inward/outward has been meaningful in your life--or the life of your church or organization--please give. Online donations via PayPal can be made HERE or by clicking the DONATE button at www.inwardoutward.org. Or, if you prefer, you can send a check payable to The Church of the Saviour (memo inward/outward) at 1640 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC 20009. In this Pentecost season, we celebrate each of you and the ways the Spirit connects us through diverse voices and visions. Your gift will help us continue to send you quotes, and also share the broader life of the community, so that together we might grow toward the image of that most radically free and loving "Spirit of Jesus in our midst." With gratitude beyond measure, Kayla McClurg For The Church of the Saviour and inward/outward Source: Unknown Add your thoughts at inward/outward This message is a daily service of inward/outward. Was this message forwarded to you? Click here to sign up. No longer interested in receiving these readings? Click here to unsubscribe. Having trouble unsubscribing? Email Church of the Saviour Office: churchofthesaviour.office@gmail.com