The Outward Journey
Marcia Harrington
September 24, 2023
Over the past three Sundays in September, we have journeyed through defining components of the Church of the Saviour and 8th Day. These are:
1. the origin story of the Church of the Saviour;
2. the centrality of the inward journey that is one's relationship with God/the Divine Oneness, with self, and with engagements with others;
3. the critical need for life in a faith community to support the inward and outward journey.
Elizabeth O'Connor, in her conclusion to the Chapter 1, “The Inward Journey” in her book, Journey Inward, Journey Outward, wrote "… this is also a book about the outward journey and a church's struggle to contain both movements within its life." (Elizabeth O'Connor, Journey Inward, Journey Outward, p. 9)
So today we complete this series of teachings by engaging with the Outward Journey. We will focus primarily on the concept of CALL and GIFTS as essential to the outward journey which is fed by the inward journey and the life and support of community.
I do want to suggest that the outward journey is not just about a call to a world beyond church but also to the nurture of the life and growth of the faith community. Over the years, most of our mission groups have been summoned to the neighborhood and world beyond the church. That's good. That's being a good neighbor!