News

“In Sion Firmata Sum”

News and greetings, June 23rd, 2019 was the day we sent out the letter of an initiative presented by the Congregational Novitiate Formation Team. and 23 sisters and friends of Sion joined the initiative to make a difference in our daily living.

The “pact” we invited to, called us at this point to commit ourselves to live deeply one day a week as a day of “praise and thanksgiving”. This could mean to turn off our gadgets, slow down, notice, listen to the word, enjoy one another, do something creative…

Some month’s later the world experienced a lock down in many countries because of the corona virus which interrupted all work, social and interactive daily life. We were forced, to keep physical distance and wear face masks and gloves to protect oneself and others. The Pandemic took hold of our life’s.

In looking back over the time I was keeping the pact of “Praise and Thanksgiving“ during this year, which interrupted my lifestyle to some degree, I would like to share what I learned.

I learned that routine can be very life-giving, routine can be something one can look forward too, as by Friday I long for my day of praise and thanksgiving. I learned to let go off the activity one day a week by giving myself time to sit with my God more consciously over a length of time. I could read a book or just waist time by enjoying nature and by seemingly doing nothing important but just being.

I learned that God’s commandment “to keep the day of rest” once a week has not as it´s goal, to restrict my freedom but calls me to engage me even more and to get to know and learn who God is. Resting with the one who created me to be helps to become more the human being which is in need to look back, to reflect on my actions, my doings and connect and keep in contact united with my creator for the week to come.

(Genesis 2:1 “Thus heaven and earth were completed with all their array. On the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating.)

The Word of Jesus “remain in me” tells me to stay connected, to be in communication and so I wish us all a happy first anniversary of the day of “Praise and Thanksgiving”.

John 15:1-11 (Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch… If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.

Juliana