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I love the feeling of communing with God during the Sacrament service. I feel close to God, my family, the ward members, the rest of the human race and the Universe in general. I like to say an extra prayer thanking God for the atonement, our salvation and our place in the cosmos at that time.

No matter if the rest of the meeting is an anticlimax, that portion alone makes it a desirable experience for me. I think such an experience is open to others too whether they choose this venue or one involving a solitary walk through a mountain meadow, etc.... When we shut off the spiritual side of our lives, we are shutting off a source of nourishment.

As an evangelical Roman Catholic (my wife and adult children are TBM) with a progressive, non-dualistic, perspective I understand what you are saying. In RC services Eucharist is the most looked forward to part of Mass. Every Sunday I watch hundreds receive what they believe is the body and blood of Jesus Christ-often with tears streaming down their cheeks and reverence unmatched in any other part of the service. The sense of God's love poured out in Jesus' atonement and the peace and joy that come from receiving Him in their hearts, and their commitment to live as He lived and serve as He served is undeniable and powerful when executed in a large community setting. Home Masses and Eucharist in small groups of RC's is even more powerful in its unifying effects on believers.
by the way not all RC Masses use 'wafers" to be consecrated along with red wine- i have attended retreats where specially baked unleaven bread is consecrated and delivered in small pieces to the attendees with the wine, sometimes intinctured (?). United Methodists use a formula I particularly like- a loaf of what looks like italian bread is blessed/consecrated and and pieces broken off and given to the communicant with the words "Kairos(your name), The body of Christ broken for you" followed by the cup of wine with the words "kairos, the blood of Christ poured out for you".

During Eucharist i often visualize Jesus and His disciples at the last Supper, seated as they would at a Seder meal with Jesus holding the bread out to his friends and saying the words found in Matthew.
The sense of peace and joy knowing that God's love is infinite and unconditional and that He sent Jesus to die for my sins and and for those of all who have,now or will live, and my response is to receive that gift offered by believing in Him as Savior and Lord of my life and living as He taught through the power of the Holy Spirit is totalling freeing.Jesus taught that when He sets you free- you are truly free-i feel that freedom 24/7 and often wish my brothers and sisters in all faith traditions felt this true freedom and the peace that goes with it.

None of you think about all kids dying of starvation, disease or thirst while you are sitting comfortably in a meeting? None trying to figure out ways to help, even a little bit? Missionary plans but none for the Peace Corps or soup kitchen volunteer service or helping in a hospital?

Hi Joseph,

I find life is about balance; specifically regarding this thread, balancing self care, expressions of gratitude, strengthening relationships, embracing community, nurturing the spiritual (or personal if one is a secularist), with, giving, sharing, serving, helping, and healing.

It seems that we, as humans can be overcome with the pain of the world unless we spend time in a place of peace, filling our cup as they say.

in my opinion, spending an hour or two communing with the divine, or reconnecting to nature, or filling ones soul with awe and wonder at existence is a healing endeavor, one necessary for deep service and love.

I'm happy for those who find this fulfillment in the LDS church, and while I do not in any way believe the Mormon myth, I do understand Mormonism is a community/tribe and does provide a sense of belonging and a place for worship.

For me, LDS meetings are so focused on missionary work, temple attendance, Joseph Smith, the Priesthood, and tithing that as a non-believer I have a difficult time even sitting through a service, unlike other churches where the messages are more about love, care, service; basically a time for being uplifted and inspired.

In sum, I hope each person finds a time and place to find peace and silence, for renewel and healing.

~td~

Hi Moksha,

Good post. It reminded me of somethings I particularly liked from Joseph Campbell and Karen Armstrong on the relationship between myth and ritual. I'll have to look around for the better quotes, but I think Karen Armstrong's point below from, "A Brief History of Myth" gets at it -

"We need myths to help us to create a spiritual attitude, to see beyond our immediate requirements, and enable us to experience a transcendent value that challenges our solipistic selfishness.

...

"Mythology is inseparable from ritual. Many myths make no sense outside a liturgical drama that brings them to life, and are incomprehensible in a profane setting."

There is something about the sacramental ritual that makes real the Christ-myth and brings the member directly into contact with what is at heart an enactment of the atonement story made personal - if as a participant one lets it.

I couldn't agree with you more Moshka, good post. It still feels like a waste of time to me sometimes, but one hour is within my range.

moksha wrote:I love the feeling of communing with God during the Sacrament service. I feel close to God, my family, the ward members, the rest of the human race and the Universe in general. I like to say an extra prayer thanking God for the atonement, our salvation and our place in the cosmos at that time.

No matter if the rest of the meeting is an anticlimax, that portion alone makes it a desirable experience for me. I think such an experience is open to others too whether they choose this venue or one involving a solitary walk through a mountain meadow, etc.... When we shut off the spiritual side of our lives, we are shutting off a source of nourishment.

Beautiful post, Moksha. :-)

For me, I actually feel what you are describing most intensely when we're singing the hymns. "And Now We Take the Sacrament" is one of my favorites. Music is what consistently moves my soul, and allows me to feel closest to God. I am grateful for the musical talents He gave me, and I enjoy sharing this talent by singing praises to Him.

I actually found a piece I'm going to sing in Sacrament Meeting for the Holiday season. It is "Christmas Lullaby" by Jason Robert Brown from the musical, "Songs for a New World". I am so glad that our Bishop is cool with non-conventional musical numbers. He is not a stuffy, "sing hymns only" bishop. LOL

The words to this piece is beautiful, and perfect for the holidays. When I record it, I'll publish a link for you guys.

The main reason in going to church is to get on fire(HS) to serve others after you leave- and tithing and a check does not work well.
For me volunteer working with the homeless in central fairfax va, one of the wealthy counties in america is worthwhile in many ways-serving over 100 guests a hot meal at noon, cranking out 50 loads of laundry from 3 washers and 4 dryers going full speed all day and providing hot showers for about 60 a day-many homeless in this area live in tent camps, cars, storage units, shelters(always overcrowded) and in motels if they can put together 70 dollars for a night. homeless ex-offenders present a scenario of leaving jail after their time with the clothes on their backs, no money, no friends, no family. they are usually pointed toward us- The Lamb Center, a Christian no profit getting no gov funds and welcoming every "stranger" without asking for id or papers-all are welcome.
getting into relationship with the chronic homeless men and women by listening to their stories, often filled with mental illness, abuse, addiction and joblessness, severe medical problems like aids or diabetes is humbling in a tangible way.

as i christian i take matthew 25 literally -"i was hungry and you gave me something to eat... naked and you clothed me, a stranger and you welcomed me......


so yeh -if one is not motivated to serve others in a meaningful way as a
result of going to church he/she would have been better off watching football every sunday imho.

not a sermon-just a thought!

.

Joseph wrote:None of you think about all kids dying of starvation, disease or thirst while you are sitting comfortably in a meeting?

I don't. But then, I do what I can for people on the other side of the planet (which is not a lot) and then focus on the things I actually can help with.

Do you spend three hours in meditation every week about all those who suffer?

None trying to figure out ways to help, even a little bit?

I can't tell you how hard I fought against the two planned service projects.

Missionary plans but none for the Peace Corps or soup kitchen volunteer service or helping in a hospital?

Funny, I have done 2 out of the 3 of those as activities many times, all organized by the LDS faith.

I will leave you to your meditation on suffering then and go get things done then.