Section 163:1
Commentary: Called By Your Name

Discernment Activity

President Veazey’s reflections emphasize the spiritual significance of being named by God. We are to be transformed by the meaning and experience of community as it was proclaimed and lived by Jesus. We are to continue discerning who God calls us to be and how we are to be “a blessing to the whole creation.”

The following spiritual discipline invites us to take up a pattern of breathing and repetitive use of a prayer word or phrase that keeps our attention centered on God. Centering prayer, or breath prayer, is an old Christian spiritual practice. Breath and the prayer “word” serve as tools or anchors to keep the focus on being available to God’s touch or “voice.” They also prevent us from taking over the prayer with our words, worries, or distracted thoughts. Conversational prayer is also important, but this form of prayer places us in the receptive, listening stance that is so crucial to discerning God’s will.

Centering Prayer
1. Find a quiet place where you can spend time alone with God. Or gather a group of friends and set a time frame for engaging in centering prayer silently together.

2. Sit comfortably in a chair, close your eyes, and begin to notice your breathing. (This prayer may also be done in a standing or lying position.)

3. Offer a silent prayer asking God to help you become aware of God’s presence and open to God’s word, touch, or movement.

4. Gradually take up a steady pattern of breathing in and out, perhaps slightly deeper and slower than normal. It may help to think of God breathing in you or of breathing God’s Spirit in and out. Let your breath become a prayer.

5. Listen for a prayer word or phrase that expresses your need/desire to experience and “listen for” God. This will be one word or short phrase that can be repeated in rhythm with your breathing. You may want to silently say part of the phrase as you breathe in and the other part as you breathe out. Some examples of prayer words and phrases that can be used are found below. Or you may want to listen for your own prayer words. Keep the same phrase throughout your prayer.

• Loving God (as you breathe in)…..Open my heart to you (as you breathe out)

• Creator (as you breathe in)…….I am listening (as you breathe out)

• Holy One (as you breathe in)……Teach me my name (as you breathe out)

• Divine Friend (as you breathe in)……Heal me (as you breathe out)

• No words (as you breathe in)…….One word like “Peace, Love, Jesus, God, Bless, Shalom, or Christ” (as you breathe out).

6. Continue praying with your breath and the prayer words you have chosen for the next five to twenty minutes. You may set a timer to end your prayer or, in a group, choose someone to ring a small chime.

7. Take a few moments to silently thank God and say “Amen” before taking one last breath and opening your eyes.

8. You may wish to journal about your prayer experience or share thoughts and feelings if you are in a group setting.

For Further Reflections and Discussion

1. Why were you given the name you have? What effect has that naming had on your life? What significant factors were considered when you or others named children?

2. Cite examples, particularly from the Old Testament (such as Abraham, Sarah, Jacob/Israel, Solomon), of the importance of a person’s name? Consult a Bible dictionary to help in this. Relate the person’s name to his or her life’s xperiences. Why do you think naming is such a consistent theme in scripture?

3. In the six years since the church changed its name to Community of Christ, how do you think the church has been affected by this move? What difference has it made for you, your congregation, and the place where you live?

4. Section 163:1 suggests the naming blessing is far from complete. As Steve Veazey indicated, “Receiving the name is just the beginning of the blessing.” What do you think it will take to discover a greater understanding of this possible blessing?