Our Vows
The Charism of this Community is to live the monastic vows of Daily Prayer, Reflective Study and Personal Service that lead to nurturing of the soul at the hands and heart of Christ. This results in our knowing, loving and serving the Lord in our own unique way, as God made us. Our vows do not improve our chances for, or lead us to, salvation. We already have that! You do not have to prove yourself to God, or worry about threats that your eternity is ever in danger. God loves you unconditionally, and salvation comes to you as part of that awesome Grace.
PRAYER
Although we are always connected with God, prayer is when we are most conscious of it. Prayer is time spent with God, empty and open, ready to receive whatever is offered, ready to give whatever needs to be given. It means being present to the moment, acknowledging the God in us, and us in God, where the divine being and the human being come together as one.
STUDY
There are many ways to invite the Presence of God into our lives. Prayer is a very important one, but so is sacred reading. Lectio divina bridges the realm of the physical with the spiritual. It is through this portal that we can renew and refresh our relationship with the Triune God, preparing ourselves for continued service in His Name, in our own unique way. We study scripture, commentaries, classics, people, and nature - anything that helps us to understand our true nature in God.
SERVICE
We sometimes confuse our attraction for, or dependency on, other people as "love." But love stems from a deep desire to help other people become who God made them to be - whether they are your neighbors, relatives, friends, or strangers. There is no partiality. It is not a matter of pleasing their ego, or manipulating them for your own benefit, but rather it is helping them to discover their true identity, or making sure that their basic needs are being met (adequate food, clothing, shelter, and community). We love God by loving all God’s children. And don't forget that Jesus specifically included you in the commandment as well - to love your neighbor as yourself.