Spiritual Practices in Community

July 2026 marks ten years since my family left our home on the north coast of Cornwall and moved to southeast Scotland. We moved to start a church community that came to be part of the 24-7 Prayer network. From the outset, what brought us together wasn’t simply what we believe, a clearly defined, black and white statement of faith. The question was always, how do we cultivate an ecumenical, Jesus-centred community, where all people can belong even if there are differing theological opinions and doctrinal beliefs? It may have been a little naïve, but we hoped those from different streams and experiences of the Christian faith, and those who might be simply curious about this Jesus fella, could exist together, learn together, worship together, break bread together, and grow in community…..despite the differences.

Truth be told, sometimes it was magical, sometimes it was like walking through treacle, and other times it was really challenging and relationships were fractured.

One thing that we learned quite early in our journey as Discovery Church Dunbar was that this exploration of community needed spiritual practices at its core. They can offer an invitational, inclusive, and expansive place to explore and encounter Jesus, for all willing to participate; like a container that holds us all. And it doesn’t matter if we’re arriving with the joy of the Lord, or deeply troubled, or at the edges of our faith, at the end of the line – we can all come, lay down the burdens we carry and sit with others and turn our gaze towards Jesus. Like the old adage suggests, we journey ‘alonetogether’. God meeting with us exactly where we are, as we learn to keep company with him.

It’s worth noting at this point that mastering spiritual and contemplative practices isn’t the point here. The desire that motivates us might be to live and walk in freedom, close to the heart of God. Practices are simply a pathway to that end, a route to explore and experience more of God. Hopefully, a practice that’s meaningful to you as an individual or a community, in the end, brings you closer to deep and rich union with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, and effects lasting transformation.

A great resource for exploring spiritual practices is a book by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun called Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (does what it says, really). Regarding transformation she says, “We simply desire….we bring our ache and our longings. Then we keep company with Jesus by making space for him through a spiritual discipline. Our part is to offer ourselves lovingly and obediently to God. God then works within us doing what He alone can do. God is free to come to us in spiritual disciplines as He wills, not as we demand. But unless we open ourselves to Him, we might miss Him altogether.”

Through the centuries, the Church has implemented routines of practices and disciplines that most denominations and streams share. The obvious ones are prayer, the eucharist, reading and study of scripture, worship, fellowship, fasting, confession and giving. These are used as ways to develop communion with Jesus and to grow in relationship with Him. However, if these become performative or are done for the wrong reason and motivation, they fail to bring transformation.

The aforementioned practices could be called classical practices. But there are others, more unique to an individual or community that we could call non-classical. An example of this could be getting out into nature. For me, I feel close to God when I’m outside and therefore it makes sense to make a regular practice of spending time with God in prayer whilst walking on the beach or in the woods. The same could be said of a Forest Church or church eco group. Maybe as an artist or musician, painting or playing your instrument could be a practice of encounter and worship and therefore much needed intentionality to cultivate a routine. What about prayer? We can easily get a bit stuck with our personal or denominational practice or understanding of prayer. We might like to try lectio divina, visio divina, centring prayer, meditation, prayer walking, or using other creative pursuits as a way in which to connect with God and each other.

The beauty and joy of spiritual practices is how they are outworked in community. We are shaped by those around us, hopefully for the better, and encouraged by those further on the journey of faith with God than we are. Walking with God is not a linear path. There are many twists and turns, even U-turns! The path of becoming is often twinned with the path of unbecoming. And this is much better if we have companions and others who help us to see things from a different perspective, or who can bring their experiences and stories that broaden and stretch us; companions help us when we tire and need picking up, and then in turn we can help others when they are in need. There is an ebb and flow to community that is truly humbling and glorious when the love of God, a genuine love for each, and a culture of willing forgiveness are all present.

A community of shared practice will look different depending on the context and the unique charism of each community. Larger congregations will have to adjust and take a very different approach to a small new monastic community or house church. Whatever church you’re in, when you’re looking at new practices, it’s good to begin with your core values. Then you can look at how you outwork those values through practices. For example, you may have a value of ‘one-anothering’ in your church. If so, what practices could you introduce that enable you to cultivate a culture where the ‘other’ is seen, witnessed, listened to, cared for, loved, and encouraged to thrive? When we first began Discovery, we centred around Intimacy, Creativity and Purpose. Intimacy with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit as individuals and in community; creativity in all we do and in our approach to life, relationships, mission, and community; and to live Christ-centred with intentionality and purpose in our choices, our endeavours, our families, and our church.

I encourage you to explore spiritual practices/ disciplines further in your church. Begin with where you are at. You’re probably doing more than you think already. Is there a unique charism upon your community? How are you committing to nurturing and sustaining each other? What is it like for others to enter into your space? Are they welcomed and accepted, could they find belonging among you?

A final word from Discovery. In the early days we began using the phrase Limping Pilgrims, Curious Explorers. It perfectly encapsulated who we were and still are. It was invitational. Bring your limp, your wound, your doubts and your fears; and be curious and willing to explore. God wants to show us the depths and breadths of the Kingdom, to taste and see! I encourage you all to do the same. It’s a truly wild and transformational ride!

Jon Timms

Joint CEO, Rural Ministries

First published in MOSAIC Issue 20, September - December 2026