The Oaken Oath: Shema
*As an inseparable part of our devotion to God, we commit to a life of Shema.
Shema means “hear” or “obey” and is the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which says Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
We commit to remain in a posture of listening and obedience before God. We pledge to approach life in a holistic manner with God as our center. We will seek the counsel of those who hold the wisdom of God and will be faithful to teach all with grace, passing on the Traditions and Customs of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We commit to a life of community, that we will do life together with others in a mutual spirit of availability and vulnerability, living in close relationship with those around us, loving our neighbors as Christ loves us.
We commit to the disciplines of a contemplative life: practicing prayer for others as well as our selves, times of solitude with Christ, fasting to remove obstacles to the worship of God, learning from all who enter into our lives, taking instruction in the Words of Christ, and Meditation on the Holy Spirit, on Christ's goodness, and our life in the ever changing body of Christ. A life of Shema is a life that is set apart, consecrated for holiness and for mission.
I bind to myself this day and for all my days a vow of Shema.
ALL: May God preserve and empower you according to His pleasure.
Shema means “hear” or “obey” and is the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which says Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
We commit to remain in a posture of listening and obedience before God. We pledge to approach life in a holistic manner with God as our center. We will seek the counsel of those who hold the wisdom of God and will be faithful to teach all with grace, passing on the Traditions and Customs of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We commit to a life of community, that we will do life together with others in a mutual spirit of availability and vulnerability, living in close relationship with those around us, loving our neighbors as Christ loves us.
We commit to the disciplines of a contemplative life: practicing prayer for others as well as our selves, times of solitude with Christ, fasting to remove obstacles to the worship of God, learning from all who enter into our lives, taking instruction in the Words of Christ, and Meditation on the Holy Spirit, on Christ's goodness, and our life in the ever changing body of Christ. A life of Shema is a life that is set apart, consecrated for holiness and for mission.
I bind to myself this day and for all my days a vow of Shema.
ALL: May God preserve and empower you according to His pleasure.
