Community Discipline

What do we do when the behaviour of an individual in an OCDS group or community is disruptive, even to the point of driving others away?  An argumentative person, a person with particular agendas, someone with an undiagnosed personality disorder, can damage the life of the community - and then leadership has to be shown.  The principle must be that the welfare of the community always takes priority.  A difficult person can be indulged up to a point but only up to a point.  On the other hand, there is a difference between a person being difficult and a person pointing out uncomfortable truths that the rest of the community doesn’t want to face.  If for example the discipline and structure of the meetings slides and they degenerate into talk shops, those who are comfortable with that may not want to be reminded that there is a better way.  Likewise, if ideas contrary to the faith are being bandied around in discussion, that might be defended by some in the name of freedom, whereas it is likely to be destructive.  Continuing reliance on prayer must be the watchword in all this – including prayer for good leadership.

Intercessions

RIP Mervyn Leach, father of two Secular Carmelites; Daranee Teapthong

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase; James, recovering from heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.