We live as the Jeremiah Community in this neighbourhood.  Some of us live in community houses.  Others live in our own (or family) spaces.  In various ways, we have committed to the following principles and practices that shape our common life together. We seek a life of reconciliation, grace, justice, joy and hope..

Rule of Life (the principles)

Living our life with God the Creator, in the way of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit and in affirmation of the ancient Apostle’s Creed, we are committed to the following:

We will centre our lives on Jesus Christ (upward)…

• We will be committed to Jesus’ way of love, grace and truth-telling.
• We will seek to know Jesus as Lord over every aspect of life.
• We will seek reconciliation with God.
• We will devote ourselves to a prayerful reading of the Gospel, going from Gospel to life and life to Gospel.
• We will actively seek to know God more fully through the reading of Scripture, through prayer, and in all whom we meet; trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to shape us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
• We will pursue a rhythm of prayer and praise without ceasing.
• We will help others live their divine purpose by inviting them to follow the abundant and liberating Way of Jesus.
• We will strive to purify our hearts from the desire for possession and power – and strive to be in right and holy relationship with God.

We will be present in the neighbourhood (outward)…

• We will follow the way of Jesus’ sacrificial and incarnational life in this neighbourhood.
• We will spend time understanding and being part of the various cultures of the neighbourhood.
• We will exercise creativity in our living and expressing of the Gospel as we challenge and engage culture.
• We seek to make discipleship a lifestyle and thus freely give our time in service to God.
• We will get in the way of injustice in the neighbourhood.
• We will strive to live life with those seen as the last, the least and the lost in this neighbourhood.
• We will intentionally build friendships with people in the neighbourhood.
• We will remember the people and environment of the neighbourhood in our daily prayers and actions.
• We will extend hospitality to our neighbours as we are able; sharing what we have with those in need.
• We will seek to live simply in our affluent culture of over-consumption.
• We will be active in caring for and renewing God’s creation.
• We will seek to be agents of reconciliation, justice, peace and unity in the neighbourhood.
• We will seek to act in solidarity with all of God’s people and God’s creation.  We will thus seek to connect local justice-issues with the struggles for justice globally.

We will share our lives with one another (inward)…

• We will seek to honour Christ in our fellowship with one another.
• As people created in the image of God, we affirm the goodness and grace reflected within each other.
• We will regularly attend Jeremiah Community’s gatherings, including a regular worship / communion service.
• We will share resources with those within Jeremiah Community who demonstrate greater need.
• We will intercede daily for the other members of the Jeremiah Community.
• We will pursue reconciliation in our relationships. This will involve times of confession and repentance.
• We will listen to what the Holy Spirit speaks through each other—seeking God together in prayer, with open hearts, minds and hands.

Rhythm of Life (the practices)

Community Members are individuals on a committed journey of discerning, learning and practicing the Rule and Rhythm of the Jeremiah Community. Anyone who feels called to share our common rhythm of life is welcomed to covenant as a Member of the Jeremiah Community. The covenanting process is guided by the Community leaders.

These rhythms may change and be shaped so that we may always seek first the Kingdom of God… They are meant to be an evolving, creative expression of the common life we are called to live as Community Members; and they are ultimately meant to call us to a life of freedom and abundance in Christ.

PRAYER PRACTICES (upward)

• Members of The Community will seek to pray without ceasing – and are invited to gather for community prayer at 7:30 am each weekday.
• Members are strongly encouraged to be present at least one day a week at morning prayer.
• Members of the community will regularly strive to stop at 1pm (or as close to 1pm as possible if it is impossible to stop at 1pm) for a time of personal prayer for a period of 15 minutes.
• Members will aim to take one day (24 hours) a week for personal or family ‘sabbath’ (rest and re-creation).
• Members of the community will meet regularly with an outside Spiritual Director/Mentor. The Director/Mentor is a person outside of the missional community who offers a sounding board and direction in the spiritual life.
• Members will tithe their income to the work of God in this neighbourhood. Tithing speaks to our surrender and our freedom from money, our trust in God’s providence, and our commitment to the common good.
• Members will take one weekend a year for a retreat.

MISSION PRACTICES (outward)

• Since discipleship is a lifestyle, Members will aim to tithe their time to missional presence in the neighbourhood. Members should actively contribute to Jeremiah projects in the neighbourhood which are done by two or more community members.
• Community Members either live or work in the neighbourhood, or have the intention to move into the neighbourhood. This area, roughly speaking, is bounded by Ossington Ave., Queen St. West, Lansdowne Avenue and Bloor Street.
• Members will practice mutual accountability in how they intend to care for God`s creation.
• Members will actively consider care of creation when hosting and planning community gatherings.

COMMUNITY PRACTICES (inward)

• Members of the Community will regularly participate in a neighbourhood-focused community worship gathering which seeks to be a vital part of the mission of the community where we celebrate of the Resurrection of the Lord.
• Members of the community who live with their family will seek to engage their households in discipleship.
• Members will take one weekend a year for a retreat with the whole community village. Included in these retreats will be times to accountable to each other around various aspects of the Rule.
• Members will regularly participate in times of fellowship with the Jeremiah Community.

All of this is practiced by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a community we’ll aim to live each moment with grace, celebration (including some healthy laughter!) and generosity (to self and others).  We seek to prayerfully and creatively live according to the spirit of these commitments, rather than merely the word by which they are written. In living out this call, lets’ not miss the point entirely! This is about freedom, celebration and joy as we grow in the loving discipline of a faithful community.