Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year C Second Sunday of Advent: Peace Scripture: Luke 3:1 6 NRSV Gathering Welcome Advent is a season of waiting for the coming of light into a darkened world in the form of the infant Jesus. Advent is spent anticipating and spiritually preparing for the arrival of the Christ-child. Scriptures, symbols, and hymns help make Advent a time of expectation for Christ s birth, rather than a frenzy of holiday tasks. The Advent season begins four Sundays before Christmas and is observed each Sunday until Christmas Day. An Advent wreath with four candles and one Christ candle in the center often is used to observe the weeks of Advent. One candle is lit each week until all are burning brightly Christmas Day. Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. To the One who hears all prayers, God, you are called by many names, but our prayer today calls on you as the Prince of Peace. We long for your peace: peace of mind, peace in our families, peace at work, peace in all lands. We leave our worries, fears, and doubts at your feet and breathe in your peace. We know we are distracted by the what ifs of life, but we come to you in faithfulness to replace the what ifs with courage, strength, and hope, even in the chaos and frustrations of life. Our prayer is that we keep our eyes on you and not the things of the world. We pray our hearts will be at peace. When we arise each day with your peace in our hearts, we pray others will see in our words and deeds that our peace comes from you. Amen. Diane Allison

2 Spiritual Practice Journaling Pregnant Waiting Materials: Advent wreath or ring for four candles and one white candle in the center, paper, and pens or pencils. Note: Light the first candle of Advent before the welcome. Light the second candle of Advent and say: Today we light the second candle of Advent. This candle symbolizes the peace Christ brings to the world. May we seek peace and patience in our lives. Read the following: Advent teaches us metaphorical lessons through the image of pregnancy. Although waiting for the birth of a child is difficult, if we rush quickly to the end it will diminish the quality of life for the baby. A baby needs each day between conception and birth to grow. This is true for us in our spiritual lives, too. We learn to live with discomfort and the unknown. We learn to settle into the waiting time. Advent reminds us to go inward and be patient with the discomfort. Pass out papers and pens and ask: What are you being invited to wait for? How does Advent remind you of the importance of patience in the spiritual journey? Give the group five minutes to journal and then invite members to share their thoughts and feelings. Sharing Around the Table Luke 3:1 6 NRSV In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Today we celebrate the second Sunday in Advent. John the Baptist teaches about the coming reign of God while quoting the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. In the ancient world, those who lived in the desert were separate from those who lived in protected, walled cities. City dwellers were the mainstream of society. Those from the wilderness or desert lived outside those

3 societal norms without material goods and comforts. This passage reminds us that information about the reign of God, or Zion, comes from the margins of society, not from the mainstream. Isaiah and John use the symbolism of mountains, valleys, and roads to talk about the reign of God. In their description, the coming of God s peaceable kingdom means people no longer will experience extreme obstacles and hardships, and broken systems will be fixed. John makes it clear that God s peaceable kingdom is available to all people. John asks us to envision a world where hardship and oppression no longer are present. In doing so, he calls us into the waiting that we associate with Advent. Questions 1. Why do you think information about God s peaceable kingdom comes from the margins? 2. During Advent we talk a lot about the coming of Jesus, God s peaceable kingdom, and this process of waiting. What do these things mean to you? What does this process of waiting look like in your life? Sending Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. The offering prayer for Advent is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: God who is faithful, Be present with us as we plan our spending. May we use our resources in ways that build healthy, happy relationships with you, others, and the Earth. May we remember the teachings of Jesus that challenge us to make lifestyle choices that are counter to our culture of accumulation and excess. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn CCS 396, Blessed Be the God of Israel Closing Prayer Optional Additions Depending on Group Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Thoughts for Children

4 Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. To the One who hears all prayers, God, you are called by many names, but our prayer today calls on you as the Prince of Peace. We long for your peace: peace of mind, peace in our families, peace at work, peace in all lands. We leave our worries, fears, and doubts at your feet and breathe in your peace. We know we are distracted by the what ifs of life, but we come to you in faithfulness to replace the what ifs with courage, strength, and hope, even in the chaos and frustrations of life. Our prayer is that we keep our eyes on you and not the things of the world. We pray our hearts will be at peace. When we arise each day with your peace in our hearts, we pray others will see in our words and deeds that our peace comes from you. Amen. Diane Allison

5 Spiritual Practice Journaling Pregnant Waiting Materials: Advent wreath or ring for four candles and one white candle in the center, paper, and pens or pencils. Note: Light the first candle of Advent before the welcome. Light the second candle of Advent and say: Today we light the second candle of Advent. This candle symbolizes the peace Christ brings to the world. May we seek peace and patience in our lives. Read the following: Advent teaches us metaphorical lessons through the image of pregnancy. Although waiting for the birth of a child is difficult, if we rush quickly to the end it will diminish the quality of life for the baby. A baby needs each day between conception and birth to grow. This is true for us in our spiritual lives, too. We learn to live with discomfort and the unknown. We learn to settle into the waiting time. Advent reminds us to go inward and be patient with the discomfort. Pass out papers and pens and ask: What are you being invited to wait for? How does Advent remind you of the importance of patience in the spiritual journey? Give the group five minutes to journal and then invite members to share their thoughts and feelings.

6 Sharing Around the Table Luke 3:1 6 NRSV In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Today we celebrate the second Sunday in Advent. John the Baptist teaches about the coming reign of God while quoting the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. In the ancient world, those who lived in the desert were separate from those who lived in protected, walled cities. City dwellers were the mainstream of society. Those from the wilderness or desert lived outside those societal norms without material goods and comforts. This passage reminds us that information about the reign of God, or Zion, comes from the margins of society, not from the mainstream. Isaiah and John use the symbolism of mountains, valleys, and roads to talk about the reign of God. In their description, the coming of God s peaceable kingdom means people no longer will experience extreme obstacles and hardships, and broken systems will be fixed. John makes it clear that God s peaceable kingdom is available to all people. John asks us to envision a world where hardship and oppression no longer are present. In doing so, he calls us into the waiting that we associate with Advent. Questions 1. Why do you think information about God s peaceable kingdom comes from the margins? 2. During Advent we talk a lot about the coming of Jesus, God s peaceable kingdom, and this process of waiting. What do these things mean to you? What does this process of waiting look like in your life?

7 Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. The offering prayer for Advent is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: God who is faithful, Be present with us as we plan our spending. May we use our resources in ways that build healthy, happy relationships with you, others, and the Earth. May we remember the teachings of Jesus that challenge us to make lifestyle choices that are counter to our culture of accumulation and excess. Amen.

8 Communion Statement We come together in this time of waiting to share in the Lord s Supper as a visible witness of loving Christian fellowship and shared remembrance of Jesus Christ s death and resurrection (Doctrine and Covenants 164:4a). All committed followers of Christ are invited to partake, but no one should feel pressured to receive the emblems. This Advent season, our experience of being together as we share in Communion is an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings 519, In the Singing.

9 Thoughts for Children Materials: grooming products such as soap, washcloth, travel-size shampoo, etc., or digital photos of such to display on a phone or tablet or project on a screen Say: Today I brought some things from home that help keep us clean. Who knows what these are? Allow the children to guess and discuss the items as they pass them around. What would you do if you knew you were going to be meeting a special new friend? Would you want to make sure you were clean and at your best? In today s scripture we learn about a man named John. He knew God had a special plan for him, and he heard God calling him to be a messenger. I have a message for you from God, he told the people. John told the people to come with him to the river Jordan, where he would baptize them in the water to make them clean, so they would be ready for God s Chosen One. He didn t know who God s Chosen One would be, but as soon as he saw Jesus walking toward him, he knew Jesus was the one they were expecting! This was God s Chosen One! John didn t baptize the people to get them physically clean, like you and I would be from taking a bath with soap. He baptized them to make them spiritually clean, so their hearts would be changed and ready for God s Chosen One. On this second Sunday of Advent, remember John s message, and prepare yourself for the coming of Jesus, God s Chosen One. Adapted from Lectionary Story Bible, Year C