Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year C Transfiguration Sunday Scripture: Luke 9:28 43a NRSV Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. God of All, We pray for peace in our lives, our communities, and the world. May we pray with our voices that peace may be heard. May we pray with our hands, that peace may serve others. May we pray with our feet and walk in ways of peace. May we pray with our hearts that we may be open to the needs and concerns of others. God of all, we pray for peace. Amen. Spiritual Practice Meditating on God s Name Say: This spiritual practice provides opportunity for new understandings of God s nature. In a moment I will read many names for God aloud, slowly, and reverently. Listen prayerfully, and if you wish, write down the names that speak to you most deeply. Slowly read the names below. Pause for a few seconds between each name. Holy One Loving Parent Healing Presence Source of joy Ancient One Awesome God Creator God Father of lights

2 Compassionate One Loving Spirit Gracious Creator Great Spirit Grandfather/Grandmother Great I Am Beloved Friend First Breath Giver of life Gentle Shepherd Mother-Father God Creator of beauty My Rock Say: As we enter into silent prayer, listen for new names and descriptors for God that might come to you. Consider God s being, nature, and presence. Write down names for God that surface during your prayer. Allow two three minutes for silent prayers. Close the time of prayer by saying, Amen. Invite group members to share the names for God that came to them. Close the sharing time with a brief prayer for all that has been experienced and shared during this practice. Sharing Around the Table Luke 9:28 43a NRSV Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not. Jesus answered, You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son

3 here. While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. Today is Transfiguration Sunday, which marks the end of the Epiphany season. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain, where God declares that Jesus is beloved. Jesus later heals a boy. God was showing Peter, James, and John that God was claiming Jesus. Jesus was a homeless activist with radical compassion who didn t bother to follow social norms. His mother got pregnant before she was married, and no one knew who the father was. Jesus came from a forsaken place. Jesus was all of these things, and God claimed him. This was surprising and even terrifying for the men who witnessed it. It broke all of their ideas about whom God claims and why God claims them. God saw this outcast and rebel. God spoke aloud and pronounced him beloved. God claiming Jesus isn t specific only to Jesus. It reflects the way God claims all of us, regardless of social status. It s not just Jesus who is beloved. It is all of us. God loves each of us and declares that we are in sacred relationship with God. In this text, God calls us to name the people we encounter as beloved, to see and value all people as God s beloved, and to recognize the Worth of All Persons. Questions 1. When have you come to understand someone s worth and value when others could not see it? 2. How can we, as individuals and congregations, recognize the Worth of All Persons and put that Enduring Principle into action? Sending Generosity Statement NOTE: If you are using Thoughts for Children today, invite the children to share their drawings with the group before you read the scripture and offer the prayer for the Disciple s Generous Response. 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 is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: Transforming God, May our lives be transformed by your love, grace, and generosity. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn CCS 568, God, Who Touches Earth with Beauty

4 Closing Prayer Optional Additions Depending on Group Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Thoughts for Children

5 Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. God of All, We pray for peace in our lives, our communities, and the world. May we pray with our voices that peace may be heard. May we pray with our hands, that peace may serve others. May we pray with our feet and walk in ways of peace. May we pray with our hearts that we may be open to the needs and concerns of others. God of all, we pray for peace. Amen.

6 Spiritual Practice Meditating on God s Name Say: This spiritual practice provides opportunity for new understandings of God s nature. In a moment I will read many names for God aloud, slowly, and reverently. Listen prayerfully, and if you wish, write down the names that speak to you most deeply. Slowly read the names below. Pause for a few seconds between each name. Holy One Loving Parent Healing Presence Source of joy Ancient One Awesome God Creator God Father of lights Compassionate One Loving Spirit Gracious Creator Great Spirit Grandfather/Grandmother Great I Am Beloved Friend First Breath Giver of life Gentle Shepherd Mother-Father God Creator of beauty My Rock Say: As we enter into silent prayer, listen for new names and descriptors for God that might come to you. Consider God s being, nature, and presence. Write down names for God that surface during your prayer. Allow two three minutes for silent prayers. Close the time of prayer by saying, Amen. Invite group members to share the names for God that came to them. Close the sharing time with a brief prayer for all that has been experienced and shared during this practice.

7 Sharing Around the Table Luke 9:28 43a NRSV Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not. Jesus answered, You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here. While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. Today is Transfiguration Sunday, which marks the end of the Epiphany season. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain, where God declares that Jesus is beloved. Jesus later heals a boy. God was showing Peter, James, and John that God was claiming Jesus. Jesus was a homeless activist with radical compassion who didn t bother to follow social norms. His mother got pregnant before she was married, and no one knew who the father was. Jesus came from a forsaken place. Jesus was all of these things, and God claimed him. This was surprising and even terrifying for the men who witnessed it. It broke all of their ideas about whom God claims and why God claims them. God saw this outcast and rebel. God spoke aloud and pronounced him beloved. God claiming Jesus isn t specific only to Jesus. It reflects the way God claims all of us, regardless of social status. It s not just Jesus who is beloved. It is all of us. God loves each of us and declares that we are in sacred in relationship with God. In this text, God calls us to name the people we encounter as beloved, to see and value all people as God s beloved, and to recognize the Worth of All Persons.

8 Questions 1. When have you come to understand someone s worth and value when others could not see it? 2. How can we, as individuals and congregations, recognize the Worth of All Persons and put that Enduring Principle into action?

9 Generosity Statement NOTE: If you are using Thoughts for Children today, invite the children to share their drawings with the group before you read the scripture and offer the prayer for the Disciple s Generous Response. 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 is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: Transforming God, May our lives be transformed by your love, grace, and generosity. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen.

10 Communion Statement We come together 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. We share in Communion as an expression of Christ s transforming presence in our lives. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings 515, In these Moments We Remember.

11 Thoughts for Children Materials: paper (any size) to make a banner/sign, colored markers, or other writing tools to create and decorate the sign Say: Have you ever experienced God in a way that made you want to stay in that place, or with the people who were there so you could keep feeling God s amazing love? Jesus disciples Peter, James, and John had an experience like that! One day Jesus took them onto a mountain to pray. Mountains are important in scripture stories. Many times we read about people having special experiences with God on a mountaintop! While Jesus was praying, his appearance changed right in front of the disciples! His face began to glow, and his clothes suddenly looked bright and dazzling white! Peter, John, and James also saw two people with Jesus. Somehow they knew the people were Moses and Elijah. The disciples were so amazed that they wanted to stay in that special place. A cloud came over them on the mountain, and they heard the voice of God saying, This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him! Peter, John, and James did not speak about this event for a very long time. It was very special to them. They probably thought about it often, whenever they felt like they needed to remember God s love. It is good for us to remember our mountaintop experiences, too! I have some paper and markers. I want each of you to think about a special time when you experienced God s love. Maybe it was in a special place like a church building, a favorite quiet spot outdoors, or maybe at church camp. Perhaps there was a special person with you who helped you feel God s love. Take the paper and markers back to your place. While we are studying this story today I want you to make a picture of one of your mountaintop experiences when you felt God s love. You can write words, too, if you want. Whatever you create can be a reminder that we can think back on our mountaintop experiences anytime we need to, even in ordinary everyday times. Later in our gathering today, you will have a chance to share your drawings with the group. NOTE: Make an opportunity at the beginning of the Disciple s Generous Response for the children to share their drawings.