Facilitator Training Meeting Template

Transcription

1 Facilitator Training Meeting Template (502) Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries

2 Table of Contents Preparation Tasks, Set-up, and Materials Needed... 2 Suggested Timing... 3 Facilitator Training Outline Attachments A: Sample Invitation Letter to Facilitators for Training Meeting... 6 B: Important Notes to Facilitators... 7 C: Ten Principles of Successful Facilitation... 8 D: Facilitator Role Play Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 1

3 Facilitator Training Template Note: One of the most critical elements of program success is having well-trained small-group facilitators. For this reason we strongly suggest you conduct an in-person facilitator training*. Training helps ensure that they have the skills and confidence needed to make the GoodNewsPeople experience an enriching one for all involved. Please allow 2 hours for the training meeting. *Consider conducting a separate full mock session later if you have many inexperienced facilitators. Preparation Tasks: Set the Facilitator Training date and time. Reserve a meeting space and put it on the parish calendar. Personally invite facilitators to attend [Attachment A]. Identify presenter(s) and clarify responsibilities for the meeting. Provide light refreshments. Download & Copy Handouts: Download these handouts from the Training Materials tab. Download the Facilitator Training Handout and Sample Session, if facilitators do not already have facilitator binders. Make copies of the above documents for each facilitator (if needed) and the two handouts in this document. Set-Up: Set up a sign-in table with name tags and markers. Arrange the room for the meeting. Set up laptop and test Internet connection. Make coffee; set up refreshments. Materials Needed: Name tags, markers Pens Laptop, LCD projector, extension cord, Internet connection Link to Online Facilitator Orientation Module: Link to Online Lectio Divina Module Copy of Facilitator Role Play cut up the roles [Attachment D] Copies of Handouts: Important Notes to Facilitators and Ten Principles for Successful Facilitation [Attachments B & C] Facilitator Training Handout and Sample Facilitator Session one copy per facilitator, if facilitators do not already have a facilitator binder Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 2

4 Suggested Timing: Activity Welcome and Introductions Prayer Program Overview: Refer to Facilitator Training Handout or pages 3-10 of the facilitator binder. Online Orientation Module: The Role of Facilitator Facilitator Training Handouts and Sample Session: Review Important Notes for Facilitators, Ten Principles for Successful Facilitation, and Sample Session or Session Two in facilitator binder. Online Training Module: Explanation of Lectio Divina Role Play: The dynamics of successfully leading a small group Questions & Answers Closing Announcements and Refreshments Total Timing 10 min 5 min 5 min 25 min 15 min 15 min 25 min 15 min 5 min 120 minutes Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 3

5 Facilitator Training Outline Welcome and Introductions Prayer Briefly introduce the coordinator and any other additional presenters. Extend a warm welcome to those gathered. Give a quick overview of the training agenda. Invite participants to greet and introduce themselves to each other. Begin with prayer. Use a format that is comfortable to you. Take a few moments of silence for quieting or centering. You may wish to use this prayer: Loving God, You have a plan for each one of us, You hold out to us a future full of hope. Give us the wisdom of your Spirit so that we can see the shape of your plan in the gifts you have given us, and in the circumstances of our daily lives. Give us the freedom of your Spirit, to seek you with all our hearts, and to choose Your Will above all else. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. Source: (Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus) Present a general description of GoodNewsPeople. Refer to Facilitator Training Handout OR facilitator binder- pages 3 to 10. There are 14 sessions 2 seasons of seven sessions. Each session is 2 hours. The Kick-off and Closing Celebration are essential events for all participants from all small groups to share together. An Immersion Experience is designed for participants to witness faith, hope, and love in action happening in their own communities; this is another key element of the program. Each participant needs a participant binder that includes material for each session, as well the pre-session readings and reflections. Before each session, we ask all participants to be still with daily Scripture passages, reflect on readings, and respond to a journal question; these materials are vital to the program. Explain additional details as you see fit. Show and describe the participant binder and other materials, such as the DVD and CD. Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 4

6 Launch the online Facilitator Orientation Module. This 21-minute training module walks facilitators through the main elements of the program and discusses their role as facilitators. The training is available any time. It is a self-guided, easy-to-use, narrated module. Access to the Internet is required to utilize it. Walk through handouts: Highlight the four major points in Important Notes to Facilitators. Ask facilitators to break into pairs/trios to look at Ten Principles for Successful Facilitation. Have pairs/trios take 2-3 minutes to discuss: Are there any principles that don t make sense to you? Are there any that may present a growing edge for you? Using the Facilitator Sample Session (handout or the Session Two pages of the facilitator binder), briefly review facilitator session format, pointing out participant pages and corresponding facilitator script. Hopefully these pages are self-explanatory. Launch the online Lectio Divina Module. For those who are not familiar with lectio divina, this 10-minute training module explains and walks through this beautiful way of praying with Scripture that is used in each session. Conduct the Role Play. See Attachments for step-by-step directions and handout materials. Debrief the experience, revisiting the Ten Principles for Successful Facilitation. Respond to questions. Closing Thank people for coming. Announce the Kick-off date. Communicate any follow up details. Serve refreshments. Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 5

7 Attachment A: Sample Invitation Letter [Date] Dear [Facilitator s name], Thank you for agreeing to serve as a facilitator for GoodNewsPeople. Whether this is your first time as a small-group facilitator or you are a seasoned leader, we are grateful for your commitment. Your generosity of time and talent, along with your willingness to serve God and others in this capacity, are immensely appreciated! Our facilitator training session will be on [date], at [location]. The meeting will begin at [time] and will conclude by [time]. At our training session we will cover the basics of your role as a facilitator, the structure of the sessions, and the dynamics of successfully leading a small group. Our core team will also be present to offer some valuable information, hand out related materials, and answer any questions you might have. We look forward to meeting with you on [date], and if you have any questions or would like to speak to me prior to our training meeting, please call me at [phone number]. Looking forward to sharing this journey with you, [Name] GoodNewsPeople Coordinator Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 6

8 Attachment B: Important Notes to Facilitators Online Facilitator Resource Center The GoodNewsPeople website has a special login for the Facilitator Resource Center, which includes additional tips, tools, and resources for you to download and use in your role as facilitator. Please check it periodically throughout the program, particularly as you approach Session Seven, when you ll need information about group rosters and program evaluations. Web address: Username: facilitator Password: goodnews14 Links to Online Facilitator Orientation and Lectio Divina Modules After this training session, you may wish to review the facilitator orientation or lectio divina modules before you facilitate your first session. You can access the modules anytime online here: Flexibility with Session Timing and Structure Each session title page has a session box with a suggested amount of time for each core program component. As your group settles into the rhythms of the sessions, you may find that it makes sense to add a few minutes to one component and shorten another. Adjust as needed. While some facilitators and groups take comfort in a uniform session structure, others find the repetition restrictive. We offer several possibilities for varying your session structures, including adding supplemental elements (not meant to replace core program components; see page 9 in the facilitator binder) or varying the order of program components (see page 10 in the facilitator binder). A Few Words about Silence Silence is a rare gift in our busy world. As you facilitate a session, there are places where you are asked to pause and allow for silence. One of your roles is to model honoring these times of silence. After someone has spoken, take time to reflect without immediately filling the space with words. Silence gives people time to gain courage to speak their truth. It also allows the speaker to take a breath. Silence can be uncomfortable, but it is essential for going deeper. It may take some time before your group is comfortable with silence. Allow time for this to happen through consistent modeling. Over the sessions, the group will grow to a level of comfort with silence. Allowing room for silence is a spiritual practice and allows each contribution to be honored and heard. Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 7

9 Attachment C: Ten Principles of Successful Facilitation 1. Prepare carefully in advance of each session. 2. Honor the group guidelines. 3. Encourage and affirm participation of all group members. 4. Encourage dialogue by asking open-ended questions. 5. Encourage a willingness to listen to one another with compassion and openness. 6. Be mindful of group dynamics; intervene if dialogue slips into judgment or argument. 7. Keep the group focused on the topic at hand. 8. Keep the group on schedule, within reason. 9. Allow time for silence. 10. Participate from the heart and enjoy the journey. Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 8

10 Attachment D: Facilitator Training Role-play The purpose of this role-play is to anticipate and practice scenarios that might happen in a smallgroup setting. This is a learning tool for both actors and observers. Have fun during the scene; be gentle with actors during the debrief. Timing: Allow 25 minutes for the role-play as follows: Preparation by volunteers: 2 minutes (They read over their role.) Acting out the role-play: 3-5 minutes, De-brief the role-play: minutes. De-briefing is extremely important and has several components: discussing 1) among the actors - what each actor felt (gut reactions) in his/her role as others responded to him/her; 2) among the actors what each actor thought (brain reactions) during the scene; and 3) among actors and observers - what the characters (particularly the facilitator) did well or could have done better to respond to each other in a caring and productive way. For the role play you will need: 6 volunteers Name tags and markers Character slips for each volunteer [see page of this document] The process: 1. Ask for 6 volunteers. Assign roles to each. Actors should not know each other s roles. 2. Tell actors to choose a name (not their own) and make a name tag. 3. Give them about 1-2 minutes to read their role and mentally prepare for it. 4. Ask non-actors to carefully observe the dynamics of the scene, in order to discuss afterwards. 5. Set the scene (read the context) for all observers of the role play. 6. Run the role-play for 3-5 minutes. 7. Debriefing: After the role-play, ask the following: To actors (start with group members, end with facilitator ): What were your feelings during the scene? To actors (start with group members, end with facilitator ): What were your thoughts during the scene? To observers: What did the facilitator do well in the role play? To observers: What could the facilitator have done differently or better? 8. Thank actors. Ask them to shake off their roles and take off their nametags. Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 9

11 Directions: Cut out the strips below and hand out one to each volunteer. Your Role: The Facilitator Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You are about to invite the group to discuss the parable of the Good Samaritan. Based on previous weeks, you re a little worried about group dynamics and truly want all participants to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. You ve noticed some imbalance in sharing and really want to work on making sure that everyone can speak and that members listen to each other respectfully, even if people have differing opinions. Your objective is to facilitate this sharing in a way that gets everyone involved. Your Role: The Quiet One Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You d like to share your thoughts about the Good Samaritan and have lots to say, but you are shy about sharing and you don t want to cause discord. You remain an active listener, but your quiet nature prevents you from voluntarily saying anything. You wonder if the facilitator will notice you haven t said a word. Only if you are directly invited to offer something might you speak. Your Role: The Talker Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You are bubbly and outgoing. You love to talk, even if it means interrupting or cutting off others. Whenever there is an opportunity to say something about this passage, you do. The Good Samaritan is one of your favorite passages. You have taken several Scripture courses and have a lot to say. You love the reminder that all people are our neighbors; all are God s children. It is a wonderful but challenging message: to love, forgive, and respect all people, even those who are looked down upon by society or considered bad because of what they ve done. After all, who of us hasn t made grand mistakes that hurt others at one time or another? Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 10

12 Your Role: The Constant Critiquer Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You have the gift of being clear in your opinions. You like to make sure people know what you think. You tend to critique each contribution and let people know why their point of view is right or wrong. The idea that all people are our neighbors and we should love them is fine and dandy in theory, but not in the real world. There are definitely people who you wouldn t call neighbor. Some people are simply bad & undeserving. You feel it is really important to voice this thought. Do what you must to be heard. Your Role: The Great Distracter Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You have a hard time staying focused. You are a bit of clown and often try to get the rest of the group to laugh, especially if the discussion gets intense. When you offer a comment, it usually does not pertain to the current conversation. You are very attached to your smart phone and continually check it and read messages. Occasionally you offer the latest baseball score or news item to the group. If you get a phone call, you answer it. Your Role: The Controller Context: It is week six and the group has just finished reading the lectio divina passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is now time for the group to share thoughts and insights from the reading. Background: You wield a lot of power in the group and try to take over leadership. You don t feel the facilitator is doing a good job; you could do it better. You are not afraid to criticize the process, the content, or the facilitator s leadership. You are persuasive and try to win other people over to by saying things like, I know everyone agrees with me when I say Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries Facilitator Training Meeting Template Page 11

13 Facilitator Training Handout (pages 3-10 of the facilitator binder) Note: All facilitator binder materials are in black/grayscale. (502) Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries

14 Overview and Tools Introduction Welcome! You and your fellow parishioners have been invited to make a journey of faith together as a community of disciples through the program GoodNewsPeople. Thank you for your willingness to serve as a facilitator! GoodNewsPeople is a dynamic parish-wide faith formation program of JustFaith Ministries that offers a way to promote the New Evangelization. Through an engaging small-group process of prayer, reflection, and action, GoodNewsPeople explores and deepens our call to discipleship: faith, hope, and love in action. The program engages participants in their Catholic FAITH. Each session incorporates Sacred Scripture, inspirational readings and reflections, Church teaching, stories of faith, and the cultivation of virtue. The program aims to communicate HOPE. Participants discover the range of possibilities that a faithful commitment to the gospel call to be "good news to the poor" can bring. It is a hope-filled and enriching process to explore the message of Christ and proclaim Christ anew. The intent of the program is to open hearts to a greater LOVE. Participants encounter the biblical witness of Jesus in the Gospels and that of everyday people who have chosen the path of love as they respond to Luke 4: They unearth the richness of our Catholic faith with the ultimate goal of inspiring new passion for and engagement in the Church s mission to be good news. In every human situation, marked by frailty, sin and death, the Good News is no mere matter of words, but a testimony to unconditional and faithful love: it is about leaving ourselves behind and encountering others, being close to those crushed by life s troubles, sharing with the needy, standing at the side of the sick, elderly and the outcast Come and see! Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness. Pope Francis GoodNewsPeople engages the head and heart, along with the hands and feet, as it builds the bonds of community and fosters a deeper understanding of our faith and the demands of discipleship. Your group will discuss these questions: What does it truly mean for us to follow Christ in the twenty-first century? and Who are we becoming as one body in Christ, as good news people?" The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. Luke 4:

15 Program Format: 14 small-group sessions: 2 seasons of 7 sessions 2-hour long sessions Parish-wide program Kick-off and Closing Celebration Immersion Experience and follow-up Program Highlights: Connecting faith with action Encountering today s disciples Finding a meaningful way to respond to the call to be good news (Luke 4:18-19) Engaging others in the parish who are looking to become good news people Framing Assumptions: Church is a community of disciples where discipleship is at the heart of Christian life for all. Encounters with the Word of God in Scripture inform and transform discipleship. Discipleship and mission are inextricably linked. Hearts renewed in faith can proclaim Christ anew to a world hungry for faith, hope, and love. Parish Outcomes: Enliven the faith and engagement of parishioners; Respond to the call to be a vibrant parish with a deepening and widening community of relationships within and beyond the parish; Develop relationships with people on the margins; Expand the range of activities within and beyond the parish that offer opportunities for parishioners to practice faith in action; Unleash the potential power and possibilities found in a faith-filled commitment to be good news to the world. 4

16 Overview and Tools Program Elements Kick-off The Kick-off event brings all GoodNewsPeople participants together. This important step sets the tone for the process and orients parishioners to the program. As a facilitator, you will sit with your small group. Your primary role in the Kick-off will be to lead the small-group discussion: a preliminary introduction among group members. Your parish coordinator may also ask you to help with other aspects of the event, such as being a reader. Sessions You will meet with your small group for two seasons of seven sessions to share in dialogue as you explore the good news of God's Word and the world. Through the process, group members will deepen their relationships with the Gospel and one another. In this binder you will find all participant materials, as well as a script for facilitating each session. Supplemental materials are available in the online Facilitator Resource Center. These materials are noted when applicable. Immersion/Post-Immersion The Immersion Experience is an essential element of GoodNewsPeople: everyone should participate. It makes the connection between love and justice by sending participants to places in the community where faith, hope, and love in action are alive. This is not a direct-service experience, but rather one of witness, in which participants visit local organizations and agencies with the invitation to open themselves to learning from and to being in relationship with those on the margins of society. A follow-up session provides time to process the experience. In collaboration with the coordinator, you will be responsible for organizing and participating in your group s Immersion Experience(s). There will also be a Post-Immersion follow-up process. This may happen as a program-wide event or in small groups; find out from your coordinator. See the Immersion Experience tab for more information. Closing Celebration: Good News Gala The Good News Gala is the culminating celebration that brings all groups together to close the program and explore next steps together. You will attend with fellow participants and guide the small-group discussion as you did during the Kick-off. 5

17 Session Components Be Still, Reflect, Respond GoodNewsPeople aims to open space for participants to be still, reflect, and respond to the call of discipleship in today s world. Session content offers pre-session materials to encourage participants to use the week between meetings to reflect upon the upcoming session theme. The pre-session activities praying with Scripture, reading an inspirational story, and journal-writing provide rich fodder from which group dialogue may grow during the session. This individual engagement is vital to the GoodNewsPeople process. As a facilitator, it is essential to read the written reflections, spend time with the journaling questions, and pray the Scriptures offered before each session. Your engagement with the materials will allow you to both guide the process with greater familiarity and comfort and participate fully in the group dialogue. These additional practices will help the process run smoothly: Keep the group on schedule, within reason. Stay within the 2-hour timeframe, unless the group decides together to extend it. During the session, be flexible with timing, knowing that allowing time for rich sharing is more important than adhering to a strict schedule. Remind fellow participants at the end of each session to prepare for the next gathering by spending time with the materials. Also remind them of upcoming activities (such as participant Good News Stories, Immersion Experience details, or other announcements). Most of all participate from the heart. Enjoy the community, the prayer and reflection, and the process as a whole as you lean into the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Session Materials During group sessions, participants are invited to be still, reflect, and respond through the following: 1. Prayer Every session begins and ends with prayer. Prayers invite participants to begin each session with a spirit of openness and to leave each session with a willingness to carry new insights into daily life. As a facilitator, you are invited to set this reverent tone by using the opening prayers in your session materials. Opening prayers incorporate a symbol and simple ritual tied to the session theme. If use of prayer symbols and ritual in small-group prayer is new for you or other group members, it is especially important to model the process respectfully and with openness. During closing prayer, you may sometimes choose to use one of the poems found in the online Facilitator Resource Center in lieu of the regular prayer to end the session. Before other group members arrive each session, take a few quiet moments for prayer. Invoke the Holy Spirit s presence. Offer to God your hopes and concerns about the group or the session, recognizing that you and all participants are held in God s loving care. Creating this space for God in yourself will help participants do the same when they arrive. 6

18 Overview and Tools 2. Dialogue Time for dialogue is woven throughout each session. This time allows participants to share insights, questions, and thoughts-in-process. Respectful dialogue and compassionate listening are critical, Christ-like modes of practicing community. Your group will make a collective commitment to group guidelines around dialogue in the first session. (See Group Guidelines in the Resources and Handouts tab.) Be mindful of the following as you guide discussions: Dialogue is about listening from the heart. Encourage a willingness to listen with compassion and openness to one another. Don t be afraid of silence. This can allow space for reflection and a chance for participants to process what is being shared. Not all participants need to share every session. As facilitator, you will act as guide, asking questions and encouraging group members to share. You are also a participant, contributing your own insights as you, too, explore your call to discipleship. At times keeping everyone involved and making space for talkers and thinkers to both listen and share may present a challenge. You may need to gently direct the sharing and listening. Here are some suggestions that may be helpful: Acknowledge people as they indicate they would like to share, so that the speaker knows others are waiting to enter the dialogue. Let s hear from Betty first, then Joe If there is more time, offer questions like: Is there anyone who has not spoken yet that would like to share? Allow for some silence, as even with prompting, it may take a quieter group member a moment or two to speak up. Observe body language to notice if a quiet person is ready to contribute: Mary, you look like you re ready to share When someone is prone to over-talk, try one of these comments: Our time is limited, and we need to hear from everyone who wants to share. Thank you. Now we need to hear from someone who hasn t spoken yet. Let s remember our guideline about making space for everyone to talk. Refer to the Group Guidelines if dialogue slips into judgment or argument. If a group member regularly dominates the dialogue, or if a group member never contributes to dialogue, privately touch base with the participant outside of meeting times. Check in to be sure s/he feeling like a part of the group. Remind the participant of the Group Guidelines. Gently encourage him/her to actively practice both sharing and listening. 3. Lectio Divina The heart of each session involves a particular way of praying the Scriptures known as lectio divina, divine reading. This is one way of experiencing God s presence in and through the inspired word. As you or another participant read(s) the Scriptures aloud during lectio divina, be sure to open your own heart to messages that speak to you. When all group members share, the process is enriched as God s movement in each person s life is revealed. Note that your script directs the group to read the lectio passage twice. If it is more fruitful to read the passage three times, make the appropriate adjustment to your lectio ritual. For more about lectio divina, visit the online Facilitator Resource Center for a short online orientation. There is also an explanation of the process in the Session One tab. 7

19 4. Good News Stories on the DVD Award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Atkinson designed a two-disc DVD set especially for GoodNewsPeople. Nine sessions feature videos of good news people, everyday people who are living their faith in inspiring and hope-filled ways. After each story, theologians and Church leaders connect the stories to our faith tradition and the themes of the program. 5. Good News Stories Prepared and Shared by Participants An important aspect of the program is the opportunity for participants to reflect upon, write, and share a personal story connected to their own journey of faith, their own Good News Story. Session Two of the participant binder includes writing prompts to help guide this practice. Sharing and listening to Good News Stories in your small group strengthens community and encourages participants to incorporate the GoodNewsPeople process more fully into their lives. In Session Two you will invite group members to sign up for a time to share their Good News Stories. As the facilitator, you will offer your story first (during Session Three), as a way to model the activity. This will encourage other participants in their process of writing and sharing their Good News Stories. In Sessions Four, Five, Ten, and Eleven, participants will share their stories. If needed, both Sessions Nine and Thirteen can also accommodate one Good News Story. 6. Virtues The virtues are integrated into each session to encourage the practice of putting faith into action in tangible ways. The group will explore a specific virtue each session and brainstorm ways to put the week s virtue into practice. Although the participant binder gives a few examples of ways to practice the virtue, you can find a more comprehensive list in the Resources and Handouts tab of your binder or in the online Facilitator Resource Center (Virtues in Action: Suggestions for Practice) to further inspire participants. Encourage participants to choose an exercise to try in daily life. You may also use part of the session time dedicated to pre-session materials to discuss the learning from your practice(s). Group members who find a virtue practice particularly enriching may continue with that practice rather than adopting a new one each week. These practices are meant to carry you further along your individual spiritual paths. Encourage participants to let the Holy Spirit guide their virtue practice to offer the most life-giving challenges. 7. Journal-writing Keeping a journal of thoughts, ideas, and insights in response to prayer, reading, and reflection, can be a powerful spiritual practice. Each session contains reflection questions and space to respond to them. These private reflections can offer great insights to bring to group dialogue and often allow participants to make a deeper connection between session themes, the practice of putting virtues into action, and the shared experience of small-group community. 8

20 Overview and Tools Optional Additional Resources Catechism Connections All sessions are informed by the Catechism passages listed on the opening page of each session. As a faith formation program, these references may be helpful for additional reflection and study. The full texts of the Catechism passages cited for each session are available in the Resources and Handouts tab of your binder and in the online Facilitator Resource Center. At the end of Session Seven and Fourteen materials, participant binders include the full text of two Catechism passages for each session. If your group is interested in exploring these passages more fully, you may incorporate them into prayer, dialogue, or as take-home reflections. If you integrate this resource as a source of group discussion, you will have to adjust times within the session to accommodate for the addition. This is meant to be a supplement, not a substitution for another program element. Poetry Resource Poetry greatly enriches prayer, reflection, or dialogue. The online Facilitator Resource Center includes a collection of poems selected to fit the themes explored in GoodNewsPeople, as well as suggestions for using poetry in prayer. You may want to incorporate some of the poems into your sessions or offer them as take-home reflections. Poems are not meant to replace other program elements. Prayer for Guidance Above all else, we again thank you, not only for your decision to participate in GoodNewsPeople, but also for your willingness to assume the added responsibility of facilitating your group s process. GoodNewsPeople is a spiritual journey. Every journey involves preparation, gathering resources, and focusing our energies. In every aspect, God s Spirit can be embodied through our words, movements, and intentions. Take a few moments now to prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit to guide you through your journey. (You will need a candle and a Bible.) Light a candle, enter into silence, and become aware of your breathing, attentive to the subtle presence of the Holy Spirit that lives within you. Open the Bible at 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, and slowly read out verses 4 to 7. Enter again into silence. Allow the misgivings, concerns, or anxieties you might have about your small group or the process of the program (the tasks ahead, your gifts and limitations, the other participants you are journeying with ) to surface in your mind and heart. If you feel moved, name each of your concerns silently, ending each concern with the ancient prayer, Veni Sancte Spiritus ( Come Holy Spirit ). Consciously hand over your concerns to God and, for the time being, let them go. End with an expression of gratitude for whatever blessings are evident in your life right now. Amen! 9

21 A Few Words about Session Timing and Structure Every session follows the same basic format: Welcome and opening prayer Lectio divina Discussion of pre-session materials Virtue discussion and brainstorming Good News Stories (either on DVD or from participants) Announcements and closing prayer The above are essential to every session. Some sessions include other short components, such as the initial orientation to the program and preparation for the Immersion Experience. These additions are noted in the Session Timing box on the opening page of the sessions. Flexibility with Session Timing The Session Timing box is offered to help you plan time during sessions for all essential components of the program. As you settle into the rhythms of the sessions, you will come to know the dynamics of your group and how you engage together with different materials. You may find that it makes sense to add a few minutes to one session component and shorten another. Some groups also like to include time for more casual community-building with a 10-minute break and/or snack time (discuss during Session Two). Flexibility with Session Structure While some facilitators and groups take comfort in a uniform structure, others find the repetition restrictive. To this end, we offer these possibilities for varying your sessions: 1) Break into smaller groups for discussions: Whole-group dialogue is important for building relationships within the group, particularly at the beginning of the process. However, breaking the group into two or three smaller groups at times for dialogue about pre-session materials or sharing after watching a DVD segment offers more time for each group member to express him/herself in a more intimate way. We do not recommend breaking the group up for lectio divina, virtue discussion, or sharing after participant Good News Stories. 2) Change the order of session components: If session timing feels static, consider changing the order of session components for sessions that include participant Good News Stories. If you would like to do this, we recommend beginning those sessions with the participant Good News Stories and ending with lectio divina. The order would be as follows: Welcome and opening prayer Good News Stories (from 2 participants or 1 participant and a DVD segment) Pre-session material dialogue Virtue discussion and brainstorming Lectio divina Announcements and closing prayer We hope that the above helps you both to honor the integrity of the program and adapt it to the needs of your group. As with all elements of the process, let the Holy Spirit guide you. 10

22 Facilitator Sample Session (Session Two of the facilitator binder) Note: All facilitator binder materials are in black/grayscale. (502) Copyright 2014 by JustFaith Ministries

23 Session Two: The Word of Life Preparation Checklist: Engage with the session content as participant. Review content as facilitator. Send group an reminder with meeting date, time and location. Gather materials for the session. Prepare with prayer. Materials Needed: Bible Pillar candle and matches Group Guidelines A newspaper DVD and player Pens Sign-up Sheet for Good News Stories (in Resources and Handouts tab) CD and player (optional) Session Timing: Opening prayer & check-in Lectio divina Pre-session materials Virtue Good News Stories Group Members: Orientation Good News Stories DVD: Eula Hall Announcements & closing prayer 10 min. 25 min. 25 min. 15 min. 10 min. 25 min. 10 min. 29

24 Session Two: The Word of Life 2 God s word resounds through all of creation as God s beautiful and beloved handiwork. It gives form, purpose, and life to all living things. Isaiah 58:5-11 Hope DVD: Eula Hall CCC #703, 1102, 1785, 1817 God has gifted creation with everything that is necessary. Hildegard of Bingen 15 30

25 The Word of Life Session Two Welcome [10 minutes] Arrange the meeting space. In the center of the circle, set up a prayer space with a decorative cloth, pillar candle, the Bible, Group Guidelines, a newspaper, and a cross or other symbol (a statue, an icon, flowers, etc). Welcome group members as they arrive. Ask group members to silence or turn off cell phones. Opening Prayer Invite group members into prayer: Let s take a few moments in silence to quiet our bodies and minds so that we may be fully present to each other during our time together. Light the candle. Sit in silence for seconds. We begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Take the newspaper from the prayer space and return to your seat. (Pause.) (Pause.) God s Word is life. May the light of God s love illuminate our hearts, guide our lives, and dispel the darkness in the world. May we be light and bearers of good news for others. This week we focus on the life-giving Word of God. So often the news we hear does not affirm life or bring hope, but rather reflects the many broken places in our world. I invite you to offer a prayer for a person or situation in need of good news. You may speak your prayer aloud or hold it in your heart, then pass the newspaper to the next person. Pause for a moment of quiet before sharing your prayer with the group. Pass the newspaper to the person next to you to continue the circle of prayers. Once everyone has shared, place the symbol back in the center of the prayer space. Close with a group Amen. Check-in Go around the circle and invite group members to briefly share. Begin by answering yourself: How are you today? What is one piece of good news you have experienced since we last met? 31

26 Lectio Divina Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:5-11 The Word of Life The Word of Life

27 The Word of Life Session Two Lectio Divina [25 minutes] (Pause.) Ask group members to turn to page 26. To be good news, we must hear and respond to the Good News. Let us prepare to listen to Isaiah 58:5-11. Offer one of the following points to introduce the Scripture: (Pause.) (Pause.) The prophet invites us into a renewed understanding of the fruits of fasting. God does not ask for the mere emptying of our bodies and hearts, but the outpouring of our lives to one another, particularly poor and vulnerable people. Offering ourselves as a loving, healing presence is a message of hope. Hope and healing grow like a garden and flow like a river when we nourish one another with the fruit of our fast. We ask you, Holy Spirit, to open our hearts to hear the message you bring to us today. As we listen to the passage the first time, listen for a word or phrase that touches your heart. Ask a group member to slowly read the passage. Pause for 2-3 minutes of reflection. Group members may choose to write or simply sit. [Note: You may wish to play one track of instrumental music from the GoodNewsPeople CD.] As we listen a second time, ponder the words more deeply, allowing them to resonate within you. What do these words mean in your life today? Ask for a different person to read the Scripture. Be attentive to having different voices (male/female, young/old, etc.) read. Pause for 1-2 minutes of reflection. Group members may again write or simply sit. Invite group members to share aloud what Christ is calling them to do or be, or any other fruits of this time of prayer. Prompt them with any of the following questions: What word, phrase, or insight struck you as you listened? How did the Spirit speak to you? What will continue to resonate within you? Thank group members for sharing and conclude with: Let us silently pray for each other. (Pause.) 33

28 The Word of Life Be Still Take some quiet time daily to explore these Scripture passages. Pray with a new passage each day or, if a passage particularly draws you in, pray with it for more than one day. During this quiet time, listen for God s voice in you. What do these Scriptures say to your life in these times? In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light ; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:1-5 The Word of Life We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God s word, which is also at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces. Leviticus 25:10-12 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Psalm 146: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:1-4 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:

29 The Word of God Brings Life For the Jewish people, from the time of the Deuteronomic laws, the covenant, and the prophets, there was special teaching about people who were poor and their privileged place within this community. The Hebrew word for the poor is the anawim, the little ones, originally those overwhelmed by want. In the Old Testament, this group was primarily widows, orphans, and strangers (refugees, migrants, immigrants). They were poor and powerless. Their poverty was often the result of unjust oppression. As such, they comprised Yahweh s poor. Across the world today, women, children, and those whom society sees as others (racially or ethnically different, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, etc.) predominantly comprise each country s poor. The passionate Lord frequently warned the Israelites about their duty to the poor: You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan (Exodus 22:20-22). Their special status reflected a combination of powerlessness, poverty, and systemic exclusion from the community. Care for the anawim became the test of Israel s faithfulness and was an essential part of the covenant between God and the Israelites. The Scriptures use the word justice to describe the community s duty to the poor. Instead of being recipients of optional charity or pious generosity, justice for the poor became the measure of Israel s fidelity to the Lord. Their right treatment lay at the heart of biblical justice and righteousness. Not caring for the poor was infidelity to God, because people who forgot the poor did not understand or reverence this passionate God or share God s passion for the anawim. They no longer really believed in Yahweh revealed as God of the community, dwelling among them and passionately concerned for their welfare, especially for their poor. The Word of Life Session Two Jubilee The book of Leviticus (chapter 25) commands the Hebrew people to observe what are called the sabbatical year and the jubilee year. These observances reflect underlying beliefs about the sharing of the earth s goods by all the members of the community. In the seventh or sabbatical year, land was to be uncultivated, slaves freed, and debts relieved. This 19 The Word of Life Reflect 2 The Word of God Brings Life by Fred Kammer, S.J. The God of the Scriptures is a God of great passion passion for God s people and, among them, a powerful passion for those who are poor and vulnerable. To understand this passionate God, we begin with the foundation from Genesis that each person is both sacred and social, created good and holy in God s image as part of a community beloved by God. We are all destined to share in the goods of the earth as part of this community of justice and mercy

30 The Word of Life jubilee took place by restoring all community members, no matter their standing or position, to a full share of the community s goods. Property was to be returned to its original owners; slaves often because of debt were to be freed; and all members were restored to full membership in the community, no matter what past misfortune or failure had occurred. With the restoration of freedom and property came a restored sense of dignity and participation in the community of faith. It also affirmed the integrity of the community itself. Beneath this custom, of course, lay the faith insight that the land was really Yahweh s, who had made it a gift to the community for its use. All the community members, too, were kin to the Lord, not to be enslaved or rejected from active participation in the Lord s family. The mandate for basic re-distribution of property reflected as well the assumption that genuine need was due either to a breakdown in the equitable distribution of community resources or to the possession of a social identity, such as that of widow or orphan, over which an individual had no control. The Word of God Brings Life was. By forgetting the revealed God, and thereby breaking the covenant, they had lost their own identity and holiness which was rooted in the passion of God for this community and for the poor in their midst. Jesus the Jubilee Jesus fulfills this scriptural tradition, becomes the new and everlasting covenant, and reveals he is God s anointed one in his teaching and actions. As he begins his public ministry in the fourth chapter of Luke, Jesus returns from the baptism at the Jordan, filled with the Holy Spirit and the purification of the desert temptations. He goes into the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath, unrolls the scroll of Isaiah the prophet, and reads: The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Then he declared, Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:16-21 A year acceptable to the Lord! The U.S. Catholic bishops have explained that, in saying this, Jesus himself is the proclamation of the Great Jubilee. Jesus himself is good news to the poor. Jesus himself will give sight to the blind and free the oppressed. By His words and actions, the bishops say, Jesus ushers in a year of the Lord s favor. In his passion and death He becomes the ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The Jubilee, a year of the Lord s favor, characterizes all the activity of Jesus. In his synagogue declaration, Jesus is announcing the long-promised jubilee year. In choosing this highly charged title, Luke s Jesus asserts that he is coming to restore the community back to right relationships with one another, with God, with those who are poor, and with all of creation. Jesus invokes the vivid imagery of what the Hebrew Scriptures promised: the freeing of slaves, the canceling of debts, the returning of property, and restoring the community to the land as God s own kin The Prophets God s passion in the Jewish Scriptures is most often embodied in the prophets. Whether the people were in exile, in slavery, or merely in political and moral disarray, the message of the prophets was strong medicine. Aware that idolatry led to a neglect of the poor, their primary theme was not, you have forgotten the rituals of the temple, worshipped false gods or forsaken the Scriptures. Their central message, rather was you have forgotten the poor. The business of prophets was seeing into and speaking the truth to the community. As Isaiah proclaimed (Isaiah 58:5-10), our God does not want sackcloth and ashes, holy days and sacrifices. Our God wants captives freed, bonds of slavery broken, the hungry fed, the naked clothed, and the poor restored to their rightful place in the community. That was the prophets message connecting the concerns of justice directly to the people s faith. The prophets protested that because the hungry were unfed, the poor homeless, and the orphans uncared for, the Hebrew people had forgotten who their passionate God 20

31 The Word of God Brings Life The Three Great Parables In Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI has declared that Jesus teaches three great parables : the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, and the dramatic judgment scene in Matthew 25. All three are about the biblical duty of justice and the special duty to respond in love to the needs of those who are poor and vulnerable. Even more, in Matthew s drama of the final judgment Jesus emphatically identifies himself with those who are hungry, sick, strangers, and imprisoned; and he measures individuals and nations by our deeds of justice and mercy towards them. Life in the Spirit of Love We live in the era of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love, the time of the Church which is also the body of Christ. The scriptural themes above coalesce to make it clear that in this era one cannot call oneself a Christian believer without living a life filled with a passionate, active love for one s neighbor, especially those who are poor. This love is made possible by God s own Spirit. This is what Jesus means when he proclaims that the love of God and the love of neighbor are intertwined and inseparable (Matthew 22:32-40). This is, as Pope Benedict writes, the necessary interplay between love of God and love of neighbor which the First Letter of John speaks of with such insistence. If people have no contact whatsoever with God in their lives, then they cannot see in others the image of God even and especially in those who are poor, hungry, and oppressed. And, if they cannot see and love God in others, then their relationship with God will grow arid, lifeless. Love of God and love of neighbor are thus inseparable, Benedict writes. They form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God who has loved us first. The poverty which grips the lives of so many billions of people in our world today and divides those who have from those who have not is a denial of the love of God which calls us to passionate concern for one another and active commitment to the common good of all. Poverty dehumanizes and destroys life. It undermines the impulses of the Spirit of God, blinding us to our common humanity and the immense possibilities The Word of Life Session Two 23 The Word of Life Jesus the Healer We see the depth of God s love for God s people in the healing ministry of Jesus. One of the most significant actions of Jesus is healing the sick, possessed, and disabled. In chapter one of Mark s Gospel, in a busy day at the beginning of the Galilean ministry, Jesus cures a Demoniac, then Simon s mother-in-law, and, at sunset, a crowd of the ill and possessed who are brought to the door of the house of Simon and Andrew. When he sends his disciples out on mission, he charges them to cast out demons and to heal the sick: Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness (Matthew 10:1). Healing is also an early sign in the Acts of the Apostles of Christ s Spirit empowering the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (Acts 3:1-10). Why is healing so central to the ministry of Jesus? In Jesus society, those who were ill or disabled often considered to be caused by possession by a demon were isolated from the community. Leviticus required, for example, that those who were judged to have leprosy were to cry out, Unclean, unclean (13:45-46), when approached by others. Like sickness or disability today, people were marginalized by their condition and alienated from the community. What does Jesus do when he encounters those cut off and marginalized by sickness and disability? First, he crosses the boundaries and social barriers around them. Then, in direct violation of the religious laws, he touches them. Jesus puts his hands on their eyes, ears, tongues, or other affected areas. By that action, Jesus risks being declared unclean himself and ostracized just as they have been. After he touches and heals people, Jesus often instructs them to return home (Matthew 9:6-7; Mark 2:11, 5:19, 8:26; Luke 8:39) or, with lepers, to go and show themselves to the priest (Matt 8:4; Luke 5:14,17:14) so that they could be declared clean and then allowed to return home (Leviticus 14:8). He is restoring them, not just to good health, but back to their families and communities, setting relationships right among them. Healing brings the reconciliation that is central to the jubilee tradition and, as Jesus himself claims, a sign that the reign of God is among them (Luke 11:20)

32 The Word of Life of uncommon love. In contrast, God s Spirit calls and empowers poor and rich alike to reach across human barriers to an effective solidarity rooted in God s passionate love for all of us. By God s Spirit, then, the love of God and of our neighbor reinforce and deepen one another so that, Love grows through love. Reflect Respond The Word of Life If one has the answers to all the questions that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble. Pope Francis Each week, you will have a new journal question to draw you deeper into the session theme. These questions are offered to stretch your mind and heart. Your answers may change over time, even over the course of the Good News People process. Take time with each question, knowing that your initial response may be the beginning of a bigger exploration. One finds wisdom not in quick or final answers, but by living into the questions. What role has Sacred Scripture played in your life? Outside of Scripture, where or how do you experience God s word? On page 21, Kammer writes, Luke s Jesus asserts that he is coming to restore the community back to right relationships with one another, with God, with those who are poor, and with all of creation. What challenges do we face in restoring right relationships in today s world? What are signs of hope? 24

33 The Word of Life Session Two Pre-session Materials [25 minutes] pages Ask group members to turn to the journal question on page 25. Introduce the discussion with these or similar words: Over the last week we were invited to pray with Scripture, to read, to practice the virtue of love, and to reflect on the reading and on our lives. As we do every week, let s take some time to dialogue. This week s theme is the Word of Life. Every session we practice lectio divina and between sessions you are invited to pray on your own with Scripture. What role has Sacred Scripture played in your life? Outside of Scripture, where or how do you experience God s word? If no one speaks immediately, allow time in silence, then be prepared to briefly share your own thoughts to begin. You may also use these questions as prompts, if needed: What resonates with you or challenges you from the reading or Scripture passages? How did you respond to the reading reflection question (page 24)? How do these ideas relate to your life right now? How did you practice the virtue of love and how did the practice shape your understanding of the virtue or yourself? Thank group members for sharing. 39

34 Living Virtue Hope It s best to not confuse optimism with hope. Optimism is a psychological attitude toward life. Hope goes further. It is an anchor that one hurls toward the future, it s what lets you pull on the line and reach what you re aiming for. Pope Francis The Word of Life Practice hope: Visit someone you know who is lonely and bring them something (flowers/candy, for example) to brighten their day. During your prayers, pray for the light of hope on the troubles of the world. Spend time with children/young people. Pay attention to how they embody light [breaking] forth from the dawn (Is. 58:8) Hope is the understanding that, even in the presence of seemingly overwhelming evidence to the contrary, God is with us, God will remain with us, and, ultimately, God s love will carry us through the most daunting challenges we face. Hope is the candle leading us through the darkness. My experience of hope 28

35 Good News Stories Orientation 1. Call: Awareness and Identity My faith became a conscious choice and a vital part of my life when One person who has been a guide and an inspiration in my faith life is because they taught/showed me I realized how much I relied on the sacraments when Belonging: Joys and Challenges in Community A time that I struggled with my faith was when I experienced what it really means to belong or to be loved unconditionally when I experienced the power of God s love through other people when 3. Mission: Called and Sent to be Good News My faith challenged me to move beyond myself in a significant way when The Word of Life Session Two I was moved to reach out to others and get involved when Looking around at the world of need and possibility, I feel drawn or called now to be good news for others by 31 Good News Stories Orientation Sharing Your Own Good News Story Our lives are made up of stories, the interweaving of our own stories with those of others. One way we learn about our faith is through the stories of the Gospel. We can learn about ourselves through reflecting on our personal stories. Over and over, this program invites you to enter into the stories of others. It also encourages you to tell your own, to share the blessing of your life through story-telling. In sharing stories, you weave yourselves more tightly together as a group, enhancing the fabric of your individual lives by allowing the strands of others to interlace with yours. Your story is important and it is worth telling. Directions: Consider your life and the prompts on the following page. Using one or several of the prompts (organized by three broad themes of discipleship) to guide you, write a brief two-page reflection on your journey of faith, your own Good News Story. You will have the opportunity to offer the blessing of your story during one of the sessions

36 Good News Stories Orientation Ritual for writing your Good News Story: Find a quiet place and give yourself time when you won t be interrupted. Light a candle. Begin with a simple prayer. Invite the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Prayerfully read over the questions or prompts. You may wish to tell a story using just one prompt or several. Select the prompts that speak to you. Use your own prompts, if you prefer. Take time to silently reflect and note what comes to mind. Respond from the heart. Be honest and open. Jot some initial thoughts, noting ideas, phrases, details, or experiences. Review your jottings and begin to prepare a rough draft. Step away from and come back to your writing the next day. Write out your story in long-hand. Good News Stories Orientation Practice telling your story before you present to the group, keeping in mind that you ll have about 10 minutes to talk Read your story out loud. Add, adjust, or refine. 32

37 The Word of Life Session Two Virtue [15 minutes] Ask group members to turn to pages Introduce the virtue with these or similar words: Each week we are presented with a different virtue. Practicing virtues invites us to develop habits and values that draw us closer to Christ as we grow in discipleship. This week s virtue is hope. Invite one group member to read the quote and another to read the working definition. (Pause.) What does hope as a virtue mean to you? How do you experience it in your everyday life? Invite group members to briefly answer these questions. They may write notes or thoughts in their binders. We are invited to choose a virtue practice for ourselves. Let s take some time to think about ways to practice hope. Brainstorm together. Invite group members to write their ideas in their binders. Ask group members which practice(s) they d like to try. Close with these or similar words: If you find a practice particularly enriching, continue with that exercise rather than adopting a new one each week. These actions are meant to carry us further along our individual spiritual paths. As you seek the most life-giving opportunities for yourself, let the Holy Spirit guide your practice. Thank you for your commitment to practicing hope. Good News Stories (Group Members): Orientation [10 minutes] Needed: Sign-up Sheet for Good News Stories Ask group members to turn to pages 30-33, Sharing Your Good News Story. We too often only hear the bad news that surrounds us, yet good news also abounds. All of us have experienced the blessing of good news in our lives; that blessing grows when we share it. We will have the opportunity to share here through our weekly dialogue, but also in a more formal way through our personal Good News Stories. Ask a group member to read the first paragraph ( Our lives are ). The act of telling our story offers the liberation of being and sharing who we are as unique and beloved children of God, through our times of joy and sorrow, struggle and learning. Sharing your personal Good News Story is an invitation, not an obligation. I would encourage all of you to offer the blessing of your story. Ask group members to read the directions and prompts to themselves. Then ask if they have questions. Tell group members that next week you will share your Good News Story. Pass around the sign-up sheet. Tell group members that if they are not ready to sign up now, they can do so at a later session. 43

38 Good News Stories Eula Hall 44 What inspires you about Eula Hall s story? What resonates with you or challenges you from the commentary? How do ideas from this segment relate to your own life experience or world understanding? I wish I could live my life over; I believe I could do more with what I ve experienced up until now. Eula Hall 34