Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

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Mercy Marsh
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1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year B Focus: Fourth Sunday of Easter Scripture: John 10:11 18 NRSV Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. God Creator loving Parent of us all We rejoice when we sense your loving Spirit around us. We laugh and sing when our hearts are united. We praise you when we have enough for our needs. It is easy in good times to forget the others are not as fortunate whose needs for food and shelter are not met, who do not know what it is to feel love, who have no time or energy for laughing or singing. We pray for them and for us. As we search for ways to create a world of shalom of peace and justice forgive us for our lack of vision. Help us recognize our many brothers and sisters in our families, our neighborhoods, our world. Grant us strength to live simply that others needs might be met. Give us wisdom in our words and actions that others may be encouraged. Help us understand that love must be passed on, or it dies. We call you by many names, but we are one family. Unite us in a common goal a common will that your kingdom may truly come, and peace and justice will cover the Earth. Amen. Pam Robison

2 Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you listen allow words, images, or phrases to come to mind. Try not to focus on them. Let them rest with you. After a moment of silence I will read the scripture a second time. As you hear the scripture again, listen for how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: Psalm 23, NRSV The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Pause. Read the scripture a second time. Invite group members to share responses to these questions: 1. What words, phrases, or images came to mind? 2. How is God s Spirit present with you today? Sharing Around the Table John 10:11 18 NRSV I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father. The fourth Sunday of Easter often is referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. Today s Gospel text and the 23rd Psalm provide an intense image of Jesus as the good (or model) Shepherd for the children of Earth.

3 Through our modern-day lens, we often underestimate the role of the shepherd. It is a thankless job. It requires a deep and lasting love for the sheep. Being a shepherd involves a commitment that goes beyond a casual relationship. It includes a selfless willingness to give up one s life for the flock. As Shepherd, Jesus seeks to draw everyone into relationship with the Divine. To hear the call of the Shepherd we have to be open, listening, and centered on Christ, so we can recognize and discern Christ s voice from all the other voices clamoring for our attention. We live in a busy world where we become tired, discouraged, misguided, and lost. Today s text reminds us the Good Shepherd is always calling our names, trying to keep us on track, providing support and encouragement, and inviting us into relationship with him and others of the faith community. To be able to hear Christ s voice individually and collectively, we need to create opportunities for building relationships and engaging in spiritual practices within the body. Shared spiritual practices provide discipline to our communal centering and listening. Hearing Christ s voice disrupts our lives. We recognize opportunities around us where we can help resolve injustice and brokenness. We are drawn individually and collectively out of our routines and comfort zones and into Christ s mission. Jesus, our model of the Good Shepherd, sends us to be the good shepherd for others. Questions 1. How do you listen for the Shepherd s voice? 2. What spiritual practices are most helpful to you? 3. How can you be a good or model shepherd for others? Sending Generosity Statement Sharing for the common good is the spirit of Zion (Doctrine and Covenants 165:2f). We receive God s grace and generosity. The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: God of rejoicing, we share our gifts joyfully and with thanksgiving in response to the generous gifts you have given us. May the offerings we share bring joy, hope, love, and peace into the lives of others that they might experience your mercy and grace. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn CCS 264, O Lord, My Shepherd 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. God Creator loving Parent of us all We rejoice when we sense your loving Spirit around us. We laugh and sing when our hearts are united. We praise you when we have enough for our needs. It is easy in good times to forget the others are not as fortunate whose needs for food and shelter are not met, who do not know what it is to feel love, who have no time or energy for laughing or singing. We pray for them and for us. As we search for ways to create a world of shalom of peace and justice forgive us for our lack of vision. Help us recognize our many brothers and sisters in our families, our neighborhoods, our world. Grant us strength to live simply that others needs might be met. Give us wisdom in our words and actions that others may be encouraged. Help us understand that love must be passed on, or it dies. We call you by many names, but we are one family. Unite us in a common goal a common will that your kingdom may truly come, and peace and justice will cover the Earth. Amen. Pam Robison

5 Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you listen allow words, images, or phrases to come to mind. Try not to focus on them. Let them rest with you. After a moment of silence I will read the scripture a second time. As you hear the scripture again, listen for how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: Psalm 23, NRSV The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Pause. Read the scripture a second time. Invite group members to share responses to these questions: 1. What words, phrases, or images came to mind? 2. How is God s Spirit present with you today?

6 Sharing Around the Table John 10:11 18 NRSV I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father. The fourth Sunday of Easter often is referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. Today s Gospel text and the 23rd Psalm provide an intense image of Jesus as the good (or model) Shepherd for the children of Earth. Through our modern-day lens, we often underestimate the role of the shepherd. It is a thankless job. It requires a deep and lasting love for the sheep. Being a shepherd involves a commitment that goes beyond a casual relationship. It includes a selfless willingness to give up one s life for the flock. As Shepherd, Jesus seeks to draw everyone into relationship with the Divine. To hear the call of the Shepherd we have to be open, listening, and centered on Christ, so we can recognize and discern Christ s voice from all the other voices clamoring for our attention. We live in a busy world where we become tired, discouraged, misguided, and lost. Today s text reminds us the Good Shepherd is always calling our names, trying to keep us on track, providing support and encouragement, and inviting us into relationship with him and others of the faith community. To be able to hear Christ s voice individually and collectively, we need to create opportunities for building relationships and engaging in spiritual practices within the body. Shared spiritual practices provide discipline to our communal centering and listening. Hearing Christ s voice disrupts our lives. We recognize opportunities around us where we can help resolve injustice and brokenness. We are drawn individually and collectively out of our routines and comfort zones and into Christ s mission. Jesus, our model of the Good Shepherd, sends us to be the good shepherd for others. Questions 1. How do you listen for the Shepherd s voice? 2. What spiritual practices are most helpful to you? 3. How can you be a good or model shepherd for others?

7 Generosity Statement Sharing for the common good is the spirit of Zion (Doctrine and Covenants 165:2f). We receive God s grace and generosity. The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: God of rejoicing, we share our gifts joyfully and with thanksgiving in response to the generous gifts you have given us. May the offerings we share bring joy, hope, love, and peace into the lives of others that they might experience your mercy and grace. Amen.

8 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. This Easter season let us experience the resurrected Christ as we share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings 522, Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ.

9 Thoughts for Children Materials: whiteboard and marker or a large paper and marker How many of you have a pet? What kind (dog, cat, turtle, bird, hamster)? What are some responsibilities of caring for a pet? What do you do to take care of your pet (feed, water, bathe, take to vet, exercise, spend time with)? Having a pet is kind of like being a shepherd. A shepherd has several sheep, a whole flock. And the shepherd cares for the sheep. The shepherd takes them to find green grass and clean water, protects them from wolves, and tends to them if they are sick or wounded. In the scriptures Jesus often is called the Good Shepherd. This is because Jesus cares for us like a shepherd cares for sheep, or like you care for your pet. Jesus loves each person and wants us to have enough to eat, and a safe place to live. Some people don t have those things, and this is where we can help Jesus be a good shepherd. We can share our money with organizations that provide food for hungry people. We can offer our time to visit people who are lonely. What are some other things you can do to help others? Make a list of the children s ideas. Ask them to share their ideas with their parents after they go back to their seats.

Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year B Focus: Seventh Sunday of Easter, Ascension Day Scripture: Luke 24:44 53 Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.