Theme: Trust in God. Time Frame minutes. Questions/ Materials. Suggested Techniques. FACILITATOR S NOTES are italicized.

Transcription

1 Time Frame minutes Theme: Trust in God FACILITATOR S NOTES are italicized. Prepare by reading Chapter 4 of the Heart of L Arche Suggested Techniques Questions/ Materials Objectives: Participants will: Examine concepts and practices in relationship to Trust in God. Examine images of God as related to trust. Present one practical application of how trust in God relates to community life mins Ice Breaker (optional) After the walk around invite them to share just one word about the experience. Then ask them to hold onto the experience as you share this time on Trust. Opening Prayer: John 14:1-3; Luke 12:22-24; Isaiah 43:1-5 Choose one of the readings, invite someone to read it aloud purposefully and reflectively Overview of the Theme: Instruction: Briefly state that you ll be talking about: trust as a basic principle of L Arche how our images of God are connected to our trust in God Review of Participant s Objectives/Expectations Review aloud objectives listed above for this formation and then invite participants to share any expectations or questions they may have about this theme. Invite participants to pair off -1 closes his/her eyes and is led around the room by the other they reverse positions after a minute or two. Bible

2 15 mins Setting the Scene Read from The Founding Story the section that relates to Trust in God. (For additional information see: An Ark for the Poor, The Story of L Arche by Jean Vanier.) Share a bit of the founding story of your community that helps to illustrate Trust in God. (optional) Have someone read the statement on Trust from the L Arche Charter. Have another read the L Arche identity statement that reflects trust. Simply state that Trust in God is a basic principle of L Arche from its very foundation mins. Acts & Practices of Trust Conduct a brainstorming around the question: What acts and practices illustrate Trust in God? Follow this by discussing some of what has surfaced. Fill in some items that may not have been mentioned. 1. Prayer is an act of trust. 2. Living with questions is an act of trust. 3. Believing in the sacredness of each person trusting in the hidden presence of God. 4. Taking care of each other is an act of trust. 5. Sharing our own sacred stories are acts of trust. Conclude this portion by drawing participants attention to the fact that trusting in God is an intentional choice and a gift. It is also an active rather than passive movement. To further illustrate this point tell the story of the man drowning who is sent multiple ways of being saved. There are many Scripture references that refer to trust. Read one. Invite or share a personal story that further illustrates trust in God. Brainstorm Discussion Reading Aloud Story telling -See History of L Arche adapted from Kathryn Spink attached. -Local community history -L Arche Charter L Arche Identity Statement Point #2 goes with the RM Rilke quote. Charter quote Bible: Matthew 6:25-34; Isaiah 43:1-5 Include other faith traditions.

3 15 mins. Images: How our images of God are connected to our Trust in God. Distribute the handout and ask participants to read aloud pages from The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Manning. Ask the?: What are the images of God s love that you see in this reading? Points to develop in the discussion: People hold different perceptions of God e.g. Father, Judge, Controller can the group name other images? It is important for each person to know what his/her perception of God is. L Arche teaches us that we can trust in God because God is totally extravagant in love for us. Scripture is rich with images of God s love. Invite participants to close their eyes and to listen to the song: How Can Anyone Ever Tell You. Invite them to allow themselves to hear the voice of God in this song to allow themselves to bask in the warmth of God s extravagant love for them mins Personal reflection Direct participants to take 10 mins. for personal reflection on the two questions found on the handout. Review the questions aloud: 1. How is your image of God related to trust in God? 2. Considering the L Arche identity and Charter, Why is Trust in God at the heart of our life in community? Upon completion of 10 mins. Direct participants to break into pairs or small groups to share responses to the questions. Oral reading Group discussion Meditation Personal Reflection \ Handout pages The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus Song: How Can Anyone Ever Tell You either on CD by Shaina Noll, or You Tube, or vocalist Handout with two questions and the Identity Statement and Charter

4 5 mins Evaluation Back in the large group ask the questions: What did you learn today? What are you thankful for? Shout Out

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7 Setting the scene: An Ark For The Poor: When I began L'Arche I had no preconceived ideas. I did not know much about the world of people with mental handicaps... I put my trust in Jesus and had the sense that he was watching over us. Pg. 22 God has been guiding us God has used everything, even our poverty, our limits and our errors, as well as our gifts, so that L'Arche could become God s work. Hence the story of L'Arche is truly a sacred history. Pg. 11 The Heart of L'Arche: The Work of God: When I welcomed Raphael and Philippe, I had no particular plan or precise ideas. I knew nothing about people with intellectual disabilities, but I had been touched by them in the asylums and institutions I has visited. I wanted, for the sake of Jesus and the gospel, to help them find a more human and Christian life. I had no idea of how a L'Arche community should be organized. As the days went by, I began to understand Raphael s and Philippe s needs and discover what community really meant. I think it would be difficult to find a founder less capable than I was. I tried to live each day as it came. Father Thomas was always there to advise and encourage me. I was naïve, but determined. I wanted to work for Jesus and for his kingdom. I tried to be attentive to the way in which Providence was guiding me precisely because I did not really know what I was being asked to do! Pg.67 Charter of L'Arche: 1. Communities of faith- L Arche communities are communities of faith, rooted in prayer and trust in God. They seek to be guided by God and by their weakest members, through whom God s presence is revealed. Each community member is encouraged to discover and deepen his or her spiritual life and live it according to his or her particular faith and tradition. Those who have no religious affiliation are also welcomed and respected in their freedom of conscience. Identity Statement We are people with and without developmental disabilities, sharing life in communities belonging to an International Federation. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey together. We celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize our need of one another Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. Rainer Maria Rilke

8 Charter of L'Arche: Whatever their gifts or their limitations, people are all bound together in a common humanity. Everyone is of unique and sacred value, and everyone has the same dignity and the same rights. The secret of happiness lies in the mind's release from worldly ties. The Buddha Trust Quotes: I believe in trusting. Trust begets trust. Suspicion is foolish and only stinks. He who trusts has never yet lost in the world. Mahatma Gandhi Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV) Do Not Worry 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life [a]? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV) 28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

9 Isaiah 43:1-5New International Version (NIV) Israel s Only Savior 43 But now, this is what the Lord says he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush [a] and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Psalm 112:7 ESV He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

10 Jn 14:1-3 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. Luke 12:22-24 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! The process of Spiritual Growth is the gradual repudiation of the unreal image of God. Brennan Manning What was the message of Jesus concerning God? What did He really preach? What did He really reveal? Modern Scripture scholars tell us that if we want to be most confident that we are in touch with the original preaching of Jesus, we should turn to His parables- quick, decisive stories that make clear the fundamental points to His teaching First, in chapter 20 of Matthew, the parable of the crazy farmer. It was harvest time and the owner of the farm went repeatedly into the marketplace, the hiring hall of his day, to recruit workers for his fields. Given the time of year and the amount of work to be done, those who were still idling the day away with small talk at the eleventh hour must have been a lazy an shiftless bunch. Still, the farmer needed workers and even they were called into the field. One presumes they took their time getting there, shuffled about and did a minimum of work. Then the surprise: they were awarded a full day s pay!... The emphasis is on the gratuitous generosity of the farmer. It was a mad, crazy, insanely generous act. Two thousand years later the Christian community is still scandalized by divine generosity Jesus image of God assaults our standards of justice and fair play. The very foundations of our religion are being shaken! The depraved good for nothing prodigal is preferred to his hard working brother? The parables of Jesus reveal a God who is consistently overgenerous with His forgiveness and grace. The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Brennan Manning

11 Handout with Questions: Trust in God Identity Statement We are people with and without intellectual disabilities, sharing life in communities belonging to an International Federation. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our life together. We celebrate the unique value of every person and recognise our need of one another. 1. How is your image of God related to trust in God? 2. Considering the L Arche identity and Charter, Why is Trust in God at the heart of our life in community?