Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year B Focus: Fifth Sunday of Easter Scripture: John 15:1 8 NRSV Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. Lord God Creator of all Giver of all gifts Lover of all: We pray to you on behalf of our troubled world, fraught with conflict, injustice, and misunderstanding. The peace that we seek often seems so unreachable, so far from possibility. We yearn for things to be different than they are for the old world to become new. We acknowledge our own participation in the difficulties of your times, and so we pledge our intent and resources to the cause of peace. In our lives may we accept your presence, which calls us to be peacemakers.

2 May we unite with others to make our world a better place to live. We pray in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen. Peter Judd Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you hear it, 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 it again, listen how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7 21 NRSV 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 nudging you to share God s love? Sharing Around the Table John 15:1-8 NRSV I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. Israel was pictured as the vine or vineyard of God. Jesus calls himself the true vine as a way of explaining that faith in him, not one s heritage, race, or bloodline, was the way to God s

3 salvation. Jesus is the vine, and we are called to be unified in Christ (to be the branches of the vine). When we are the vine, one in Christ, we no longer are simply individuals; we see ourselves as part of the whole body of Christ. We begin to understand more fully that we all are connected intimately. What we do affects others. When we act in the loving and compassionate ways of Christ our influence spreads and blesses the entire human community. According to Nelson Mandela, the late president of South Africa, people should not look out only for themselves. Rather, the accompanying questions to their motives should be: Am I going to do this to enable the community around me to improve? Will my goals and motives help create an economically and environmentally sustainable future in my village? Being one in Christ helps us realize that our welfare depends on the welfare of others. Because we are one, Christ uses our availability and vulnerability to transform lives and communities where we live. Living as one in Christ means making choices and engaging in actions that challenge injustice, foster healing, and bear hope in our neighborhoods, communities, and around the globe. Questions 1. When have you been affected by the choices or actions of others? 2. What are some everyday things we do that have far-reaching consequences? 3. How can you can work with others to challenge injustice and share blessing and hope? 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 210, The Love of God 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. Lord God Creator of all Giver of all gifts Lover of all: We pray to you on behalf of our troubled world, fraught with conflict, injustice, and misunderstanding. The peace that we seek often seems so unreachable, so far from possibility. We yearn for things to be different than they are for the old world to become new. We acknowledge our own participation in the difficulties of your times, and so we pledge our intent and resources to the cause of peace. In our lives may we accept your presence, which calls us to be peacemakers. May we unite with others to make our world a better place to live. We pray in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen. Peter Judd

5 Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you hear it, 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 it again, listen how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7 21 NRSV Pause. Read the scripture a second time. Invite group members to share responses to these questions: 4. What words, phrases, or images came to mind? 5. How is God s Spirit nudging you to share God s love?

6 Sharing Around the Table John 15:1-8 NRSV I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. Israel was pictured as the vine or vineyard of God. Jesus calls himself the true vine as a way of explaining that faith in him, not one s heritage, race, or bloodline, was the way to God s salvation. Jesus is the vine, and we are called to be unified in Christ (to be the branches of the vine). When we are the vine, one in Christ, we no longer are simply individuals; we see ourselves as part of the whole body of Christ. We begin to understand more fully that we all are connected intimately. What we do affects others. When we act in the loving and compassionate ways of Christ our influence spreads and blesses the entire human community. According to Nelson Mandela, the late president of South Africa, people should not look out only for themselves. Rather, the accompanying questions to their motives should be: Am I going to do this to enable the community around me to improve? Will my goals and motives help create an economically and environmentally sustainable future in my village? Being one in Christ helps us realize that our welfare depends on the welfare of others. Because we are one, Christ uses our availability and vulnerability to transform lives and communities where we live. Living as one in Christ means making choices and engaging in actions that challenge injustice, foster healing, and bear hope in our neighborhoods, communities, and around the globe. Questions 6. When have you been affected by the choices or actions of others? 7. What are some everyday things we do that have far-reaching consequences? 8. How can you can work with others to challenge injustice and share blessing and hope?

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 Community of Christ Sings 522, Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ.

9 Thoughts for Children Materials: a plate or bowl of fruit cut into bite-size pieces (be sure to cut grapes in half for small children), napkins, cups, or small plates What do I have in this bowl? Can you name all the fruits in the bowl? Do you have a favorite fruit? Does your favorite fruit grow on a vine or on a tree? (Explain the difference for young children.) Can apples grow on a blackberry vine? What about strawberries, can they grow on a peach tree? So if I have a grape vine, I can expect it to produce grapes, right? Jesus was explaining to his friends that he was like a vine, and his friends were the fruit of the vine. The vine, (Jesus) grows good fruit of love, kindness, and generosity. This means the friends who follow Jesus are loving, kind, and generous. We are fruit on Jesus vine, too! We show that we are good fruit when we are loving and kind to others and when we share with others. Give all the children a cup and napkin and allow them to choose some fruit to take back to their seats. Thank the children for participating.