Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 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. Light the peace candle. Creator God, Today I pray for peace in all things. May my voice combine with the multitudes praising your name for the beautiful Earth, which you have passed to us. Lord, I pray for peace in your forests, in your oceans, in your towns and villages. Unfortunately, God, I know the greatest conflict lies within your people, so I pray for peace in their hearts as well. May we be blessed by your peace and seek refuge in your presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, who showed us how to be peacemakers. Amen. 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 for how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going

2 and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Acts 1:6 11 NRSV Pause. Read the scripture a second time. Questions 1. What words, phrases, or images stood out to you? 2. What feelings did you experience? Peace? Surety? Confusion? Doubt? 3. How might the Spirit be nudging you through this scripture? Sharing Around the Table Luke 24:44 53 NRSV Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. People in modern cultures tend to discount the past. But it is important to recognize that tradition and history have much to contribute. The Holy Spirit has encountered many who have gone before us. We are not the first to be blessed by God. We would do well to listen to their stories and testimonies about their encounters with the Divine. Jesus is speaking to the disciples and connecting their experiences to what had been prophesied in the past. He describes the divine events they witnessed, blesses them, and sends them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sin to all. The Greek word the author uses for bless means to speak well of. Jesus speaks well of them and praises them. He is asking God to help them gain peace, well-being, and wholeness. We, too, receive Christ s blessing. As disciples, we are called to share that blessing with others. Many among us need blessing. We are to speak well of them and ask God s Spirit to give them peace and wholeness.

3 Questions 1. How have you learned about God from the experiences of others? 2. When have you felt God s presence through blessing someone speaking well of you? 3. What are some ways you would speak well of God. 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 625, You Are Called to Tell the Story 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. Creator God, Today I pray for peace in all things. May my voice combine with the multitudes praising your name for the beautiful Earth, which you have passed to us. Lord, I pray for peace in your forests, in your oceans, in your towns and villages. Unfortunately, God, I know the greatest conflict lies within your people, so I pray for peace in their hearts as well. May we be blessed by your peace and seek refuge in your presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, who showed us how to be peacemakers. Amen.

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 for how God s Spirit nudges you or catches your attention. Read the scripture: So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Acts 1:6 11 NRSV Pause. Read the scripture a second time. Questions 1. What words, phrases, or images stood out to you? 2. What feelings did you experience? Peace? Surety? Confusion? Doubt? 3. How might the Spirit be nudging you through this scripture?

6 Sharing Around the Table Luke 24:44 53 NRSV Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. People in modern cultures tend to discount the past. But it is important to recognize that tradition and history have much to contribute. The Holy Spirit has encountered many who have gone before us. We are not the first to be blessed by God. We would do well to listen to their stories and testimonies about their encounters with the Divine. Jesus is speaking to the disciples and connecting their experiences to what had been prophesied in the past. He describes the divine events they witnessed, blesses them, and sends them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sin to all. The Greek word the author uses for bless means to speak well of. Jesus speaks well of them and praises them. He is asking God to help them gain peace, well-being, and wholeness. We, too, receive Christ s blessing. As disciples, we are called to share that blessing with others. Many among us need blessing. We are to speak well of them and ask God s Spirit to give them peace and wholeness. Questions 1. How have you learned about God from the experiences of others? 2. When have you felt God s presence through blessing someone speaking well of you? 3. What are some ways you would speak well of God.

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. The Spirit is present with us as we share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing Community of Christ Sings 524, For Bread before Us Broken.

9 Thoughts for Children Materials: candle, lighter, large paper, and marker. Today we are going to practice blessing others. In the scripture today, blessing means to speak well of someone, or to say good things about someone. What are some good things we could say about someone to bless them? (Write their responses on a large sheet of paper or poster board.) Invite children to think of someone they wish to bless. Gather in a circle (include the whole group). Place the candle in the center of the circle and light it. Giving all children a turn, ask whom they would like to bless. Ask: What good thing would you say about them? If the child is unsure, help him or her choose a statement of blessing from the responses on the paper. Close with your own statement of blessing. Thank the children for offering blessings to others.