Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year C First Sunday after Epiphany Scripture: Luke 3:15 17, NRSV Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. God of justice and mercy, We seek your guidance as we navigate the newness of the year. May we walk in your ways as we seek justice for the maligned and oppressed in the world. May we speak your words as we soften our hearts and reconcile strained relationships. May we offer your love as we celebrate the diversity of our nations, cities, villages, and neighborhoods. May we live your peace each day, every day. We humbly pray, Amen. Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you hear the scripture, note the words, images, or phrases that come to mind. Try not to focus on them. Simply let them rest with you. After a brief period of silence I will read the scripture a second time. As you hear the scripture the second time, select a character in the scripture and try to experience the scripture through his or her lens. Read Luke 3:21 22 NRSV.

2 Pause and allow a brief period of silence. Say: Now select a character and try to experience the scripture through his or her lens as I read the text a second time: Read the following questions aloud and invite the group to share responses and reflections: What images and thoughts came to your mind while listening to this scripture the first time? How did it change when you experienced the scripture through the lens of a specific character in the text? How does the Holy Spirit speak within you? Close the sharing time with a brief prayer of gratitude for all that has been shared. Sharing Around the Table Luke 3:15 17, NRSV As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Last week we celebrated Epiphany, when the wise men visited the infant Christ. Today s reading takes us to his baptism, marking the beginning of his ministry. From now until Easter, our lectionary readings will follow the ministry of Christ through to his death and resurrection. John the Baptist introduces Jesus as having a deep connection with the Holy Spirit and as being able to share that sense of spirit with others. John the Baptist uses the image of the winnowing fork to show that Jesus views some things as more valuable than others. This foreshadows Jesus criticisms of the religious values of his time and place, where rules had more value than people.

3 When the voice from heaven speaks, God declares Jesus beloved. If we think of Jesus background as a homeless preacher who shunned social norms, whose mother got pregnant before marriage, God s claiming of Jesus is a powerful message about the value that God places on people. Baptism becomes a symbol of God claiming each of us in God s sacred community. Questions 1. What does it mean to you that Jesus came to baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and fire? How do we understand these things? 2. Where and when do we experience the voice of God declaring the holiness of others? 3. What do you remember about your own baptism, and how do you understand that baptism now? Sending Generosity Statement Note: If you have children in your group and are using Thoughts for Children today during the gathering, invite the children to share their pictures of the Holy Spirit at this time. Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. The offering prayer for Epiphany is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: Revealing God, May we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn CCS 442, When Jesus Came to Jordan 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 of justice and mercy, We seek your guidance as we navigate the newness of the year. May we walk in your ways as we seek justice for the maligned and oppressed in the world. May we speak your words as we soften our hearts and reconcile strained relationships. May we offer your love as we celebrate the diversity of our nations, cities, villages, and neighborhoods. May we live your peace each day, every day. We humbly pray, Amen.

5 Spiritual Practice Dwelling in the Word I will read a scripture aloud. As you hear the scripture, note the words, images, or phrases that come to mind. Try not to focus on them. Simply let them rest with you. After a brief period of silence I will read the scripture a second time. As you hear the scripture the second time, select a character in the scripture and try to experience the scripture through his or her lens. Read Luke 3:21 22 NRSV. Pause and allow a brief period of silence. Say: Now select a character and try to experience the scripture through his or her lens as I read the text a second time: Read the following questions aloud and invite the group to share responses and reflections: What images and thoughts came to your mind while listening to this scripture the first time? How did it change when you experienced the scripture through the lens of a specific character in the text? How does the Holy Spirit speak within you? Close the sharing time with a brief prayer of gratitude for all that has been shared.

6 Sharing Around the Table Luke 3:15 17, NRSV As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Last week we celebrated Epiphany, when the wise men visited the infant Christ. Today s reading takes us to his baptism, marking the beginning of his ministry. From now until Easter, our lectionary readings will follow the ministry of Christ through to his death and resurrection. John the Baptist introduces Jesus as having a deep connection with the Holy Spirit and as being able to share that sense of spirit with others. John the Baptist uses the image of the winnowing fork to show that Jesus views some things as more valuable than others. This foreshadows Jesus criticisms of the religious values of his time and place, where rules had more value than people. When the voice from heaven speaks, God declares Jesus beloved. If we think of Jesus background as a homeless preacher who shunned social norms, whose mother got pregnant before marriage, God s claiming of Jesus is a powerful message about the value that God places on people. Baptism becomes a symbol of God claiming each of us in God s sacred community. Questions 1. What does it mean to you that Jesus came to baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and fire? How do we understand these things? 2. Where and when do we experience the voice of God declaring the holiness of others? 3. What do you remember about your own baptism, and how do you understand that baptism now?

7 Generosity Statement Note: If you have children in your group and are using Thoughts for Children today during the gathering, invite the children to share their pictures of the Holy Spirit at this time. Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. The offering prayer for Epiphany is adapted from A Disciple s Generous Response: Revealing God, May we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. 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. Let us celebrate the revelation of Christ in the world as we share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings 520, God Extends an Invitation.

9 Thoughts for Children Materials: picture of a windy day, fire or candle flame, dove, paper, and crayons Say: Have your parents ever told you that you had to finish everything on your plate before you could have dessert? Or, have they ever told you that you had to clean your room or do another kind of chore before you could go play? We have heard that many times. Even as grownups, we often have to clean things up before we can experience the exciting things we are looking forward to. In today s Bible story, John told the people to clean up their lives. They were baptized in the river with John as a symbol that they were clean and living a new life. Then John told them there was more to come! Something special would happen after they were baptized. He told them someone would come who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire! Wow! (Show the picture of flames or fire.) Jesus came to John and also was baptized. After he was baptized, something amazing happened! While he was praying, the heaven opened (show the picture of the wind), and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. (Show the picture of the dove.) And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased (Luke 3:21 NRSV). When Jesus received the Holy Spirit after baptism maybe it was a little like getting to play after cleaning your room. It is the good part that follows the cleaning! With God s Holy Spirit, Jesus was able to use the gifts of the Spirit in his ministry to heal, teach and love those he encountered. When we talk about the Holy Spirit we use different words to describe it. Sometimes we use wind or breath, sometimes we use fire or flame, and sometimes we use the symbol of the dove. Each of you may take some paper and crayons and draw how you see the Holy Spirit. We will take time for you to share your drawings at the end of our time together. Note: Make time for the children to share their pictures of the Holy Spirit during the Generosity Statement.