Ignatian Spirituality Group Members of Christian Life Community (CLC) have put together this series of four meetings to help you explore what it is that you desire and whether you might be interested in finding out more about CLC. CLC is a lay international Catholic organisation which is a community whose spirituality is inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola which: helps members to respond more fully to God, helps members find God in their experience, helps members to integrate their faith and life, helps members to make decisions for more effective action.
Ignatian Spirituality Group Meeting 1 Come As You Are Introduction: The introduces him/herself and welcomes participants Preamble: Use the 3 points from the flyer to explain the purpose of the Group: If you desire to grow in your faith with others, If you want to want to grow in your relationship with Christ, If you want to find God in your everyday experiences. I belong to a little group where people who desire to grow in their faith come together each fortnight with others who may have a similar desire. It appeals to those people who have a faith attitude to life and who desire to find God in their everyday experiences. We usually meet in people s homes a place where we are comfortable to talk about God, and share and support one another in our lives. What do I mean by to grow in faith? To grow in faith means to grow in a personal relationship with Christ and also the Father, the Spirit and all God s people. As in all relationships, growth comes through communication, so prayer (talking and listening to God) is essential. Also, seeking and finding God in our everyday life is our aim. This process is what we have learnt from St Ignatius who believed that God is to be found in all things. Not only is the Bible divine revelation, but so is life experience. By this process of reflecting on our experiences, especially those that convey deep feelings, we come to find God is with us in these experiences. Might I add, however, this awareness of God grows gradually and sometimes it is beyond words and concepts. What do I mean by experiences? (all that happens to us from within and outside of us e.g. events, relationships, feelings, moods, memory, dreams etc.) The positive effects of being in this type of group are that I: grow in my unique relationship with God. feel more alive and free within myself. have a little group of people ( friends in the Lord ) who support one another in their lives. can find help to make God centred decisions. am encouraged to work for peace and justice. Are there any questions? If not, let s begin: Ignatian Spirituality Group_ Meeting One_Come As You Are 2
INTRODUCTIONS Invite each person to introduce themselves. Ask someone to light the candle. OPENING PRAYER Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness." Lord Jesus, you also said that where two or three come together in your name, you are there with them. The light of this candle symbolizes your presence among us. And, Lord Jesus, where you are, so, too, are the Father and the Holy Spirit. So we begin our meeting in the presence and the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. GRACE: To come to know the love of God more deeply in my life. CHECK-IN Ask each person to respond briefly if they feel comfortable to do so. How are you feeling? / What are you hoping for? By noticing this we appreciate how each one is feeling. Also it provides a benchmark to compare how one is feeling at the end of a meeting. MUSIC Play hymn, Come As You Are SILENT REFLECTION What brings you here? / What interested or attracted you to come? A quiet relaxation exercise may follow before reading a scripture passage. SCRIPTURE Read passage Ephesians 3: 14-21. 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I will read the passage again and after that you are invited to share a word or a phrase that touched you. Reread passage.. Ignatian Spirituality Group_ Meeting One_Come As You Are 3
SHARING (first round) I invite you to share: What moved you/drew your attention, in the Scripture passage? NOTE: Important Point: This is a praying meeting, so we keep an atmosphere of listening and reflection. When a member shares about their prayer and life, we listen attentively and let their words sink into our heart. We don t add to it, interrupt, comment or ask questions. We allow five seconds between each sharing. Thank each person for their sharing. SHARING (second round) After a few minutes of silence, reflect on what moved you in someone else s sharing. Maybe it echoes a similar experience of your own. Do you feel in harmony with the rest of the group? Do you have any new insight? It s good to allow a few seconds of silence between each person s sharing: This should happen in a prayerful atmosphere. EXAMEN We will now allow a little time to reflect on the last 24 hours. Then I will invite you to share. There is no pressure to share if you don t feel comfortable about this. When did you feel most alive and energised today? When did you feel life drain out of you today? BUSINESS Provide members with Handout from Meeting 1 with the suggested Scripture passages and questions for reflection that they will spend time with prior to the next meeting. EVALUATION OF THE MEETING Recognising the movement of the spirit from the beginning of the meeting to the end. Take a few minutes for reflection on the following: Chose one or two of the following questions: What was life-giving for me in this meeting? Do I feel differently from the beginning/check in time? What would I have liked to be different? What do I want to take away with me? What am I most grateful for in tonight s meeting? Where did I feel God s presence? What challenged me to be more loving tonight? What was the dominant word, image or feeling of tonight s meeting? Invite each person to share their response. Ignatian Spirituality Group_ Meeting One_Come As You Are 4
CLOSING PRAYER We conclude our meeting by listening to Jesus say to us what he said to his disciples in his Sermon on the Mount: "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven." The light of this candle is now extinguished. But the light of Christ in each of us must continue to shine in our lives. Toward this end we pray together the Lord's Prayer. "Our Father..." Ignatian Spirituality Group_ Meeting One_Come As You Are 5