Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year C Ash Wednesday Scripture: Matthew 6:1 6, 16 21 NRSV Gathering Materials: small dish of ashes Welcome Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten season. It offers a sacred place for humility and confession. It is a time to get real about what feels broken in us, in our relationships, in our world and how God s invitation of repentance and restoration leads us all to greater wholeness. Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. From dust you were formed. God fashioned you and breathed life into you. God breathes life into you now. Sense your breathing and the presence of God filling you. Sense a deep longing to experience God s presence. We journey into the wilderness with Jesus, seeking the truth about ourselves, humbly preparing for renewal of our discipleship, committing ourselves again as disciples of Jesus. Examine your heart. Examine your behavior. Examine your commitment.
Are you willing to prepare your life for acceptable service? As a person cleans house to prepare for an honored guest, now create a clean heart and renew your spirit to welcome God s presence. Breathe in me, breath of God. Breathe in me your peace. Spiritual Practice Silent Spiritual Reflection Invite the group to listen prayerfully as you read the following poem of blessing and then enter a one-minute period of silent reflection. Rend Your Heart A Blessing for Ash Wednesday To receive this blessing, all you have to do is let your heart break. Let it crack open. Let it fall apart so that you can see its secret chambers, the hidden spaces where you have hesitated to go. Your entire life is here, inscribed whole upon your heart s walls: every path taken or left behind, every face you turned toward or turned away, every word spoken in love or in rage, every line of your life you would prefer to leave in shadow, every story that shimmers with treasures known and you have yet to find.
It could take you days to wander these rooms. Forty, at least. And so let this be a season for wandering, for trusting the breaking, for tracing the rupture that will return you to the One who waits, who watches, who works within the rending to make your heart whole. Jan Richardson http://paintedprayerbook.com/2012/02/15/day-1ash-wednesday-rend-your-heart/ Keep silence for one minute. End the reflection time with a chime or bell. Sharing Around the Table Matthew 6:1 6, 16 21 NRSV Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This scripture is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching his disciples, and he lifts up three spiritual practices considered to be normative for his listeners. A key to understanding the passage is the use of the word whenever, which implies when you do this. The spiritual practices described are giving to those in need (alms-giving), prayer, and fasting. Jesus encourages the disciples to do these practices in private. As such, intimacy between disciple and God is nurtured. In the practice of alms-giving, that intimacy encompasses the recipient of the alms, too. As we share with those in need, we look into the eyes of Jesus. Seeing and responding to the needs of others creates opportunity to see our own need and become vulnerable to receive God s grace, which sustains us. Awareness of vulnerability our own or that of another requires no trumpet blast or self-focus. In quiet humility we honor the dignity of self and other. It is in quiet prayer that we speak with our deepest, truest, friend. Our secrets are safe. The Spirit of wisdom guides us. In fasting we find true intimacy and experience the sustaining presence of God, who provides all. Creative energy flows, and new solutions are found as we learn to lean into that which is not seen but draws us close to the heart of God. Questions 1. Recall a time when giving to others (alms-giving), prayer, and/or fasting was especially meaningful for you. How did these spiritual practices impact you then and impact you today? 2. What do you treasure? How does your treasure align with Christ s mission? How does your relationship with God call you to move forward with that which you treasure and Christ s mission? 3. Other than prayer, what spiritual practices enrich your relationship with the Living Christ? How do these practices nurture intimacy in your relationship with Christ? Sending Generosity Statement 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 is adapted for Lent from A Disciple s Generous Response: Ever-present God, Forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn CCS 177, The Path for Our Walking Closing Prayer You will need a small dish of ashes. You are invited to receive the ashes as we begin this Lenten journey together. Invite people to come forward to receive ashes in the shape of a cross on the backs of their hands or on their foreheads. Alternately, people may prefer to carry a pinch of ashes in their hands. Optional Additions Depending on Group Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Thoughts for Children
Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. From dust you were formed. God fashioned you and breathed life into you. God breathes life into you now. Sense your breathing and the presence of God filling you. Sense a deep longing to experience God s presence. We journey into the wilderness with Jesus, seeking the truth about ourselves, humbly preparing for renewal of our discipleship, committing ourselves again as disciples of Jesus. Examine your heart. Examine your behavior. Examine your commitment. Are you willing to prepare your life for acceptable service? As a person cleans house to prepare for an honored guest, now create a clean heart and renew your spirit to welcome God s presence. Breathe in me, breath of God. Breathe in me your peace.
Spiritual Practice Silent Spiritual Reflection Invite the group to listen prayerfully as you read the following poem of blessing and then enter a one-minute period of silent reflection. Rend Your Heart A Blessing for Ash Wednesday To receive this blessing, all you have to do is let your heart break. Let it crack open. Let it fall apart so that you can see its secret chambers, the hidden spaces where you have hesitated to go. Your entire life is here, inscribed whole upon your heart s walls: every path taken or left behind, every face you turned toward or turned away, every word spoken in love or in rage, every line of your life you would prefer to leave in shadow, every story that shimmers with treasures known and you have yet to find. It could take you days to wander these rooms. Forty, at least. And so let this be a season for wandering, for trusting the breaking, for tracing the rupture that will return you
to the One who waits, who watches, who works within the rending to make your heart whole. Jan Richardson http://paintedprayerbook.com/2012/02/15/day-1ash-wednesday-rend-your-heart/ Keep silence for one minute. End the reflection time with a chime or bell.
Sharing Around the Table Matthew 6:1 6, 16 21 NRSV Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This scripture is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching his disciples, and he lifts up three spiritual practices considered to be normative for his listeners. A key to understanding the passage is the use of the word whenever, which implies when you do this. The spiritual practices described are giving to those in need (alms-giving), prayer, and fasting. Jesus encourages the disciples to do these practices in private. As such, intimacy between disciple and God is nurtured. In the practice of alms-giving, that intimacy encompasses the recipient of the alms, too. As we share with those in need, we look into the eyes of Jesus. Seeing and responding to the needs of others creates opportunity to see our own need and become vulnerable to receive God s grace, which sustains us. Awareness of vulnerability our own or that of another requires no trumpet blast or self-focus. In quiet humility we honor the dignity of self and other. It is in quiet prayer that we speak with our deepest, truest, friend. Our secrets are safe. The Spirit of wisdom guides us. In fasting we find true intimacy and experience the sustaining presence of God, who provides all. Creative energy flows, and new solutions are found as we learn to lean into that which is not seen but draws us close to the heart of God.
Questions 1. Recall a time when giving to others (alms-giving), prayer, and/or fasting was especially meaningful for you. How did these spiritual practices impact you then and impact you today? 2. What do you treasure? How does your treasure align with Christ s mission? How does your relationship with God call you to move forward with that which you treasure and Christ s mission? 3. Other than prayer, what spiritual practices enrich your relationship with the Living Christ? How do these practices nurture intimacy in your relationship with Christ?
Generosity Statement 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 is adapted for Lent from A Disciple s Generous Response: Ever-present God, Forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen.
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. During this Lenten Season let us share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings 527, Bread of the World.
Thoughts for Children Materials: small box, any kind of small hearts (enough for each person) that you can give away. Say: Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. This is a 40-day period when we reflect on how things are going on our walk with God. Lent reminds us of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness following his baptism. Lent encourages us to let go of things that distract us, so we can increase our focus on the teachings of Jesus. Jesus taught a lesson about treasure. What is treasure? (Affirm all answers.) Here I have a treasure box. What do you think is in it? It contains the best treasure in the whole world. Let s see what it is (open the box full of hearts). The greatest treasure is love. Jesus taught us that love for God and for others is the most important kind of treasure. Jesus showed us that kindness and compassion for all people are the treasures of heaven. Sometimes we forget that the treasures we often look for on Earth (money, jewels, stuff) are not the most important things. Jesus reminds us that the treasures of heaven (love, kindness) are the true treasures. How can you show people that you value them more than belongings? (Affirm all responses.) During this time of Lent, let s focus on the treasures of heaven treasures that will last forever. Let s give everyone a heart to remind them about the treasure of God s love. Invite the children to hand out the hearts to everyone in the group and then return to their seats.