Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year B Focus: Ordinary Time Scripture: Mark 10:35 45 NRSV Gathering Welcome Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. God of love and peace, Today we pray for the children of the world. We pray for children without food, shelter, and health care. We pray for children who are privileged to have each of these necessities. We pray for all children who wonder about you and seek hope in a tumultuous world. Give us courage to teach our children the way of peace. Give us strength to denounce injustice and show our children the way of compassion. Give us insight to care for our planet and preserve the Earth for future generations. Give us the foresight to raise children who address the other with love, rather than fear. May we each become, like Jesus, the embodiment of God s shalom. Amen. Spiritual Practice Prayer of Repetition and Reduction Invite the group members to take a relaxed posture that will allow them to focus on the words spoken. As you read each phrase, pause and allow the group to rest in the words for two to three breaths before reading the next phrase.
Psalm 104:35 NRSV, adapted Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord. Bless. Bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! Amen. Give the group an opportunity to share about this experience of prayer. Sharing Around the Table Mark 10:35 45 NRSV James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. And he said to them, What is it you want me to do for you? And they said to him, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They replied, We are able. Then Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. This scripture highlights important challenges. First, as followers of Jesus of Nazareth, we face the same question as James and John: Are we willing to drink from the same cup as Jesus? Second, our journey as Christians is not one of power, position, or recognition. Third, servant leadership is paramount.
As Christians, we must answer a major question, Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? As followers of Jesus, we need to accept suffering and carrying the burdens of others. Neighborly love and devotion to God are central to discipleship. We may not pay the ultimate sacrifice like Jesus or face the same suffering as the sons of Zebedee. However, as devout followers we must be willing to suffer and to sacrifice on behalf of others. In the scripture, the disciples viewpoint is one of self-concern. We, too, fall to the misdirected desire to worry more about ourselves than serving others. As Christians, we need to recognize the journey is not one of prestige but one of humble servanthood. Servanthood is critically important not only within the church community, but in our cultures and societies as a whole. If we find ourselves dulled by excess comfort and distracted by our problems and selfconcern, we may tend to separate ourselves from those less fortunate and people who are marginalized. We can become insensitive to the pain and suffering in our world. This passage calls us to embrace Jesus description of Christian leadership, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Today in our journey, we join with the disciples of old as we walk and talk with Jesus. We are no different from the first disciples. We often fail to understand what it means to follow Jesus. We don t grasp the meaning of our discipleship. We become competitive with one another. We become overly self-concerned, seeking prestige and honor. We want to exercise our leadership the way the world teaches us to lead rather than by service. This scripture helps us remember that true discipleship is grounded in loving service to others. Questions 1. Think of a time you wanted power, status, or prestige within a group or were jealous of someone else s giftedness. How did that feel? 2. Whom do you consider to be an example of someone who exemplifies a servant leader? How would you describe that person? 3. What do you think is the most helpful way for disciples to learn to be servants to all? 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, May we be a generous people in response to your boundless grace and unending love. Bless and magnify our gifts and our service to others. Let generosity become part of our nature, we pray. Amen. Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn CCS 357, Christ, You Call Us All to Service
Closing Prayer 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. God of love and peace, Today we pray for the children of the world. We pray for children without food, shelter, and health care. We pray for children who are privileged to have each of these necessities. We pray for all children who wonder about you and seek hope in a tumultuous world. Give us courage to teach our children the way of peace. Give us strength to denounce injustice and show our children the way of compassion. Give us insight to care for our planet and preserve the Earth for future generations. Give us the foresight to raise children who address the other with love, rather than fear. May we each become, like Jesus, the embodiment of God s shalom. Amen.
Spiritual Practice Prayer of Repetition and Reduction Invite the group members to take a relaxed posture that will allow them to focus on the words spoken. As you read each phrase, pause and allow the group to rest in the words for two to three breaths before reading the next phrase. Psalm 104:35 NRSV, adapted Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord. Bless. Bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! Amen. Give the group an opportunity to share about this experience of prayer.
Sharing Around the Table Mark 10:35 45 NRSV James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. And he said to them, What is it you want me to do for you? And they said to him, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They replied, We are able. Then Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. This scripture highlights important challenges. First, as followers of Jesus of Nazareth, we face the same question as James and John: Are we willing to drink from the same cup as Jesus? Second, our journey as Christians is not one of power, position, or recognition. Third, servant leadership is paramount. As Christians, we must answer a major question, Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? As followers of Jesus, we need to accept suffering and carrying the burdens of others. Neighborly love and devotion to God are central to discipleship. We may not pay the ultimate sacrifice like Jesus or face the same suffering as the sons of Zebedee. However, as devout followers we must be willing to suffer and to sacrifice on behalf of others. In the scripture, the disciples viewpoint is one of self-concern. We, too, fall to the misdirected desire to worry more about ourselves than serving others. As Christians, we need to recognize the journey is not one of prestige but one of humble servanthood. Servanthood is critically important not only within the church community, but in our cultures and societies as a whole. If we find ourselves dulled by excess comfort and distracted by our problems and selfconcern, we may tend to separate ourselves from those less fortunate and people who are marginalized. We can become insensitive to the pain and suffering in our world. This passage calls us to embrace Jesus description of Christian leadership, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Today in our journey, we join with the disciples of old as we walk and talk with Jesus. We are no different from the first disciples. We often fail to understand what it means to follow Jesus. We don t grasp the meaning of our discipleship. We become competitive with one another. We become overly self-concerned, seeking prestige and honor. We want to exercise our leadership the way the world teaches us to lead rather than by service. This scripture helps us remember that true discipleship is grounded in loving service to others.
Questions 1. Think of a time you wanted power, status, or prestige within a group or were jealous of someone else s giftedness. How did that feel? 2. Whom do you consider to be an example of someone who exemplifies a servant leader? How would you describe that person? 3. What do you think is the most helpful way for disciples to learn to be servants to all?
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, May we be a generous people in response to your boundless grace and unending love. Bless and magnify our gifts and our service to others. Let generosity become part of our nature, we pray. 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. We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one): 515, In These Moments We Remember 516, Coming Together for Wine and for Bread 521, Let Us Break Bread Together 525, Small Is the Table 528, Eat This Bread
Thoughts for Children Materials: whiteboard (or flip chart) and marker. Ask: What is the difference between what you want, and what you need? (Affirm responses.) Draw a line down the center of the whiteboard or flip chart. Ask the children to name some things they want, but don t have. List the items on one side of the center line. Next, ask the children to name things all children need. List them on the other side of the center line. They may name necessities like food, shelter, and water, but they also may name nonmaterial needs like loving parents and friends who care about them. Say: In today s scripture the disciples were more interested in what they wanted instead of being concerned about what others needed. Jesus helped them remember that it is OK to want things for ourselves, but we always must remember the needs of others. What are some ways we can serve others? (Affirm responses.) Thank the children for participating and offer a prayer for the children of the world. Invite the children to return to their seats.