That All May Be Fed A Vision for the South Dakota Synod, ELCA Synod Assembly Bible Study Resource to Take Home to Local Congregations Nurtured in Word and Sacrament, God sends us to become a joyful sign of God s abundant blessing as we: proclaim the good news of Jesus to every hungering soul, share compassion with all who suffer, and feed all whose bodies lack nourishment. CORE VALUES prayer, human dignity, gratitude, the neighbor, grace We commit ourselves to: pray without ceasing, respect the sacred dignity of every human being, cultivate a deep sense of gratitude to God, the giver of all good things, seek out and befriend the neighbor, remain humble in the conviction that our calling comes purely by the grace of God.
Explanation of this Resource / Ideas of How It May be Used ELCA congregations are part of a church body organized in three expressions; congregations, synods and the churchwide organization. Each of these expressions are grounded in a vision for ministry. God s Work. Our Hands. is the tag line for the ELCA churchwide organization, many congregations also work hard at casting a clear simple vision for ministry within their context. Over the last months your South Dakota Synod has been hard at work claiming a vision for our common ministry together. That All May Be Fed is a tag line that flows out of the ELCA s vision (God s Work. Our Hands.) and hopefully flows seamlessly into your congregation s vision for ministry within your particular context. We do not presume to replace your congregation s particular vision for ministry through this work but rather to enhance it as together we participate in God s Work with our hands that all may be fed for the sake of the Gospel. We have created this resource so that congregations might spend some time studying the values under girding the work your Synod has been doing. The introductory session might take an hour or more to complete with a group while the three Vision Practice studies can generally be completed in 20 minute sessions perhaps before as devotions for a church council or WELCA meetings. In addition, we have placed a Missional Planning resource on the SD Synod website (www.sdsynod.org) for congregations that would like to dig deeper into this vision and thinking more strategically about some of the ideas discussed. For more information about this study, the website resource of missional planning within your congregation, please contact Rev. Bill Tesch, Associate to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission at 605-274-4026 or e-mail Bill at btesch@sdsynod.org. 2
Vision: Nurtured in Word and Sacrament, God sends us to become a joyful sign of God s abundant blessing. Thisintroductorysession takeslongerthenthe remainingthreesessions. Pleaseplanaccordingly. A Seed: The Joyful Sign 1 Introductory Study Opening Prayer Lordletourheartsbegoodsoil,opentotheseedofyourword.Openoureyes toseewhereyouaresendingustobeyourembodiedwordplantedinthesoil ofourworld.astheseediscrushedtomakeourbread,somakeusablessingof lifeandanourishingpresenceinthelivesofourneighbors,throughjesus Christ,ourSaviorandbrother.Amen. Discussion Questions DearLeader:inviteanswersfromthegroup,noteveryoneneedstoanswereveryquestion,butworkhardto insurethateveryoneisinvitedtosharesomethingatsomepoint.youdonotneedtoaskeveryquestion,just enoughtogetsomegooddiscussiongoing,andgetfolksthinkingaboutseedsandplantingandharvesting somethingjesus audiencewouldhavehadontheirmindallthetime 1. ThinkofatimeofplantingseedsthatstandsoutinyourmindDwhenyouplantedseedsasachild and/orinyourvocationasafarmer,orgardener.whatfeelingsdidyouhaveasyouplanted?how diditgo?weretheresetbacks,frustrations?anyonecaretosharewhatyouthoughtof? 2. TakeaseedintoyourhandandkeepitthroughouttheBibleStudy.Whatdoyounoticeaboutit? Howdothesewordsapplytoaseed? Inert/DeadFAlive IncompleteFComplete VulnerableFTough Improbable/Doubtful Potential HopelessFHopeful WeakFStrong 3. Howisitthatthesetotallyoppositewordscanapplytothesamething? 4. Dosomeofthesesameoppositesapplytoyou?Yourcongregation?Howso? Forthisfirstsession,each participantshouldbe providedwithaseed. Whenchoosingseeds, pickonethatis significantenoughinsize tobestudiedand reflectedupon. Focus Text: Mark 4:26-29 [Jesus]alsosaid, ThisiswhatthekingdomofGodislike.Amanscattersseedonthe ground. 27 Nightandday,whetherhesleepsorgetsup,theseedsproutsandgrows, thoughhedoesnotknowhow. 28 Allbyitselfthesoilproducesgrain firstthestalk, thenthehead,thenthefullkernelinthehead. 29 Assoonasthegrainisripe,heputs thesickletoit,becausetheharvesthascome. 1AgreatlyexpandedversionifthisstudyforuseasafullplanningretreatorforafourDsessionplanningseriesamong leadershipisavailableonthesynodwebsite(sdsynod.org)inthemissionaltoolbox. 3
READ ALOUD Haveyoueverwondered, WhyisitthatsomepeoplehearthewordofGodandbelievewhileothershear thesamewordanddonotbelieve? Orperhapsyouhaveasked, HowisitthatANYONEcomestobelieve suchanoutrageousstory? Maybeyouhavewondered, Whatismyroleinthisunfoldingdramaofpeople comingtofaithinjesuschrist? WhatisGoddoinginmychurchandmycommunitytobringpeopleto faithinjesus? Thisparableisawayofansweringthesequestions,byopeningtheeyesofJesus disciplestoseethe mysteryofgod sgrowingandoftenhiddenreign. 1. Tellusaboutatreeorplantyouhaveseengrowinginanunlikelyplaceoragainstallodds. 2. HowdoyouthinkpeoplecometobelieveandtrustinJesus? Engaging the Text ReadMark1:1 The$beginning$of$the$good$news$of$Jesus$Christ,$the$Son$of$God.$$ 1. Markhascommittedagrammaticalerror.Doyouseeit? 2. Inwhatwaysdoesthissentencefragmentcontainthe DNA ofthisstory? 3. Considertheseedinyourhand.Howisthiswayofbeginningastorysimilartothewayaplant beginsfromaseed? TheGospelaccordingtoSt.Markbeginswiththisfragmentofasentence Thebeginningofthegoodnews ofjesuschrist,thesonofgod. Itisincomplete(likeaseed),but(likeaseed)itcontainseverythingwe needtoknowaboutjesus: JesusistheMessiah;heisGod sson;thisisgoodnews That sthe DNA of thisstory.itisunlikelythatmarkwouldaccidentallystartwithanincompletesentence.inliteraturethere isanameforanincompletesentenceatthebeginningofastorythatcontainsmuchofwhatyouneedto know:itiscalledthe title. IfthisisthetitleofMark sgospel,thenthatissignificant,becauseitmeansthat Mark swholegospelisintentionallyincomplete.itisnotthewholestory;itisonly thebeginningofthe story. ConsiderthepossibilitythatYOUaretherestofthestory Itisnocoincidencethatthisstory,whichbeginswithanincompletesentence,alsoendswithanincomplete sentence.theliteraltranslationofmark16:8is: Andtheywentoutquicklyfromtheplace,becausefearand greatwonderhadcomeonthem:andtheysaidnothingtoanyone,becausetheywerefulloffearthat Bible scholarsagreethatthisverseistheoriginalendingofmark sgospel.markhascommittedanother grammaticalerror.markstoppedwriting(middsentence),becausethestoryisn tfinished.it sstillgoing. 2000yearslatertheseedisstillbeingscattered,anditisstillgrowing, weknownothow. At$the$end$of$Mark s$gospel$a$question$hangs$in$the$air$ $ how$will$it$be$possible$for$anyone$to$hear$the$ good$news$and$come$to$believe$when$jesus $disciples$are$all$hiding$in$fear? $ $ Andtheanswerisinourseedparables: Someonescattersseedontheground. 27 Nightandday,whether shesleepsorgetsup,theseedsproutsandgrows,thoughshedoesnotknowhow. Thedisciplesarethe seedscarryingthednaofthisgoodnews.theyhavebeencastintothesoiloftheworld,andlikethose seedstheyareweak,hopeless,doubtfulandincomplete,butlikeourseeds,withthewordthatisplantedin them,theyarealsostrong,hopeful,andfullofpotential.makenomistake,theseedwillsproutandgrow,it willproduceaharvestgod sreigncomes 4
YOU are the seed. Ofcourse,JesusteachesthattheWordofGodistheseed.However,itisalsoclearthatinMark sgospel thiswordisneverundincarnate thewordalwaystakesonflesh italwayshasahumandeliveryvehicle Soinasense,we,asbearersoftheword,aretheseed oratleastthehuskoftheseed Applying the Text to the Vision A Joyful sign of God s abundant blessing Godhasgiftedyouandplacedyouinyourcommunityforapurpose:tobeajoyfulsignofGod sabundant blessing.inyourcommunity,youaretheseedbearinghumanagentsofthehealing,lifegiving,soul convictingandsavingwordofgod You are God s seeds of the Kingdom explore together the question, What is unique about you? ExploretogetherthefollowingwaysinwhichyouareuniqueasGod sseedsofthekingdom.asagroup, calloutandlistasmanyasyoucanin10minutesorless.putthelistinaplacewhereallcansee. D D D D Whatpassionsandhopes? Whattalents? Whatsignificantrelationshipswithindividualsororganizationsinthecommunity? Whatphysicalassets? Consider$conducting$an$ Asset$Mapping $exercise$for$a$deeper$exploration$of$your$giftedness$ $check$ out$the$online$missional$toolbox$on$the$sd$synod$website$for$a$guide$on$conducting$an$asset$mapping$ exercise.$ Respond and Celebrate Exploretogetherwhereyouruniquegiftsandpassionsalignwithwhatyouknowaboutthehopesand hurtsofyourcommunity.onapieceofnewsprint(chalkboard,whiteboard,smartboard,overhead projector,computerprojector yougetthepoint)putupallofthegiftsandassetsyou veindentifiedon oneside.ontheothersidenameafewoftherealhopesandhurtsofyourcommunity.nowconnectthe dots Whereorinwhatsituationinyourtown,cityoropencountrycongregationisGodcallingyoutobe planted next? HowmightGodbecallingyoutobethejoyfulsignofGod saboundingblessinginanew way? Closing Song You are the Seed (WOV #753) Closing Prayer Keep,OLord,yourhouseholdthechurchinoursteadfastfaithandlove,thatthroughyourgracewemay proclaimyourtruthwithboldness,andministeryourjusticewithcompassion;forthesakeofoursavior, JesusChrist,wholivesandreignswithyouandtheHolySpirit,oneGod,nowandforever.Amen. 2 2FromtheBookofCommonPrayer,contemporaryCollectfortheSeasonafterPentecost,Proper6. 5
Vision Practice 1 Proclaim the Good News of Jesus to Every Hungering Soul Opening Prayer LivingGod,helpustoputonourlisteningears.Maywelistenwithopenhearts andmindstoyourwordandtoeachother.drawusclosertothelight,toyour Son,JesusChrist.Equipuswiththecouragethatweneedtoneverbefearfulof sharingthelightofchrist,thegoodnews,toallwhoneedtohear.injesusname wepray.amen. Discussion Question(s) invite each person to respond to one of the following questions TobeginthisBiblestudy, inthecenterofyourtable gathertogetheronelarge candle(perhapsthe Christcandlefromyour worshipspace)and enoughtealightsfor eachparticipant.ifthere isanyconcernabout openflame,allofthe candlescanbeelectrical. Onlylightthelarge candle. 1. Onascaleof1to10hownervousdoyougetwhenaskedtospeakinfront ofagroup?whathelpsyougetthroughit? 2. Haveyoueverdiscoveredsomethingthathadbeenhiddenorforgottenthatturnedouttobe valuable? 3. Haveyoueverbeenoutsidewhenitwasdarkwithoutalightsource?Why?Whathappened? Focus Text Mark 4:21-23 [Jesus]saidtothem, Isalampbroughtintobeputunderthebushelbasket,orunderthebed,andnoton thelampstand?forthereisnothinghidden,excepttobedisclosed;norisanythingsecret,excepttocome tolight.letanyonewithearstohearlisten Engaging the Text InthegospelofMark,theparablesbothrevealandconcealwhoJesusisandwhatheisdoing.Forthose whohaveearstohear,itcomesasgoodnewsofthekingdomofgod.forthosewhorefusetohear,itonly soundslikeajumbledjivefromamannamedjesus.howwillwediscoverourvisionofworkingtogether asapeopleofgodwhoarecalledtoproclaimthegoodnewsofjesustoeveryhungeringsoul? TherearemanyplacesintheBiblethattheimageoflightisused.ReadPsalm119:105Thy$word$is$a$lamp$ unto$my$feet,$and$a$light$unto$my$path. 1. HowdoesthisversehelpyouunderstandJesus storyaboutthelampstand? 2. Whywouldanyonetryandhidealamp? 3. How(orinwhatways)dowehidethegoodnewsofJesus? 4. How(orinwhatways)doweletthegoodnewsofJesusshinebrightlyinourlives? JesusisnotonlyGod sword,butgod slightthatreachesthedarkplaces.thegoodnewsofjesusisnot somethingtobehiddenaway,butistobesharedandpassedontootherstoletitshine.thegoodnewsis thatwearecalledtoworktogethertotellandshowothersthelightofchrist. Applying the Text to the Vision Practice 6
ItmaynotalwaysbeeasytoshareChrist slightwiththosearoundus.webecomereluctant,nervous,or worriedaboutwhatotherswillthinkofusorthatwewon tknowwhattosay.thegoodnewsisthatwe sharechrist slight(notourown)andithappensinourdailylivesthroughbothourwordsandouractions. 1. Whatarethedarkplacesinyourlifeandinyourcommunitythatneedthelightofthegoodnewsof Jesus? 2. Whohungersforthelightinyourcommunity?HowcanyoureachthemwithGod sword? Don tthinktoohardsometimes,ittakesthesimplestideatosharethegoodnews.itcouldbehelpinga neighborwiththeiryardworkandsimplytellingthemyouareofferingahandoutofgod slove.itcouldbe sayinghellotosomeoneinyourcommunitywhofeelsfrienddless.maybeyourcongregationcancreateand distributeaprayerresourceforpeopletouseinthehomeoronvacation.makealistofwaysinwhichyou andyourcongregationcanreachoutinyourcommunitytosharethegoodnewstothosewhohungerfor thelight.then,putastarnexttothe2thatyouwillworkoninthenext6months. Respond and Celebrate Lightthelargecandleinthecenterofthetableandsay, Christ slightisgood newsforusandforallpeoplewearethankfulforthewaysinwhichwereach oneanotheringod slove.weaskforcouragetonotbeafraidtosharethegood newsinallthatwedoandsayinourdailylivessothatchrist slightisondisplay. Psalm27:1remindsus TheLordismylightandmysalvation;whomshallI fear?thelordisthestrongholdofmylife;ofwhomshallibeafraid? Now, giveeachparticipantatealightandlightitoffofthelargecandle(orturnthem oniftheyareelectric)andsay, YoucarryChrist slightwithyou.goandletit shinebrightly Closing Song This Little Light of Mine(ELW 677) Closing Prayer AlmightyGod,wethankyouforthewaysinwhichweshareyourlightonalampstand.Wethankyoufor thewaysinwhichwesharechrist slightinourcommunity.helpustoletyourlightshineinourdaily lives.encourageustoproclaimthegoodnewstoeveryhungeringsoul.weprayinthenameofjesus Christ,ourlight.Amen. 7
Vision Practice 2 Share Compassion with All Who Suffer Focus Text Mark 4:24-29 And[Jesus]saidtothem,"Payattentiontowhatyouhear;the measureyougivewillbethemeasureyouget,andstillmorewill begivenyou. 25 Fortothosewhohave,morewillbegiven;and fromthosewhohavenothing,evenwhattheyhavewillbetaken away." [Jesus]alsosaid,"ThekingdomofGodisasifsomeonewould scatterseedontheground, 27 andwouldsleepandrisenightand day,andtheseedwouldsproutandgrow,hedoesnotknowhow. 28Theearthproducesofitself,firstthestalk,thenthehead,then thefullgraininthehead. 29 Butwhenthegrainisripe,atoncehe goesinwithhissickle,becausetheharvesthascome." Opening Prayer & Time of Sharing Goaroundtheroomandeachpersonfillsintheirownpersonalthanksgiving, Thankyou,Lord,forthe compassioniexperiencedfrom. Applying the Text to the Vision Thisshortlittleparableisoftencalledtheparableoftheseedgrowingofitself.Thereseemstobe confidenceorfaithintheonewhosowedtheseedthatallowshimtosleep.whatishappeningtothatseed? Howislifeandgrowthtakingplaceforthatseedundertheground? Theword share meanstodivideandparcelintoshares,tocut.whenwethinkofsharingweoften romanticizeitactingasifsharingisalwayspleasantandeasy.henrinouwen,donaldmcneillanddouglas MorrisonintheirbookCompassion:AReflectionontheChristianLife,remindusthatcompassionmeans tosufferwith. How$do$we$take$seriously$our$mission$to$share$compassion$with$all$who$suffer?$ $ When$have$you$found$it$difficult$to$sharing$compassion?$ $ How$do$we$begin$to$see,$notice$and$reach$out$to$all?$How$about$people$we$don t$like?$how$about$ people$with$whom$we$don t$agree?$ WeareincarnationalpeoplewhobelievethatGodtookonfleshandnowactsintheworldthroughus,the bodyofchrist.danielberriganoncesaid, Itallcomesdowntothis:Whosefleshareyoutouchingand why?whosefleshareyourecoilingfromandwhy? Howdowehonestlyfacethesequestionsinour personallivesandinourcongregation?canwebehonestaboutourhopesandfearsaswesearchforways tosharedcompassionwithallwhosuffer? 8
Respond and Celebrate InherbookCityFarmer:AdventuresinUrbanFoodGrowing, LorraineJohnsonwrites, Realfoodcarriesitdirtalongwithit,no matterhowhardwescrub.soilmemorylurksinthefolds& wrinkles&eveninthesmoothskinsoffruitsandvegetables,giving themtheircharacterandtheirflavor.thefrenchcallthisterroir andwhilethetermismainlydeployedforwineitappliesequally welltoeverythingedible.flavoridentitycomesfromplace. Aswethinkaboutsufferingweknowthatoftenourownsadness, grief,trauma,andbrokennessallowsustoempathizewithothers inwaysweneverimaginedaswewerewalkingthroughourown valleyofdarkness. Listallthewayspeopleinyourgrouphaveexperiencedsuffering eitherastheonesufferingortheoneprovidingcompassion.now listallthewaysthatwerehelpfulinhowcompassionwasshared. Howyoucurrentlyofferingthatcompassioninyourcongregation? Whatarewaysyoucouldexpandyourcaringacts? Closing Song We Are Called (ELW 720) Closing Prayer HolyOne,wecalloutyournameinasmanywaysaswecan.Wefixyourroletowardsusinthewayswe need.weapproachyoufromtheparticularangleofourlife.wedoallthat,notbecauseyouneedtobe identified,butbecauseofourdeepneed,ourdeepwound,ourdeephope.andthen,weareastonishedthat whileournamesforyouserveforamoment,youbreakbeyondtheminyourfreedom,youshowyourself yetfreshbeyondourutterance,youretreatintoyoursplendorbeyondourgrasp.weare byyourfreedom andyourhiddenness madesureyetagainthatyouaregod beyondus,forus,butbeyondus,notatour beckandcall,butalwaysinyourownway.westammeraboutyouridentity,onlytolearnthatitisourown unsettlingbeforeyouthatwantsnaming.beyondallourexplainingandcapturingandfixingyou wegive youpraise,wethankyouforyourfleshedpresenceinsufferinglove,andforournamesthatyougiveus. Amen. FromAwedinHeaven,RootedinEarth,prayersofWalterBrueggemann 9
Did You Know 1outofevery7 individualsinsouth Dakotalivesatorbelow thepovertyline. CombinedtheSiouxFalls andrapidcityfood pantriesservedover 65,000peoplelastyear. AlmostoneOhalfofthose servedbyfoodpantriesin SouthDakotaareinfants andchildren. Resources Feeding'South'Dakota' feedingsouthdakota.org0 0 ELCA'World'Hunger' elca.org0 ' Bread'for'the'World' bread.org0 ' South'Dakota'Synod' sdsynod.org0 Ifabrotherorsisteris nakedandlacksdaily food,andoneofyousays tothem, Goinpeace; keepwarmandeatyour fill, andyetyoudonot supplytheirbodilyneeds, whatisthegoodofthat? ~James2:15O16 Vision Practice 3 Feed All Whose Bodies Lack Nourishment Opening Prayer GodofAbundantLife,throughyourdisciples,youfedthe5,000asonce youhadfedyourpeoplemannainthewilderness.daybyday,god,you areourprovision.asamustardseedgrowsintothegreatestofallplants, maytheseedofyourwordbegrowninourlifetogetherthatwewould becomealifedgivingsignofyourkingdom;throughjesuschrist,ourlord. Amen. Discussion Question(s)inviteeachpersontorespondtooneofthe followingquestions 1. Haveyoueverstruggledwithgrowingsomethinginyouryardor ina garden? 2. Haveyoueverbeenapartofsomethingthatbecamemuchlarger /betterthanexpected? 3. Hassomeoneeverencounteredyouwithasmallgesturethatmade abigdifference? Focus Text Mark 4:30-32 [Jesus]alsosaid,"WithwhatcanwecomparethekingdomofGod,orwhat parablewillweuseforit? 31 Itislikeamustardseed,which,whensown upontheground,isthesmallestofalltheseedsonearth; 32 yetwhenitis sownitgrowsupandbecomesthegreatestofallshrubs,andputsforth largebranches,sothatthebirdsoftheaircanmakenestsinitsshade." Engaging the Text Thelamewillwalk,theblindwillseeandthedeadwillliveagain The promisesofthekingdomofgodaregreat.yet,therealityofourhuman conditionisfrail.despitethemiraclesandsignspeoplehavequestions. WhatisthekingdomofGod?Howdoesitwork?Whenwillitcome? InresponseJesuscomparestheKingdomofGodtoaseed.Something smallandinsignificant.somethingbyitselfwhichcandonothing.yet, whenplantedinsoil,feedwithwaterandsun,theseedbecomesmore. Morethanacombinationofjustseedandsoilandwaterandsun but insteadanewcreation. Jesus parableremindsusofaparablegodtoldlongagothroughthe prophetezekiel. Iwilltakeaspring Imyselfwillplantit inorderthatit mayproduceboughsandbearfruit underiteverykindofbirdwilllive. (Ezekiel17:22D24) 10
Jesus parableisanencouragementtothesmall,disregardedandseeminglyinsignificantdisciples.what youdo,whoyouarematters.godisatwork.kingdomactsareneverdoneinisolationbutratheralways beginwithgodaresustainedbygodandbroughttocompletionbygod. whatwewillbehasnotyet beenrevealed. (1John3:2) Applying the Text to the Vision Practice Thedisturbingrealityofthehungryinourworldisso overwhelmingthatthesmallgiftswehavetoofferseem inconsequentialintheirabilitytoaffectchange.yet,theparable ofthemustardseedremindsusthatthereisoftenmorepotential insmallkingdomacts(suchasfeedingthehungry)thanwe wouldfirstimagine.thisistruebecauseourkingdomactsare NOT our kingdomactsbutrathertheyaregod s.god swork. Ourhands.Godisatworkgivingtheworld dailybread.good newsoursmallseedsofcompassion,whengivenaway,become kingdomactsgrowinginto thegreatestofallshrubs providing lifeforall. Respond and Celebrate Maketwocolumns.Inthefirstcolumnlistallthewaysthatthepeopleofyourcongregationfeedthe hungry.thisshouldincludeformalministries,participationinotherministriesandeventhingsthatyou haveheardpeopledoindividually.inthesecondcolumn,listideasofotherthingsthatyoumightbeableto doinyourcongregationtoparticipateinfeedingthehungryofthisworld.includeallideasbigandsmall. RejoiceYourseedsareaccomplishingbigthings. Closing Song Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (ELW #674) Closing Prayer HeavenlyFather,youaretheproviderofallgoodthings.Wegiveyouthanksforyourmanyactsof providenceandseekyourforgivenessforthewaysoursinhavestoppedallfrombeingfed.saveand redeemusthatwemaybejoyfulsignsofyourabundantblessing,offeringbreadforthehungryandhope forthebrokenhearted.weaskthroughjesuschristourlord,thebreadoflife.amen. 11