| Session I |
|
| Gathering and Greeting |
Welcome everyone and introduce
yourself as facilitator |
| Praying |
Centering by "Resting in
the Light": Sit quietly, close your eyes, and become centered
with your breathing. Reflect on the statement "the light of God
is in all things" as you breathe gently in and out. Sense or see
a point of light in the distance but coming gradually toward you. With
each breath it comes closer and closer, growing in size and
brightness. It is a beautiful light, bright yet soft, radiating peace
and love. It is the light of God. As it reaches you it surrounds you,
wrapping you in a deep sense of peace. Relax completely as the light
embraces you. Rest in this light as it surrounds your body and fills
the space around you. Close your meditation by thanking God for the
light and remembering that this light is always within and around you. |
| Sharing Stories |
Ask each group member to
identify themselves by name and something about themselves that might
interest the group, as well as a response to this question: "What
has drawn you to Covenant Discipleship Group leadership
training?" |
| Deepening |
Developing the Covenant:
Refer to the section on developing the covenant in Shaped by the
Spirit, pages 19-21. Develop a three-part covenant that will
reflect the group's intentions for this week. Write down the covenant.
It will be revisited each day, and may even be shaped throughout the
week. If you have not completed the development of the covenant in
this time, you may need to work it a little further on your own after
the session. Be sure to honor the intentions of the group. |
| Discerning |
Invite your group members into
a moment of silent reflection with the question, "How is God
inviting me to live out our covenant this week?" After a few
moments of silent reflection, allow an opportunity for members to
briefly share their responses. Be sure each member has permission to
share or to pass. |
| Blessing |
Circle prayer--Stand in a
circle and allow those who feel inclined to offer a one- or
two-sentence prayer. As a facilitator, bring the prayer to a
conclusion with a prayer of blessing on the group members as they
learn and grow this week. |
|
|
| Session II |
|
| Gathering and Greeting |
Light a candle, sound a gong,
or share a word of welcome. |
| Praying |
Read Psalm 92:1-4. Rest in
silence for a few moments, allowing the group members to meditate with
the words. Invite each one to move into their own silent prayer of
praise. After a few minutes, conclude the prayer time with your prayer
of gratitude expressed aloud. |
| Connecting with Covenant |
Have someone, or several
persons, read the covenant aloud. Allow a few minutes for any
adjustments that need to be made in the covenant. Make sure each
member has a copy of the covenant. |
| Sharing Stories |
How have you experienced God's
presence since we last met? |
| Deepening |
Attentiveness/Mindfulness:
Mindfulness slows us down, wakes up our senses, and allows us to savor
and fully appreciate life's gifts. You will have available raisins, a
"chunk" of bread, and plates for an exercise in mindful
eating. Each group member will receive two raisins and a piece of
bread they break off the larger piece. Invite them to:
--offer a brief silent prayer that you will be especially aware of
this food while eating slowly, gratefully
--use all senses to experience the food's texture, shape, color,
fragrance
--imagine the food's journey (where it was grown, what it looked like
while growing, who planted, harvested, processed, packaged it)
--say thank you to God and to those who grew, processed, and prepared
the food |
| Discerning |
Invite the group to reflect on
the central insights and experiences of the meeting. Spend several
minutes in silent reflection, focusing on the question, "How am I
to respond to what we are learning together?"
Share brief statements of awareness, insight, or call that came out
of the reflection time
|
| Blessing |
Chalice Prayer
Stand or sit in a comfortable position and use your hands to create
a cup or chalice (place wrists together and hold hands up with fingers
forming the shape of a chalice). Hold the chalice at heart level in
front of your chest. Use the chalice as a symbolic vessel in which to
raise concerns, people, or situations to God. Hold this posture
quietly for a few moments as you let the prayer concerns on your heart
come to mind. Symbolically place these concerns in God's care by
placing them into the chalice, offering a first name or brief phrase
about the situation out loud if you so desire. When you have placed
your concerns into the chalice, lift these up to God by raising the
chalice overhead and tilting your face upward. Open the chalice by
spreading your arms out and then down to your sides as you say,
"We release them to you, O God, to be loved and healed as only
you can love and heal." |
|
|
| Session III |
|
| Gathering and Greeting |
Repeat the process you used
yesterday. |
| Praying |
Body Prayer:
Stand with your hands together in prayer form. Here I am, Lord.
I bring myself to you. Slowly move your hands up above your head,
pausing at your throat level. I offer all I speak to you, O God. Continue
upward, pausing briefly at your forehead. I offer all I think to
you, O God. Raise your hands, still together, as high as you can.
Slowly let your hands fall away from each other, sideways. I open
myself to receive the fullness of life you offer, O God. Bring your
hands back together onto your chest. I bring your love through
Christ into my heart. Bring hands out toward the earth. I offer
God's love to the world.
Talk your group through this prayer once. Repeat it twice, once
with you repeating the phrases and once in silence.
|
| Connecting with Covenant |
Have everyone read the
covenant in unison. |
| Sharing Stories |
What life and lifestyle
changes are you making as a result of participation in this group? |
| Deepening |
Centering Prayer:
Refer to pages 27-28 for guidance in this process. Lead the group into
the silence and allow them to sit in silent meditation for several
minutes. |
| Discerning |
Invite the group to reflect on
the central insights and experiences of the meeting. Spend several
minutes in silent reflection, focusing on the question, "Where
and how is God calling me to live out my discipleship?" Allow
time for responses as desired. |
| Blessing |
Have each person pray for the
person on their right. End with a blessing of your own to all. |
|
|
| Session IV |
|
| Gathering and Greeting |
Use the ritual the group has
developed for beginning (song, gong/chime, candle...) |
| Praying |
Use a shortened version of
"Meditating on God's Names" (page 37 in Spiritual Practices
section of text). Invite the group to stand prayerfully in a circle
and use familiar and newly discovered names to call on God. The prayer
will be a group invocation that consists of persons taking turns
speaking a name for God that has meaning for them. Close the prayer
with a thank you and amen when the speaking of God's names has come to
a sense of completion. |
| Connecting with Covenant |
Ask the group to read the
covenant through silently. Then invite anyone who wishes to read a
part of the covenant that has particular meaning for them. Finish by
reading or mentioning the part of the covenant that were not lifted up
by the group. |
| Sharing Stories |
What opportunities have you
had to express your discipleship in a physical, practical, tangible
act of witnessing, sharing, healing, or peacemaking? |
| Deepening |
Lead the group through
"Ashes and Oil: Prayers for Healing" on page 39 in the
Spiritual Practices section of the text. This activity can also be
done as "Tears and Oil" using small glass decorative
"stones" (from a craft store) to symbolize tears. Materials
needed will be provided for group facilitators: bowls, oil, ashes or
glass "tear stones." Have people share in partners and
encourage brief but meaningful story sharing and prayers. |
| Discerning |
Silent Reflection: "How
are you being called to join God and follow Christ in acts of healing
and compassion?" Brief verbal sharing time |
| Blessing |
Share briefly in
"Communal Breathing" (page 29) and a verbal blessing prayer
by facilitator. |
