Living Room Groups
Reminiscent of the ancient church practice, each morning
CLW participants will gather in a small group (ten to fifteen people)
called a Living Room Group. These informal groups will start the day
with prayer, song, reading, and discussion of God’s word. New
friendships will begin and old ones will be renewed, and in this
practice we will experience “congregational life” at its heart.
To guide our discussion we will use a text by Eric Elnes titled
The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity
(2006). Each participant is asked to get a copy of this book and read
each of the following Affirmations prior to the small-group experience.
During the week we will uplift five of the twelve affirmations contained
in this text. Each of the affirmations will connect participants to the
practice of loving God, neighbor, and oneself; and to Community of
Christ identity, message, and mission as reflected in Doctrine and
Covenants Section 163.
Loving God Includes…
Monday—Listening for God’s word that comes through daily
prayer and meditation, studying the ancient testimonies that we call
scripture, and attending to God’s present activity in the world
(Affirmation 2)
Tuesday—Celebrating the God whose Spirit pervades and whose glory is
reflected in all of God’s creation—including the earth and its
ecosystems, the sacred and secular, the Christian and non-Christian
(Affirmation 3)
Loving Our Neighbors Includes…
Wednesday—Engaging people authentically, as Jesus did, treating all as
creations made in God’s image—regardless of race, gender, sexual
orientation, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic
class (Affirmation 5)
Thursday—Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings
while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others,
including those who consider us their enemies (Affirmation 8)
Loving Ourselves Includes…
Friday—Caring for our bodies and insisting on taking time to enjoy the
benefits of prayer, reflection, worship, and recreation in addition to
work (Affirmation 11)
