Sacred Space – Small Group Resources

Year A Letters

Ordinary Time, Proper 24

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 NRSV

Gathering

Welcome

Ordinary Time is the Christian calendar period from Pentecost to Advent. This part of the Christian calendar is without major festivals or holy days. During Ordinary Time we focus on our discipleship as individuals and as a faith community.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle

Today’s Prayer for Peace is inspired by Community of Christ Sings 556, “Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing,” from Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus

Lord Jesus, of you I will sing as I journey, I'll tell all my neighbors about you wherever I go.

Beckoning God, we’ve lived, laughed, and loved as Zion for so long that it sometimes becomes commonplace for us. Commonplace to the point where we forget we have dedicated our lives to following in the footsteps of Jesus. Footsteps that lead us through rivers and valleys, thunderstorms and snow, in order to journey with our friends and neighbors as we pursue peace.

Grant us the courage to step into new places, reaching out to new friends and neighbors who are walking in uncertainty. Help us spread your peace to them. Grant us the courage to find friends and neighbors who are working for peace. Help us have the courage to join them. Grant us the courage to speak out when politicians and powerful people steer others astray. Help us have the courage to speak against this noise.

Grant us the courage to sing again, God, to remember that which excited us about the vision of Zion, so that we may draw others to you and in that act draw all of us to your peace.

In the name of Jesus, who gave us the courage to sing. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Receiving with Gratitude

Enduring Principles are a foundation of Community of Christ. Today we are focusing on the Enduring Principle of Grace and Generosity. The first thing we do in this life is receive. Our first breath is a gift. The spiritual practice for today, is in breath-prayer form. During the prayer we use words to breathe in and words to breathe out. Today we will breathe in the words receive life and breathe out the words thank you

Slowly read the following instructions: Sit with relaxed posture and close your eyes. We will spend three minutes in breath prayer.

Breathe in a regular, natural rhythm.

As you breathe in, receive life; as you exhale, respond with thank you.

Breathe in and out, focusing on what you are inhaling and exhaling. Watch the time for three minutes. Urge participants to continue the breath prayer for the full three minutes. When time is up ask these questions for a short group discussion:

• What is one thing you are grateful for in this moment?

• How do you feel about receiving?

After the discussion say:

Thank you, God, for another day. Thank you for the opportunity to connect with others, to receive and to give to one another. Amen.

Sharing Around the Table

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 NRSV

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

During the financial crisis of 2009 thousands of people lost jobs. Many families were completely unprepared for the loss of income and the resulting pressures of mortgages that were in arrears, along with utilities and other expenses.

A Community of Christ congregation in the Pacific Northwest (USA) responded to these extraordinary circumstances by offering help to neighbors. The pastor and financial officer became skilled at navigating community-aid services and programs offered for deferment of payment by utility companies.

One day the pastor found a woman in tears, sitting on the flower box outside the office door. The pastor asked if she could help. The woman confessed that she did not understand how her family had gotten into the situation it was in. She and her husband had good jobs and were living the “American Dream”; it all crashed down after they both were laid off.

The pastor helped her complete a form to begin the process of providing aid. When the form was completed, the pastor asked how the woman had come to the church. She replied that a few days before her visit she was sitting on her front step, sobbing about the situation A neighbor came to comfort her.

The woman shared her story. Her neighbor replied that she did not know if the members could help, but that she should go to the big church with the green roof because they really care.

Paul writes to the Christian community in Thessalonica, congratulating people on their reputation a reputation built around care, hospitality, and service. It is a special kind of feeling to be able to write such a letter and recognize the goodness of others. It is not hard to imagine that a neighbor of a person experiencing tough times in the city of Thessalonica might say, “I don’t know if they can help, but you should go to that group of Christians that meet under the green roof; they really care.”

Questions

1. How important is a reputation to you? Do you consider a business’ reputation before you go to it for goods or services?

2. As a disciple or seeker, how would a reputation impact your decision to join or journey with a community?

3. What actions and behaviors do you exhibit that would cause people to say you care?

Spiritual Practice

Love Letter

Have writing utensils and paper for each participant. Read Thessalonians 1:1–10 aloud, as if you were reading a love letter. Make sure everyone is comfortable and then consider the community gathered with you. Think about the gifts and skills of the individuals. What binds you together? How does your community live the principles of Jesus Christ?

Now, imagine yourself separated from the community but receiving updates on how the witness of Christ is being lived through them. Write a letter to the group. These epistles may be very private and may include things not widely known But if participants wish to share what they have written, provide time and space for that to happen. End with a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of Christ that is being incarnated in your community.

Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.

Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a

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:

Discipling God, as we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us to save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 552, “We Are Companions on the Journey”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Thoughts for Children

Thoughts for Children

You will need:

• paper

• coloring supplies

In today’s scripture, Paul is offering encouraging words to the people of Thessalonica. Ask: Has a friend or family member ever encouraged you? What did they say to encourage you? (Be prepared with sample situations where someone might need encouragement to generate response from the participants.)

Say: Those are really great examples of encouraging words, thank you for sharing! Today, we are going to practice encouraging others. I am going to give each of you a piece of paper and some coloring supplies. I want you to write or draw an encouraging message on your paper for someone else. Your message doesn’t need to be specific; you can offer general words of encouragement. Does anyone have ideas of what they might write or draw?

Once you have finished your writing or drawing, you can take it with you. Find some place to leave your encouraging message for someone to find during the day. This could be a place in your house, school, or community. You decide!