Sacred Space – Small Group Resources

Year A Letters

Ordinary Time, Proper 20

Philippians 1:21–30 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 581, “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me,” an African-American spiritual

Anytime and anywhere.

Stirring Spirit, the yearning for peace comes to us at many times and in many places. It is like the changing of seasons: a sprout of green spotted in the morning frost. The first snowflake in the dark of midnight. The cool breeze kissing the face of a sleeping child. We learn to watch for these moments and to treasure them as they come and go, ephemeral. We watch with our eyes and our ears; we watch with our hands and our souls.

May we also learn to watch for the moments when we can act for the good of humanity. Anytime and anywhere—these moments may be as brief as a breeze, but our actions can impact a lifetime.

We pray you would bring a season of peace to our lands. We pray that peace would flood our valleys and stir the branches of our trees. That peace would warm our toes and compel our inert hearts to move. We pray that we would live in your peace, and from your peace, and for your peace. Anytime. Anywhere.

In the name of Jesus we pray Amen

Spiritual Practice

Discernment through Contemplative Prayer

Enduring Principles are a foundation of Community of Christ. Today we are focusing on the Enduring Principle of Responsible Choices.

We find stories in our scriptures of people reflecting on their history and seeing God’s hand in all of it. When we pause to discern God’s presence in our lives, we can see the divine hand throughout. We can discern Responsible Choices in our lives. One way to help us discern is through contemplative prayer.

Contemplative prayer is a method of meditation used by Christians to sit in silence with God. This prayer helps us experience God’s presence within us. When we get quiet and listen to our heart, we can discern where God is calling us.

Choose a word or phrase of your intent to make Responsible Choices. Sit comfortably, with your eyes closed and repeat your word slowly and silently. When you become aware of thoughts, physical sensations, or emotions, allow them to pass and return gently to your word or phrase

We will continue this practice for three minutes. Ring a chime to start the meditation. After three minutes ring a chime to end the meditation.

Now we will sit in silence for three minutes to see what comes to us in the silence. Ring a chime to end the silence.

Invite the group to share its experiences with this spiritual practice.

Sharing Around the Table

Philippians 1:21–30 NRSV

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them, this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Philippi was a small Roman city in Macedonia with few Jewish residents. Paul successfully baptized several Greek and Roman Gentiles as followers of Christ. His letter to the Philippians reveals his love for the disciples and their enthusiastic support for Paul financially and personally.

Through Paul’s words, “…living is Christ and dying is gain,” an interesting question is raised. Does “living in Christ” represent a mystical spirituality or advocacy for action? It is both. At its deepest level, genuine spiritual practice leads us to discern God’s work in the world and take part. In Christ, Paul found his spiritual identity and his purpose in life: making Christ visible through his words, actions, and decisions.

Paul knew that if he survived his imprisonment, it would allow him to continue the work God called him to do. If not, he would unite with Christ in death, a result for which he longed.

Yet, even as he struggled between the conflicting wishes, he reassured the Philippians that he hoped to share with them again in mutual joy.

As we face multiple crises, some wonder if giving up (death) would be preferable to the continued struggle of coping with an ever-changing, divisive, often-violent world. Some religious groups proclaim Christians should abandon this world and retreat into isolation until God calls them home. Others choose to act compassionately to make a difference wherever they are.

Community of Christ continues to affirm that God is working in the world, and our task is to discern where that activity occurs in everyday life. We are called to share in God’s work, not abandon it. Like Paul, we find our purpose in supporting one another, building community, and standing firm against opponents of Christ and God’s kingdom.

Questions

1. How would you finish this statement based on your lifestyle choices and activities? Living for Christ means…

2. What are the crises of our day that oppress or ignore the most vulnerable among us?

3. How do you understand God’s priorities and desires for humankind?

4. How is God’s Spirit leading you to respond?

Sending

Generosity Statement

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 359, “We Are One in the Spirit”

Closing Prayer