Listen to the Spirit… adapt as needed…
stay longer where you are drawn…
Ignatian Roots
“Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we respond with gratitude to God for this gift of Jesus in every circumstance of our lives.” (CLC-USA General Principles #1)
“I will consider how all good things and gifts descend from above… as rays come down from the sun and rains from their source.” (Spiritual Exercises [237])
Opening Prayer
Grace to seek/ask: to become more attentive to how God has been moving in the past few months, particularly through my faith sharing or CLC group.
Check-In
Please share for a few minutes about how you are doing, based on the following questions:
- Since the last time we’ve met, what has given you life or drawn you closer to God?
- What has drained you of life or drawn you away from God?
- Please describe any significant encounter with God in prayer, service, or relationship with others.
Since we will have a significant time for sharing where we have been in these past few months, let’s keep this check-in brief. In particular, please share what would be helpful for the group to know and lift up in prayer together tonight.
Focus Exercise
Do you ever spend time with an old, favorite memory? Maybe something from your childhood, a particularly fun night with friends, or something around the holidays that is a custom in your family? When you spend time reflecting on that memory, you can sometimes almost feel the way you felt then, or notice things that you didn’t see before. In reflecting on the memory, the memory can take on a new meaning, offer us wisdom about our current life, or become more and more a touchstone, solidified in our thoughts for years to come.
Use tonight’s handout as a tool to reflect back on the Pathways journey.
Scriptures
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Luke 2:19
Listening and Sharing
Reflection Questions
- Did you notice anything about yourself or how you have grown in these past few months/year?
- How have you experienced God active in our community of faith?
- In what ways do you hope to deepen your relationship with God in the coming year? Can this group be a help to you in that journey? How so?
Listening Deeper
These are questions that allow community members to listen to and share about what is moving within them after the focus exercise. Specific questions about the focus exercise can be included here, but facilitators may choose to approach it differently such as with more open ended questions.
- What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or similarities?
- How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
- Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?
- What is remaining with you? What do you hope to return to in prayer at another point in the week?
Moving Forward
Share a meal together as a community sometime this week to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate your friendship.
If the group has decided to move forward, set a time and location to discuss what resources for prayer the group would like to use next. Check out our Resources section for books and additional meeting ideas.
Closing Prayer
Invite each member of the group to share one word that is on their hearts or minds at the conclusion of this meeting. Then, pray a prayer of gratitude to God for the graces received individually and collectively.
