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For
Use in Church, Over Lunch, in Homes, at Work
LEADER:
Briefly summarize this entire exercise and explain its purpose: to connect
faith with daily life. It is faith-sharing “from below,” so each person
stands on an equal footing. Announce: “Choose someone with whom you
will share in a few minutes—just turn to the person next to you; or
all get up and mix around until everyone is linked with someone.” Invite
everyone to be seated; create a quite atmosphere. Then announce:
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STEP
1.
“
Think over the past week (or period of time), and notice a problem
you’ve had to deal with in some area of you life…” (Allow
a few minutes of silence.)
STEP
2.
Contemplate: “How has God—or Christ, or prayer, or
my faith, or my community of faith—made a difference in
how I responded to that problem?” (Allow a few minutes
of silence. Then find a simple way to break the silence: a spoken “Amen,” ringing
a soft bell, or a sentence prayer such as, “O God, be with
us now as we share.”)
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STEP
3.
“ Meet with one other person—and share the issue or concern, and
reflect with your neighbor on how your faith made a difference.” (Announce
length of time for sharing—six to ten minutes total; three to five minutes
per person.)
STEP
4.
After sharing, invite each pair now to spend one minute in silent
prayer: “Closing
your eyes, picture the face of your partner, lifting up that person’s
needs and gifts.” (Option: Offer a “sentence prayer” for
each other—the discipline of only a sentence!) “When you are ready,
give your friend some sign of Christ’s peace.”
STEP
5.
End as seems natural with large group discussion. Ask: “What did we learn
about faith sharing?” Conclude with a hymn or a spiritual—such
as Guide My Feet, Amazing Grace, or Day By Day.
Adapted. © 2000
Kent Ira Groff, The Soul of Tomorrow’s Church: Weaving
Spiritual Practices in Ministry Together (Nashville, Tenn.: Upper
Room Books, 2000.) This resource may be duplicated for local
use, provided each use includes proper citation of this book
title, author, and publisher.
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