I attend a group that looks at the Lectionary Reading for each week, and takes each scripture (one each the Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament and Gospel) and wrestle together with what we are noticing in each passage, what we believe its message is, and what we wonder about. This week’s readings were about persistence: obeying God’s direction with faith in his promises, even when we don’t exactly know where we are going.
Coincidentally, this week, I was also asked to respond to a request from an “outside group” wanting to use resources belonging to a Christian group I am part of, with a very short deadline attached. My gut instinct was the overwhelm of the request because of all that would be required and the small amount of time to accomplish those requirements. Others had a more open-ended response….seeing it as opportunity and perhaps a movement of the Spirit, calling us into service, and the action of “let’s find out more about this.”
I have been thinking about how much the other people in each of these groups consistently give me more angles from which to consider any given question or task. There is synergy; each comment affects others to share, which ends up with a richer and fuller and more informed view of “what next.”
At the last business meeting, I mentioned that we were going to follow the apostles’ lead in between the time of Jesus resurrection and Pentecost, which was “to gather and pray together.” My hope is that each group, no matter how small or large, will experience the benefits of listening with and through each other.
Here are the specifics: The idea is to form a group of at least three people to agree to meet once or twice a month around…
(1) some specific work that B4 Hope is doing AND
(2) spiritual practice/preparation that will enable us to hear and cooperate more fully with God’s direction in this effort.
A guide will be provided each month. If you want to form a group, or want to register a group you are in, please click here and fill out this form to sign up.
For more information, please contact Donna.
