| February Lent Easter Faith Sharing |
Faithful God
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
We begin with a moment of silence, to breathe, to reflect, to focus….
to be attentive to ourselves, to each other and the presence of Christ….
May God come and increase our faith!
All sing a Song of Praise: Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above you heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost….
Scripture Reading: Psalm 146
Side 1: God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry, and sets captives free.
All: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Side 2: God gives sight to the blind, and raises up those who were bowed down.
God loves the just, and protects the stranger.
All: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Side 1: The parentless and the widowed, God sustains.
But the way of the wicked, God thwarts.
All: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Side 2: God shall reign forever; Your God, O Israel, for all generations.
All: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Silent Reflection
Questions for Faith Sharing
How can we (individuals, council, parish) be part of
…God giving sight to the blind?
…raising up those who are bowed down?...
…sustaining the downtrodden?
Leader: Faithful God, be with us as we gather in Your Name. Inspire us to work together untiringly to build Your kingdom. Guide our discussions and actions away from unimportant things to what really matters for your people. We ask this through Jesus our Lord. Amen!
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: As we move into the season of Lent, we ask Your ongoing guidance in all we have planned and discussed….
RESPONSE: “Open our hearts to Your Spirit!”
Leader: We pray for our parish and all members of it, that we may be open to their needs and ideas, and represent them well, …
All: “Open our hearts to Your Spirit!”
Leader: We pray for all who are struggling…the homebound or ill, families in challenging relationships, those who are stressed or overburdened,
that they feel the comfort of our church family, we pray…
All: “Open our hearts to Your Spirit!”
Leader: For all intentions in our hearts….. (add any…) we pray…
All: “Open our hearts to Your Spirit!”
Leader: That peace will reign in our hearts, and that, as we leave,
we may be signs of Your presence wherever we go, we pray…
All: “Open our hearts to Your Spirit!”
Closing Prayer
All: May we give your glory all that in we do, as we pray:
Glory be to the Creator, and to the Son, And to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever, AMEN!
Choices in Life
First Sunday of Lent
February10, 2008
Prayer at the beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
All: Loving God, we gather at the beginning of this Lenten Season, knowing that the days ahead are a gift and an opportunity. Help us, each day, to make choices
that will reflect our gratitude for the gift of life and our desire to use the precious gift of time to love our families and to reach out to those in need. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who died and rose that we might live. Amen.
ScriptureReading: Matthew 4:1-11
At that time, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply: “It is written: one does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him: “Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the Kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written, “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and behold angels came and ministered to him.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Silent reflection
Questions for faith sharing:
1. What choice have I made for a practice this Lent, that I hope will strengthen my faith and prayer life?
2.How is God’s grace urging me toward a choice that will help me to be more sensitive to the needs of the poor?
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: O God, you have planted the seed of your Word in our hearts. Let it shape our lives and be the source of our choices and decisions, we pray…
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: Free us from our own destructive impulses, that we may choose life and enable others to have what is life giving for them, we pray…
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For our children. That by our example and guidance, we may teach them to make responsible choices – choices that will be life giving for them and others, we pray…
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For those who are victims of the poor choices of others – choices such as infidelity, abuse, prejudice, selfishness…, we pray…
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Closing prayer
God of all time and all generations, may the gift of your life within us show itself in visible ways, so that we may make clear with our lives the good news of Jesus, who is our brother, our God, our companion, our friend. Inspire us with new ways to serve you and one another. Let all that we do reflect our faith and trust in your promises, as together we strive to live in the unity of our God, who is Creator, Word and Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
The Challenge to Move Forward in Trust
2nd Sunday of Lent
February 17, 2008
Note: Please make enough copies of the closing prayer for all attendees at the meeting.
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
Leader: God of hope, in the midst of new pathways and uncertain roads,
we place our trust in You. Lead us to move in the ways You would have us go,
to create the community You would have us be, to make Your kingdom alive in our midst.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
All: Amen.
Scripture Reading: Gen 12: 1-4
The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.
"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."
Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
The Word of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Silent Reflection
Questions for Faith Sharing
- In times of uncertainty and doubt in your own life, how have your known that God was leading you forward? What lessons have you learned from such experiences?
- How can we, as Parish Pastoral Council members, lead our people forward into the uncharted territory of the future as Abraham did for his people?
- What are the assurances we bring with us that God remains with us and gently guides our actions?
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: Let us turn to our loving God with our hopes and concerns for our community and our world. Please reply “Lead us, O Lord,” to our petitions.
That our church might remain faithful to the message of love and life that has been entrusted to us, we pray.
All: Lead us, O Lord.
That world leaders might move bravely forward to provide justice, peace and prosperity for all peoples, we pray.
All: Lead us, O Lord.
(Leader may add or invite prayers that address the concerns dealt with in this meeting.)
Leader: Please offer any other needs so that we may pray for them…
(When all who choose to share are finished offering prayers)
For these prayers and all those we hold deep in our hearts, we pray:
All: Lead us, O Lord.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Let us pray this as individuals, but also as a community asking for God’s guidance and expressing our trust in God’s direction for us and for our people
(say together):
All: My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone
Thomas Merton
We Stand in Grace
Third Sunday of Lent
February 24, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
All: Faithful God, open our hearts to the grace of the moment, the grace of our time together and deepen our hope so that we may be “grace givers” to those who thirst for you. Amen
Scripture Reading: Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Silent Reflection
Questions for Faith Sharing
- During the past week where have you witnessed hope in the community?
- What is the grace you desire for yourself and the Council during this meeting?
Prayer at the End of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: Name a circumstance or person for whom you desire God’s grace…
After a few moments of silence in a litany form speak your prayer.
All: To each invocation respond: We hope in you, O God.
Closing Prayer
All: Loving God, as we continue our journey through this Lent, let us be hope and look for hope in one another. Amen.
Discerning
4th Sunday of Lent
March 2, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Preparation
These prayers are designed for use after a thorough discussion of the options under consideration has already taken place.
Suggested Visual Aid: Cards with written words, pictures, or objects to represent the proposed suggestions, alternatives, or subject matter that the council is discerning.
Invitation to Prayer
(This opening prayer is very brief, but goes directly to the point. The leader needs to help prepare us to pray it from the depths of our hearts. Invite the group to take several deep breaths together. Invite them to settle down from the business of their days… to gather their attention into this present moment…to consciously draw their minds and hearts into the awareness that God is present and active within us. Then pray slowly and deliberately-
Leader: Lord God, Our Light and Our Salvation,
It is our deepest desire to follow you in all your ways.
All: Not our will, but Yours be done.
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1b,6-7, 10-13a
The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.”
But the Lord said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.
The Lord said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.
Silent Reflection
The leader allows for a few moments of quiet, then, begins laying out the representative visual aids on the table in the center of the prayer circle, or simply makes sentence statements of the items under consideration. She may choose to do both. The leader then concludes:
Gracious God, help us to see as you do.
The silent reflection resumes for a little while longer, after which the faith sharing questions are introduced. Allow the members of the group a minute to consider each of the questions and write notes for themselves if they so wish, before the sharing is opened up.
Questions for Faith Sharing
1. As I sit in the silence looking over our options, do I find myself drawn to one more than any of the others?
2. As I sit in the silence with our options laid out before us, do I have a sense of others losing their pull and fading into the background?
3. As I consider the matter that we have before us, do I see anything differently now than I did before?
4. What did I hear in this Scripture passage that I would like to share with this group as we continue our discerning process?
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: O God, Your reign extends throughout the universe.
May we always seek to live our lives in harmony with the world you create.
All: Lord, help us to live in your light.
Leader: Jesus, Our Redeemer, shepherd us along the way.
All: Lord, help us to live in your light,
Leader: Holy Spirit, strengthen our resolution to always be rooted in the will of God.
All: Lord, help us to live in your light.
Leader: For what else shall we pray…
(When all who choose are finished voicing prayers)
For these prayers and all those we hold deep in our hearts…
All: Lord, help us to live in your light.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Let us pray together in the words that Jesus taught us.
All: Our Father…
Jesus is the Way
[Symbols for Focus: A picture of a road leading into the distance;
a Bible; a copy of Footprints or a sign saying, “Follow Me…”]
5th Sunday in
March 9, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
Leader: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
All: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord,
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Be attentive and hear our call.
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Grant us mercy and forgiveness O Lord,
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
for our souls long for you,
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
and in your word we hope.
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
For it is in your steadfast love we find our true redemption.
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Scripture Reading: John 11:1-45
Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
So the sisters sent word to him, saying, "Master, the one you love is ill."
When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
He said this, and then told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." So the disciples said to him, "Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved." But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him."
So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go to die with him."
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise."
Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day."
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?"
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Silent Reflection
Questions for Faith Sharing
- What are the “troubles” that disturb us in our parish and in our community?
- Take one of the concerns mentioned above…
What would Jesus’ way to respond be like?
- How is our Pastoral Council a living sign of Jesus’ forgiveness, healing and redeeming love for our faith community?
- Imagine Jesus asking you, “Do you believe this?” How would you respond?
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: In faith, we bring our needs and concerns to our gracious God.
For each of us on Pastoral Council, may we be inspired to respond as instruments of God’s merciful compassion to those we meet who are in need of forgiveness or healing, we pray…
All: Jesus, show us the way.
Leader: Please offer any other needs or concerns so that we may pray for them…
(When all who choose are finished offering prayers…)
For these prayers and all those we hold deep in our hearts…
Closing Prayer
Leader God of abundant mercy,
renew the landscape of our hearts this night.
Look not upon the sins of our past,
and lift from our hearts the failures that weigh us down.
When we rise in the morning,
may we experience refreshment and new life
in your loving forgiveness.
We make our prayer through Jesus who is our Way. Amen.
Jesus Christ is Lord
Palm Sunday Cycle A
March 16, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
Invitation to Prayer
Leader: Lord God, your son Jesus Christ was obedient to you, accepting death on a cross. Help us in our obedience to your loving and life giving will. May we always accept our crosses and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen
Scripture Reading Phil 2:6-11
Your attitude must be Christ’s: though he was in the form of God he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.
Silent Reflection
Questions for Faith Sharing
- Where have we seen death and resurrection in the parish?
- What are the hopes for the parish?
- How does the Council reflect the attitude of Jesus?
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers
Leader: In confidence we now offer God our prayers and our needs.
For all who serve others in any capacity, that they do so humbly and with
loving kindness. We pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: Please offer any other needs so that we may pray for them…
(When all who choose are finished offering prayers) For these prayers and
all those we hold deep in our hearts…
Closing Prayer
Leader: The Father of mercies has given us an example of unselfish love in the sufferings of his only Son. Through our service of God and neighbor may we continue to receive his countless blessings.
He is Risen!
EASTER SUNDAY!
March 23, 2008
Prayer at the Beginning of the Meeting
(May have some water or holy water available in a dish with a candle)
Invitation to Prayer:
In this week we call “holy”, let us pray in silence
that we may be holy and faithful in all of the dyings and risings in our lives…..
All: God of Life, by raising Your Son Jesus, You conquered the power of death
and opened to us the way to eternal life. Let our Easter celebration raise us up and renew our lives by your spirit that is within us. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: John 20: 1ff
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple who Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
The Gospel, the Good News of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Silent Reflection…
Questions for Faith Sharing:
During Lent, has there been any “stone” removed in my life?
Or have I tried to remove any stone or barrier?
Mary RAN to tell the News. How can I be excited to share Good News?
Where do I find Jesus in my life?
Prayer (pass around the water & make the sign of the cross on self or each other)
All: Be with us, God, as we gather. Bless our hearts and lives, that
we may be faithful servants, working in Your name, to spread Your Word.
May we be positive signs of Your ongoing presence in our world,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Prayer at the Conclusion of the Meeting
Intercessory Prayers:
Response: “Roll back the stone so we may live your new Life!”
For all still searching for God or for new Life and reason to believe, we pray
For our parish, that we may be positive in the way we live and act, we pray
For all we are working for, and for all in our hearts…. we pray
Closing Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer…
February Lent Easter Faith Sharing Word Document
