Opening Prayer – 6th Sunday of Easter
Jesus
You showed us the way to the Father;
You taught us how to live with mercy and compassion;
You called us by name into Your unconditional love;
May Your Word continue to guide us, teach us and call us
to a deeper relationship with You!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
• What caught the attention of the crowds to draw them to Philip? How does God catch your attention?
• How do you live out your baptism and share the joy of Christ with others?
1Peter 2:4-9
• Jesus suffered death for you so you might not have to suffer. How can you let go of the suffering in your life and live in the joy Jesus died for?
• Reflect on an example when it was better for you to “suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.” What does this look like?
John 14:15-21
• What words do you use to describe God? Jesus? Holy Spirit? How do your definitions affect your relationship with each part of the trinity?
• What situation in your life is in need of an “advocate”? Have you sought the counsel, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, right judgment, wonder & awe and piety of the Holy Spirit?

General Questions for Journaling
• What inspires you to continue to grow in faith and your relationship with Christ? What practices grab your attention in spiritual matters?
• Mediate on a time when you were filled with ‘great joy’. What were the circumstances? How can you duplicate joyful moments in your life on a daily basis?
• Where is there evidence of the presence of God in your life right now?
• Share some examples of “everyday miracles”. Count up the miracles you witnessed throughout the day tonight as you say your evening prayers.
• How does the Holy Spirit live in you? How does She inspire you? Where do you see evidence of the Holy Spirit in the various aspects of your life and in the world around you?
• What do you hope for?
• How is the example of love shown in the Gospel reading evident in your daily life?
• When you see Jesus, you see the Father, when you love Jesus, you love the Father; how do others see the Father’s love when they see you? What ways of Jesus do you need to work on so others might see the Father more clearly in your words and actions?

Closing Prayer
Leader: We are created in the image and likeness of God.
ALL: Lord, help us believe!
Leader: We are given the gift of unconditional love.
ALL: Lord, help us believe!
Leader: We are children of the Almighty and Ever-lasting.
ALL: Lord, help us believe!

Challenge for the Week: Make a list of 10 things that bring you joy. Perhaps it is sitting on your front porch as the sun comes up, maybe it is hearing children laughing, or it is the freedom you feel when you swing on a swing set or in a porch swing. Identify 10 things which bring you joy and write them down. Place the list somewhere you can see it and make a point to do at least one of those things each day. After a few days, see if spending time focusing on purposefully spending time filling yourself with joy changes you attitude, perspective or outlook on your life, circumstances or suffering. Consider cultivating joy in your life and as it grows in you, it is likely to be contagious 