Sunday, May 30th Readings

Holy Trinity Sunday

Opening Prayer

Creator God,

You give the heavens and the earth

There is beauty all around

May I always recognize the goodness you give.

Savior God,

You came into this world as a child

You worked and healed and bled

May I always give thanks for the sacrifice you made.

Spirit God,

You bear witness to the truth

You give confidence and security

May I always call on you, a constant companion.

Amen.

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

God speaks to Moses through a burning bush, where do you hear God’s voice?
Can you identify in this reading God, Jesus and Spirit? Is the trinity present? Why or why not?

Romans 8: 14-17

When have you seen the Spirit bear witness to something? Does it happen in society today or only in the Bible?
God asks you to suffer with him to be glorified. What does the word suffer mean to you in this instance?
What does this scripture teach you about the Holy Spirit?

Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus said, I am with you until the end of the age. What assurance do you have that this is true?
Does this command apply to you today? How do you live out this commandment from Jesus?
Does this scripture inspire you? Explain.

General Questions for Journaling

What makes you know God wants you to prosper? Share an example of how God shows you signs of His love.
How do you show those you love that you love them? What does God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have to do with how you show love to others?
How confident are you that God has a plan for your life? What makes it so?
When do you feel the most secure in your walk with God? What draws you away from this feeling of security?
How would you compare love of God vs love of self vs love for spouse vs love of children, etc….
How is God’s love expressed? Share examples.
Are you able to recognize God’s love in the present or only in past tense?
Do you cry out to God? Jesus? Spirit? What causes you to do so?
How do you explain the mystery of the Holy Spirit?
How do you teach others what Jesus has taught you? What more can you do?

Closing Prayer – inspired by Psalm 33

Leader: Spirit of the living God…

ALL: find me trustworthy!

Leader: Spirit of the living God…

ALL: find me working for justice!

Leader: Spirit of the living God…

ALL: find me being kind and generous!

Leader: Spirit of the living God…

ALL: find me giving hope!

Leader: Spirit of the living God…

ALL: call me your own, Blessed child of God!

Challenge for the Week: Explaining the Trinity to someone can be a challenge, you may not even really understand it yourself. However, if you are called to go out to all the world and make disciples of every nation, you need, no you MUST be able to describe your relationship with the Trinity. Spend time this week identifying who the Trinity is to you. This might require you to do some studying to learn more about Church teaching and/or to discuss with a friend or two how they view the Trinity.

Sunday, May 23rd Readings

Pentecost Sunday

Opening Prayer

Come Holy Spirit!

Shine your divine light upon me!

Wash away the stains of guilt

and wrap me with your mercy!

Start a fire within me for you!

Ignite the flames in me

so I can bring light to all I meet!

Spirit, dwell in me forever!

Amen

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 2:1-11

Identify how the disciples are before and after the Holy Spirit descends upon them. What is significant about this change?
Describe what it might have been like to experience the strong winds and house shaking? How did those gathered know it was okay?
Why was it so important for everyone to understand? What is the significance of this?

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Are gifts of the Holy Spirit limited to one per person or can you have all of them? Are they always there or can you summon them like a super-power of a superhero?
Consider how each part of your body, each organ, etc. has a specific purpose. Draw a picture identifying different gifts people have in the shape of a body/person. How does this relate to the world today?

John 20:19-23

What do sins have to do with Pentecost? Can you experience Pentecost if you are unable to forgive? Why or why not?
Where else in the scriptures do we read, God breathed on them? What is the significance of this? How do these readings correlate?
What were the first words Jesus said to his disciples when he returned to them? Why do you think He chose those words? And why do you think He said them twice?

General Questions for Journaling

Have you ever gone to an event, dinner or party and was surprised you had a good time? Share the experience.
Have you ever met someone, who at first glance you thought would be boring or uninteresting and you were wrong?
On a scale of 1-10, how often do you call on the Holy Spirit in a day?
When you call on the Holy Spirit, what do you ask for or need?
How is your life changed by the presence of the Holy Spirit?
How does the power of the Holy Spirit work? Have you been a witness to what it can do? Explain.
What happens when you cannot understand another person? How does this keep you from communicating?
What is the common language of today? Is it verbal?
What exactly is celebrated on Pentecost? How is it relevant today?
Name 10 gifts you have and how they benefit others.
No gift is insignificant because it was given by God for a purpose. What is something you feel is insignificant about you? How can you change your negative thinking thing into something positive?
When you act out of faith, what characteristics do you show? How do you know a person of faith by their actions? Share examples.

Closing Prayer

Leader: Holy Spirit, come…

ALL: make faith like a blazing fire!

Leader: Holy Spirit, come…

ALL: make joy overflow like a raging waterfall!

Leader: Holy Spirit, come…

ALL: make love spread like fierce wind!

Leader: Holy Spirit, come…

ALL: make peace cover us like a dense fog!

Leader: Come, Holy Spirit, come…

ALL: ignite the fire of your love throughout the world!

Challenge for the Week: How do you hear God’s voice? How do you Jesus is calling out to you? What role does the Holy Spirit have in following faith? This week, determine if you are really hearing God’s voice and following God’s call. Perhaps, you need to reach out to the Holy Spirit for affirmation you are on the right path. Listen for the Holy Spirit in the wind, in a whisper or in a stranger’s smile. Consider writing down each day where you heard, saw or felt the Holy Spirit communicate with you. Come Holy Spirit!

Sunday, May 16th Readings

Ascension Sunday

Opening Prayer

Lord

You know my thoughts and you still love me;

may my thoughts be good and true!

You know my actions and you still call me your own;

may my actions be loving and forgiving!

Make my thoughts and actions more like you

so I may go out and speak the Gospel!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 1:1-11

Share a time when you had Jesus in your midst.
Does the message the men in white had for the disciples ring true for you today?
How do you know the Holy Spirit is with you? Where does it come from?

Ephesians 1:17-23

What do you hope for? What gives hope? Where does it come from? How does it change one’s perspective when they have it?
How do you know if the Spirit is near? Is with you?
What name do you give God? Jesus? Holy Spirit? Do they respond when you call them by name? Share an example.

Mark 16:15-20

What does it mean to you to be a Baptized Christian? Do you identify yourself as being baptized or having been baptized? Is there a difference?
Do you believe there is power in Jesus’ name? When have you experienced power in the name of Jesus? What happened? How were you changed?
How do you think it felt for the disciples to lose Jesus a second time? How was this time different? How was this time the same?

General Questions for Journaling

Describe the Holy Spirit.
What does your baptism have to do with the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit affect your baptism?
How does knowing the Holy Spirit change your perspective on life? Situations? Struggles? Blessings?
How do you know the Spirit is near? Is with you?
Where do you look for God? In the sky? In the blessings? How does this limit God’s power?
Do you believe in heaven? Why or why not? Do you believe this is where God/Jesus can be found? Explain.
Explain why God is exalted? What does this mean?
Give an example of someone who has grown in faith? What are the symptoms/signs that your faith has grown?
What characteristics does a person who is “full of faith” have? By your definition, how do you compare?
How does God call you to share the Good News?
What message are you here to share? All of the Gospel or just a piece of it?
What signs or miracles do you see today?
Have you been a witness of a modern day miracle? Explain.
Where do you believe God is most present?
Where do you believe God in needed most?

Closing Prayer

Leader: May my heart be filled with compassion;

ALL: Fill me O, Lord!

Leader: May my eyes be filled with acceptance;

ALL: Fill me O, Lord!

Leader: May my hands be filled with help;

ALL: Fill me O, Lord!

Leader: May my minds be filled with non-judgment;

ALL: Fill me O, Lord!

Leader: May my spirit be filled with generosity;

ALL: Fill me O, Lord!

Challenge for the Week: Consider the qualifications of a person who follows God. What would be the job description of a Disciple? Would the description be different from the time the Apostles walked with Jesus vs today? Why or why not? Do you need to work for the church, be a priest or pastor in order to be closer to God or to be a Disciple? Do you need to spend hours in prayer and reading scripture? Must you do good works and deeds and help those who are marginalized in order to be considered as a Disciple? Spend time this week really considering what a person in society today has that makes them a Disciple of God.

Sunday, May 9th Readings

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Opening Prayer

Oh, Comforter

YOU reach out to us when we are lost and alone

YOU reach us when we are deep down and sinking

YOU save us from our afflictions and hurts

YOU save us even we don’t think we deserve it

Lord, come wrap us up in your love!!!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

What does it feel like to have the Holy Spirit poured upon you? How is it different or the same as having the Holy Spirit within you?
Have you ever been in the presence of someone whom you thought deserved honor and respect? How did you act? How did you show honor?
How does it make you feel that God’s love and the Holy Spirit is there for everyone?

1John 4:7-10

What did the world know about God before Jesus came? How is it the same and/or different from what you knew after Jesus lived on earth? How is it the same and/or different from what you experience now living with the Holy Spirit?
Does knowing God already died for your sin cause you to try to avoid sin or make you feel it is okay to sin?
When you think of God’s love, how does it feel? Describe it.

John 15:9-17

What challenges are presented when you try to love your neighbor as God commands?
Loving God with all your heart, mind and soul is poetic but challenging. How would you rate yourself in loving God in each of these areas?
What is the greatest thing you have learned from God???

General Questions for Journaling

Where does the Holy Spirit reside in your faith life?
How do you acknowledge or communicate with the Holy Spirit?
When considering your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, how do you divide your time with each person of the trinity? Is there one whom you rely more? Is there one whom you confide in or call out to more? Is there one you listen or follow the advice of more?
Are there people whom you know that you are surprised they are Christian? What makes this so?
Are there people whom you know that you are surprised they are NOT Christian? What makes this so?
Where do you find grace? Is it something you seek or something that comes to you?
When you love someone, do you always like them or the choices they make? Does your love for them still exist in these situations?
What do you learn about God through Jesus?
What do you learn about God through the Holy Spirit?
How do you reveal God’s love for others? Is it on purpose?
Do you believe the gifts you have been given by God help you fulfill the purpose God has called you to? Why or why not?
How do the commandments affect your relationship with God?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Creator God, you have given me all I need…

ALL: May my love for you deepen through nature

Leader: Savior Jesus, your life shows me there will be times of trouble…

ALL: May my love for you deepen through conflict

Leader: Holy Spirit, with you I am complete…

ALL: May my love for you deepen through relationship

Leader: Mighty Trinity, you are in all things, at all times…

ALL: May my love for you deepen throughout my life

Challenge for the Week: When you chose someone to spend time with someone, what qualities do you look for in that person? Are there people in the world which you admire and believe you would be great friends? Are there people whom you’d prefer not to spend time? In the Gospel, Jesus says he is your friend and that he chose you. There must be some great things about you if Jesus is willing to die so He can continue to have a relationship with you! Even further, those people whom you avoid spending time with have also been chosen by Jesus. What can you do to be more welcoming and open to others?