Sunday, March 6th Readings

1^st Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father

You lead me through the desert places

so I may be refreshed and made new

You put before me a banquet feast to nourish

so I may be filled with Your goodness

You gave your life to show love without conditions

so I may share that gift with others

Thank you Lord for guiding me!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

What do you lay at the altar of God?
How does being in the desert change your perspective?
What good comes from this desert experience for the Israelites? For you?

Romans 10:8-13

How do you proclaim Jesus as Lord? Is it evident you are a Christian through your words? Your actions? Both? Share an example.
When did you last call on God? What was it for and what was the response?
How do you show love to God? How do you show God’s love for others? Is it the same or different, explain.

Luke 4:1-13

The devil tempts Jesus to be self-glorifying; where do you see this behavior in the world today?
How does the devil tempt you to turn away from God?

General Questions for Journaling

When has God delivered you from a bad situation?
Identify a time when you felt alone or abandoned. Can you look back and see God there with you?
How does God nourish you? Do you allow God to nourish you?
Describe what it feels like to be empty of God’s presence.
Describe what it feels like to be full of God’s presence.
Make a list of things you can bring to others between now and Easter to help you express your faith more openly.
Are there people in your community/family who are crying out but you are ignoring them? Listen for what God wants you to do.
What are the communities which you dwell? Give them each a rating on a 1-10 scale on how they show/share the Gospel message.
How can love be blind?
When did you first understand unconditional love?
Does love require effort? Why or why not?
How are you exercising your faith?
How does having faith give power? What does faith have power over?

Closing Prayer

Leader: You call me from the desert places

ALL: to share Your love with others.

Leader: You call me from the desert places

ALL: to set captives free.

Leader: You call me from the desert places

ALL: to visit the lonely and oppressed.

Leader: You call me from the desert places

ALL: to show mercy and kindness.

Leader: You call me from the desert places

ALL: to shine YOUR light for all to see!

Challenge for the Week: Do you have a faith story? Of course you do! Just like in the business world where people have “elevator speeches” which describe and highlight their accomplishments and successes; Christians should have a faith story. Spend time this week putting together your own personal faith story; include pivotal moments, desert places and mountain top experiences. Include specific scripture passages which carried you through the bad times or sustain you in the good times. Write it down and then put it in your Bible so it can be added to the many other stories of our salvation HIStory!

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Sunday, February 20th Readings

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Father

When you look at me,

You see me through loving eyes,

holy, forgiven and complete.

When I look at myself,

I see me through condemning eyes,

as a sinner and not enough.

Through your Word,

let me learn how to see me

and others as you see!

Amen

Journal/Reflection Questions

1 Samuel 26 :2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

How do you think those with David felt about his actions against Saul? What would you think if you were one of them?
What does David’s response say about his character? Is there something there which you’d like to see more of in people today? Be specific.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49

How do you struggle with the “earthly” and the “spiritual” within yourself?
Have you thought of yourself as “spirit-filled”? How can the thought of being “spirit-filled” change how your look at the situations you face today? How does it change how you treat others?

Luke 6:27-38

Do you give to God in the “measure” in which you want God to give to you? *(God gives 100%, 24/7 regardless of what you give)
Is what Jesus is saying in this scripture realistic? Why or why not?

General Questions for Journaling

How easy or difficult is it to put God in charge of transgressions and retributions? What is it about humans that makes them want to take matters into their own hands? Specifically identify how you relate to this.
Do you believe one person’s life is worth more than another? For example, a mother of four vs an ordained sister, or a Leader of State vs a homeless person, explain.
Have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life? Share a specific example so others can see God’s faithfulness too.
In your opinion, what makes a person “anointed”? What other opinions might be out there?
Can you spend quality time with people whom have different opinions and/or beliefs than you? Is this barrier too big to put aside for even a little while? Share an example.
Where do you rank respect on a scale of 1-10 in relationships? Is it different for your spouse? Your parents? Your boss? Your kids? Your friends? Your pastor? Your neighbor?
When you look at yourself do you see God? In what way?
Can you see God in others? Share examples.
Are there people whom you have a hard time seeing God? Share examples.
What measurement do you judge people against? What is the thing(s) that you judge the most? Race? Poverty? Religion? Job? Clothing?

Closing Prayer

Leader: In those moments when I feel abandoned…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when I am filled with anger…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when plans change…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when I receive the results…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when I can’t see past today…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when I lay myself before you…

ALL: Pour your gift of love upon me!

Challenge for the Week: This week consider the barriers you build in your life to keep people at a distance. Some of the barriers are built to protect you from being hurt yourself or inflicting pain on another, while others are built out of arrogance because you are not open to listening to another person’s view. Spend time this week reflecting on the barriers you have built in relationships, especially in your family. How have these become obstacles to spending time together and not just time, but quality time, when you can come together and genuinely enjoy each other. No one has the same experiences as you, nor the same opinion. Even siblings raised by the same parents have different memories of the same experience; imagine the greater scale of this scenario to include experiences in your community, the US and the world. What steps can you take to break down barriers starting in your family relationships and allow the differences bring you together instead of keeping you apart? (HINT: This just might be something that needs a bit more time than a week – Lent is coming!)

Sunday, February 13th Readings

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Jesus

Throughout the Bible are stories of hope

Open my eyes to see the hope in the world today

Let me hear the stories where hope is restored

And be a living example that hope never dies

Amen

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Draw a picture of the two images described in this scripture.
Share a time when you experienced both images, what was going on in your life, be specific about who was with you and what you felt.

1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

Does this scripture bring you hope? Explain how.
How does the promise of the resurrection affect your faith? Be specific.

Luke 6:17, 20-26

What is the overall message Jesus to sharing with the people who have gathered to hear him speak?
What is the message Jesus has intended for you to hear in this scripture to help open your eyes to a situation in your life right now?

General Questions for Journaling

How do you feel about God giving free will? Is it good? Is it bad? How does free will get you into trouble? How does it free you?
Are there choices you have made in your life which you wish you could change? Do you can do something about that choice now?
Is it easy or difficult to change? Do you always get to choose to change? How can making the choice to change affect your attitude?
Who do you confide in to help make decisions? What qualities do you look for in a person who helps you?
What draws you to ask God for help? Are there obstacles which keep you from seeking God’s advice in matters?
How do you feel about trust? Is trust important to you? Is it something people have immediately or do you believe people need to earn it?
How much trust do you put in God? How much trust do you believe God has in you?
Would you describe yourself as someone who is open to new ideas and new ways to do things or do you consider yourself someone who is comfortable with the way things are and have always been? Share an example.
How would you explain the hope you have in the resurrection to someone who doesn’t know about Jesus?
Do you believe faith is a choice you make every day or is a choice you made once and it stays with you?
Share an example of a time when your faith was challenged; be specific about what you did, how you felt and the outcome.

Closing Prayer

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the rising of the sun!

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the delicate snowflake!

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the blooming flower!

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the simplicity of a smile!

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the warmth of a hand!

Leader: I will rejoice

ALL: in the hope you give!

Challenge for the Week: Do you have a faith story? Of course, you do! Just like in the business world where people have “elevator speeches” which describe and highlight their accomplishments and successes; Christians should have a faith story. Spend time this week putting together your own personal faith story; include pivotal moments, desert places and mountain top experiences. Include specific scripture passages which carried you through the bad times or sustain you in the good times. Write it down and then put it in your Bible so it can be added to the many other stories of our salvation HIS-tory!

Sunday, February 6th Readings

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Father,

I hear you calling but I’m held back by…

fear and resentment

judgment and selfishness

sin and shame

Wipe away those things that bind me

Let me walk with you to edge

and take the leap of faith!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

Whom do you fear? Of what are you afraid? Where does your fear come from?
How to you tell God you are ready to do His will?

1Corinthians 15:1-11 (15:3-8, 11)

Have you fallen asleep to the purpose you have been called for? What can you do to find the passion and drive to go on?
How would you describe someone who is “fit” to serve God?

Luke 5:1-11

When have you doubted God? What was your situation? How did God change your heart?
Are there people who are in deep waters who need you to come and bring them to the shore?

General Questions for Journaling

How has God made you worthy of His love?
Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? What was the situation? How did you overcome the fear?
How has your life been shaken up? Where was God during the storm?
What has God called you to do? Do you minimize the importance of your purpose?
How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name who encountered God but felt they were not worthy?
How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name whose lives were changed when they took a leap of faith to trust God entirely?
How is grace distributed?
What “work” is required to receive faith? Grace? Love?
Do you think God asks you to do things you are not capable or qualified to do? Why or why not?
How do you go about asking someone to do a big task? Do you just give them the big task or do you break it down into some smaller tasks to make sure they will be able to handle the big task? Be specific.

Closing Prayer

Leader: You created me with the will to choose…

ALL: Let me choose YOU!

Leader: You gave me a name and purpose…

ALL: Let me serve YOU!

Leader: You walk the road ahead of me…

ALL: Let me follow YOU!

Leader: You call me into the deep waters…

ALL: Let me trust YOU!

Leader: You welcome me to the shore…

ALL: Let me be there with YOU!

Challenge for the Week: Spend time reflecting this week on a time in your life that is comparable to the experience of the fishermen…when was God asking you to do something you didn’t want to do because you thought you had exhausted all possibilities. Did you do as He asked anyways? Did you choose to ignore the suggestion and go a different direction? Regardless of which path you took, share your story with someone to show how God blew you out of the deep water and onto the shore and how you would do it all over again (the same or differently) as a witness of your faith.

Sunday, January 30th Readings

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Father

You knew me before I was born

You know where my path leads

You continue to love and guide me

You open your arms to welcome me

Home!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jeremiah 1 :4-5, 17-19

Jeremiah is trying to stir up the people to prepare for battle; what battles are you gearing up for which require you to be firm in your faith and understanding of who God is to you?
Who cries out for peace and justice today? What do they say? Do people believe and follow?
What are you willing to stand up to protect? Share an example.

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

What does this scripture tell you about love? Have you seen love like this?
How do you learn of love? How is love taught? Where does it come from? Does love have limits? Is there a capacity for love?
What does hope bring to your life? What does faith bring? What does love bring? How do the three things work together?

Luke 4:21-30

What does it mean to be humble? How is humility shown in this scripture?
Are there people in your life whom you have a hard time believing? What is it that causes you not to trust their words or actions?

General Questions for Journaling

Are there things in your life which you are willing to die for?
What are things which require a fight? Are you fighting or simply a spectator?
Do you feel called to step up and step in to lessen an injustice? What holds you back?
Where does your strength to fight an injustice come from? Is it provoked from outside or stirred up from inside?
Share an example where dealing with conflict in a peaceful manner gave the desired result. Share an example where dealing with conflict with aggression gave the desired result. Which is the better way?
Does God ask too much of you? When? How?
Can good come from bad things? How does one grow through conflict?
Can you love too much? Why or why not?
Can you be loved too much? Why or why not?
Where have you seen love fail? What initiated the breakdown and what was the result of the failure?
Share an example of when love broke down hate, either a personal experience or one you witnessed.
Is it easy or difficult to change an attitude? What are some key factors in doing so?
How does the name of Jesus provoke you to love?

Closing Prayer

Leader: You created me out of love…