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Living Christianity is a five part programme (ideal for a course during Lent) that takes the shape of the Eucharist (Communion Service) to introduce the Christian faith in the Inclusive tradition. "Living Christianity is a course to nurture new Christians, to refresh old ones and to catch up with people asking questions about the Christian faith.
Available as a book or digital download from Lulu.com.
LET US PRAY
"In the name of God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit, Amen”
THE EUCHARIST
The words for today are about our own story and are in the Prayer of Confession (look) "Forgive us all that is past”
ICE BREAKER
Go around the room asking each person their name and to say something about their name which they know but we do not and which they would like us to know (if this is sticky for anyone and they have nothing to say just ask them simply if they like their name - that should do it!)
LISTENING
Often in life it seems that the person who shouts the loudest gets their way. In today's fast moving world of short attention spans and sound bites we hear much but may understand less in any real depth. Often people do not feel listened to and understood. Learning to listen is an art , the ability to listen a gift , which is why we sometimes slow down in this group to listen to each other, saying silly things like what we were doing today at 10.00am or more serious things like how we experience God.
EXERCISE
Choose a person to work with, try to choose someone different from the person last week
(This may take a long time - let it develop so that people feel able to speak about obvious difficulties with this as well as pleasures)
THE BIBLE: 1 KINGS 19.4-16
Having experienced what it is like to be listened to we are going to look in the Bible at two passages which describe what it might be like to have God listen to us!
What do you notice here? Do you have any questions?
PROMPT TO ASK:
(the session continues with a further reflection on Matthew's Gospel, an extract from Space for Grace by Giles Goddard and final prayers)