GRoup liturgy example

EMBODIED PRESENCE PRACTICE

 
 
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BEGIN WITH PRAYER · 5 MINUTES

Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.


MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS · 5 MINUTES

Take this time to go over any details pertaining to any gatherings of your groups that may be upcoming. Additionally, invite the participants of your group to take out their phones, open up the Missio Dei App and navigate to the Events Tab on the App. Highlight a couple of events that are upcoming that you feel are pertinent to your group.

REVIEW AND REFLECT UPON A READING FROM THE CURRENT OR PREVIOUS WEEK · 20 MINUTES 

Select one of the readings from the current or previous week and practice a Lectio Divina reading as a community group together. The Lectio Divina movements can be found below:

Preparation for Receiving · Silencio 

  • Slow down in preparation for your reading. Be silent in the presence of Jesus for a minimum of 2 minutes. Ask the Holy Spirit to shift you from control to receptivity, from information to formation, and from observation to obedience. In the silence release control of your reading to the Holy Spirit, and ready your soul to receive whatever it is the Spirit wants to do during your time of reading. 

Read · Lectio 

  • Read the selected passage slowly. Consider reading multiple times and reading out loud. Mark one particular word or phrase that stands out to you as you read. Pause, breathe and relax for a few minutes to let the word or words really sink in. 

Reflect · Meditatio 

  • Reflect on your passage. Go back & read what you’ve marked. Sit with those words. Contemplate the meaning of those words, deeply. Consider what they meant to the original audience and reflect on what they may mean to you. Why do you think they stood out to you? What do these words make you think about? How do these words make you feel?

Respond · Oratio

  • Respond to your passage. Write down your word or phrase. Rewrite them perhaps even using your own words. Use them to write a prayer, and/or  journal your feelings and thoughts connected to them. Write down your general observations or things the Spirit of God may be inviting you to do in response to reading and reflecting upon them. What do you think these words may be inviting you to consider or do in response to them? What is one step you can take towards receiving this invitation? 

TALK THROUGH THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS LISTED ON THE PRACTICE PAGE · 40 MINUTES 

Weekly Questions can be found on the Groups Page for the appropriate month that you are in. 


CLOSE IN PRAYER · 10 MINUTES

Create a public forum space where people can pray and offer prayer for one another. Fight the urge to talk more about prayer than you do spend time praying. Invite someone to begin this time and someone to end this time together. Remember, silence is not the enemy of a time of prayer.