Time With Jesus

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: To come in contact with God in the person of Jesus through imaginative prayer and an open mind.

Use the grace or a suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, or use the one below:

In the Christian tradition, a lighted candle symbolizes Christ’s presence. So as we begin our prayer, let us remind ourselves that Christ is in our midst. God is with us (light candle in center of the room). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…

Let us Pray. Loving God, please be with us in our meditation, inspire our imagination, permeate our thoughts, enliven our feelings, and direct our wills as we experience this prayer together. We ask especially for the grace to encounter You in the person of Jesus. May we be open to whatever surprises You choose to gift us with. We hope that we not merely seek pleasure from our prayer, but that we seek to be closer to our true selves and more attentive to Your mysterious presence within. Amen.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

• What were some of your high and low points of the week?

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: instrumental music and a candle

Introduction

Prayer can be understood as simply paying attention to God and our deepest selves. When the two meet, something mysterious and special happens.

In this meditation, we’ll use our imagination to pay attention to God and our deepest selves. Don’t be afraid if it is a bit awkward, even strange. Let yourself go. Let God’s Spirit lead your own spirit, mind, and imagination. Don’t judge your experience; it’s not right or wrong, good or bad; just be open; be aware. Use whatever speaks to you and disregard what does not appeal to you. Your imagination might even seize you and you will no longer hear me, that’s fine too. Work with whatever image of Jesus feels right to you and that comes up in prayer. Let your imagination free you up and take your heart wherever it may.

Exercise: “Time With Jesus” Meditation

Read the "Time with Jesus" Meditation meditation slowly, with soft instrumental music playing in the background. Make sure to pause long enough for members to really enter into the meditation.

Sharing

1. What were some of the thoughts and feelings that emerged for you as you stood by the sea before Jesus arrived?
2. How did you imagine Jesus in this meditation? What was it like for you to imagine Jesus in this way?
3. How did the meditation affect you?

Listening Deeper

• What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or commonalities?
• How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
• Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

• Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation, particularly if this was a new experience for them.
• Action: Spend 5-10 minutes in imaginative meditation (with God).
• Announcements:
  • Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events.
  • Next Meeting: Bring an item that is really meaningful and important to you (e.g., photo, heirloom, gift, etc.)

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Create your own closing prayer or ask a member to bring in a prayer. End with the song, “Friends” by Michael Smith.

Friends

Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

Can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.