The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means teacher), "Where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So, they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. (Jn 1:35-39)
Jer 31:31-34 “….this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel…I will write my law on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Welcome the group. If you have new members, welcome them and briefly go through introductions.
Grace: To get in touch with our desires and goals for the year and make a covenant with God.
Use the grace or the suggested scripture above to create your own prayer or use the one below: After reading the scripture, say:
Lord, we thank you for gathering us here tonight. We ask you to help us get in touch with our hopes and desires for the year. We also ask for the grace of being open to make a covenant with you. Just as you have promised to be the God of Israel and Judah and take care of them, please continue to be our God. Help us to continue choosing you as our God for we belong to you as your people. Amen.
Note: Ask for a volunteer to lead opening and closing prayers for the next meeting
Invite members to share some of the high and low points of the week. This check-in is meant to ease the group into reconnecting and reflecting on their experiences and it should be brief.
Materials Needed: CLC supply box (CLC journal booklets, papers, pens, etc.), CLC Examen bookmarks, a large sheet of paper or poster to use as "CLC covenant cloth", instrumental music, My Covenant with God handout (found in journal booklet)
Tonight, we are going to talk about our desires, goals, and commitments for the year and then discuss the meeting topics.
Sharing
Encourage everyone to share their prayers
(Note: Feel free to adjust meeting topics within the themes according to your group’s needs.)
Suggested questions to deepen awareness of inner movements and further conversation
Encourage members to pray for each other’s hopes for the year by praying for the person to his or her left. Member A prays for member B, who will then pray for C and so on.
(Coordinator should begin first) I would like to pray in thanksgiving for …