Beloved from the Beginning

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace:  For the openness to hear in the Scripture the depth of God’s love and care for us.

Use the grace and the suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, or use CLC Opening Prayer.

Note:  Ask for a volunteer to lead opening and closing prayers for the next meeting.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

• • When was the last time you said, “I love you?”

III.  Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed:  CLC supply box (CLC journal booklets, papers, pens, etc.), music

Introduction

We have all heard many times that “God loves you.” In fact, it may be the first thing we are taught about God. It’s certainly not a new concept, but sometimes knowing something is true still doesn’t give us the heartfelt experience of how profound God’s love is and what it truly means for our lives. The hope for this meeting is to grow in sentir, which means to feel or to experience in Spanish.  Ignatius often uses this word to pray for grace of heartfelt experience of God’s presence and love.

Tonight, we are going to pray with Psalm 139.  We will use Lectio Divina to do so.  It means sacred reading.  We’re going to read the psalm 3 times.

• 1. After the first time, there will be a moment of silence.  (pause)

  2. After the second time, I will invite you to voice out loud a word or phrase that strikes you.  (pause)

  3. After the third time, I will invite you to pray with the word, the phrase, or the image that strikes you and explain what it means to you.  The best way to know this method is to experience it.

Exercise: Psalm 139

Note: Invite members to listen to what feelings or thoughts arise within them as they create space for God to speak to them through the Scripture. Then, read the psalm three times slowly and prayerfully.

Sharing 

• 1. After the first time, there will be a moment of silence.  (pause)

  2. After the second time, invite members to voice out loud a word or phrase that struck them.  (pause)

  3. After the third time, invite members to pray with the word, the phrase, or the image that struck them and explain what it means. 

  4. Suggested questions to pray with and share:

     1. • What does the word or phrase mean for you personally?

        • What is God saying to you personally?

Note:  If helpful, invite them to jot down their answers on their journal booklets.

Listening Deeper

Suggested questions to deepen awareness of inner movements and further conversation

• • 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. 

• Action:

  1. Pray with Awareness Examen:  Pay attention to how you experience God’s presence and love during the day.

  2. Share with your prayer partner.

• Announcements:  Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events

V.  Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Pray for each other or use the CLC Closing Prayer.  You might end the prayer with the song “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North