GOD

PRAYERS:

A Meditation

God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it - if I do but keep His Commandments.

Whatever, wherever I am I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what he is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me - still He knows what He is about. Therefore I will trust Him.

Cardinal Newman

Day by Day

Day by day, dear Lord of you

Three things I pray:

To see you more clearly,

To love you more dearly,

To follow you more nearly,

Day by day.

St. Richard of Chichester

STARTING OUR JOURNEY OF FAITH

WHO IS GOD FOR YOU – PERSONALLY?

Maker (Creator); Provider; Giver; Above all things; Saviour; Consoler; Healer…… These are all the things why we attribute to GOD.

Our search for GOD:

a. Can we find God in a world full of evil and suffering?

b. There might be a God, but what concern am I to such a Supreme being?

c. Why and how are we looking for God?

***Hand out Pictures of items below for members to see and pass around. Ask them to keep one each that has attracted their attention. (Scroll down for pictures or use your own)

Clouds Fire Frost Animals Birds Insects Micro-organisms Galaxies Cobwebs Landscapes Seascapes Sunsets Water Sea Rivers Trees Flowers Leaves Babies

What of God’s attributes do you see in your picture?

I can notice the presence of God in:

My different senses: Sight Smell Touch Hearing Taste

Different feelings and emotions: Love Compassion Joy / Happiness Closeness Support Gratitude Rest Excitement Invention Satisfaction Miracle of (life) Birth

Add your ideas and think about God’s hand in all these.

A sharing time: Personal experiences on how we were attracted to God.

Finding God in everyday life

An inventory of graceful moments - When was the last time…

Someone close to you died?

You entered a new close friendship?

You cried?

A close friend left for good?

Someone forgave you?

You forgave someone else?

A baby was born in your family?

You felt trapped?

You took a strong stand on something important?

Someone close got married?

You made an important change in life?

You felt your age?

You thought about death?

You experienced an inspiring change in someone?

You helped someone talk about one’s deepest hopes or fears?

You took a big risk?

You felt depressed?

You were captured by the beauty of nature?

You were seriously ill?

You experienced prejudice or injustice?

You felt guilty?

A member of the family left home?

You felt respected and good about yourself?

Tell or write down the story of the event by…

Naming all the feelings you had Before, During and After the event, stating Questions which that event raised about your life.

Naming the Persons to whom you turned for help in dealing with those feelings and questions.

Finding a person important to you, even from history, who had questions like yours and study how the person resolved the situation.

Naming any changes in yourself or of your behaviour after this event.

Expressing yourself in one short sentence about this event and similar ones in your life.