Sacred Space: a Resource for Small-Group Ministry

Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Year B

Focus: Ordinary Time Proper 5

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV

Gathering Welcome Ordinary Time is the period in the Christian calendar from Pentecost to Advent. This part of the Christian calendar is without major festivals or holy days. During Ordinary Time we focus on our discipleship as individuals and as a faith community.

Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. O God our source, We enter into this Daily Prayer for Peace desiring to find peace in the quiet and the noise of daily living. When we feel isolated and alone, may we hear the words, “Peace be upon you.” May you breathe your Spirit upon us. We long for the day when the Temple doors will be open wide, and the prayers of the people will echo up into the lofty spire under which we gather. Until that time, fill us with your peace that we may be ambassadors of your peace. Teach us the ways of justice and prepare us inwardly for righteous living that we might be agents of change for the Earth and the dispossessed of the Earth. Forgive us when we stray from living in accord with divine will. Open us to repair relationships and bridge the barriers between people. And once again, open our ears, soften our hearts, and strengthen our minds that we might hear, feel, and know these words, “Peace be upon you.” Amen. —Glenn Johnson

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Spiritual Practice Confession The practice of confession is to examine one’s heart and bring into the light those things that hide in the dark recesses of our being. In this way we can give them to God, ask forgiveness, and be made new in God’s mercy and grace. Sit comfortably and place your hands in your lap, palms facing up in a posture of openness. I will read the Psalm three times, pausing after each reading. In the moments of silence reflect on those things you wish to bring into the light and give to God in an act of confession and repentance. I will close the last period of silence with an “Amen.”

Today’s scripture of confession is verses 10–12 from Psalm 51: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Moment of silence (15 seconds) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Moment of silence (15 seconds Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Moment of silence (15 seconds) Amen.

Sharing Around the Table 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said,

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD, and the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

So Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day.” But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.” Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed offerings of well-being before the LORD, and there Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly. This was a time of discontent, civil strife, and constant threat of invasion. The people turned to Samuel, their judge and respected leader, to give them a king. God provided a clear vision of what life would be like under a king. Samuel shared this message with the people. A king would take their young men for soldiers and forced labor in the fields and industries, as well as personal servants of all kinds. He would take their young women for household servants and slaves. He would tax their income, land, and produce. Samuel warned, “You shall be his slaves.” This was not an abuse of power, but the natural right of kings. But the people still demanded a king. Samuel complained to God about the stubbornness of the people, but God told Samuel to grant their request. God told Samuel to remind the people that they alone were responsible for the difficulties they would face. They must learn by experience. In retrospect, the monarchy may have been an important step in preserving the Hebrew nation from the ravages of the Philistines and uniting them into a whole. But history shows the price paid for the centralized government was high. In Chapter 11 Saul is presented as a military leader who leads the Israelites to victory in battle. Later Saul, Samuel, and the people traveled to Gilgal, where Saul’s kingship was confirmed. For better or for worse, the monarchy began.

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Questions: 1. What is your understanding of God’s role in the choice of political leaders? 2. What are the benefits of our form of government? What are the abuses and injustices? How does that relate to God’s reign?

Sending Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint. —Doctrine and Covenants 163:9 The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response: God of our discipleship, As we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us to save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting Closing Hymn Community of Christ Sings 21, “God the Sculptor of the Mountains” Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group • Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper • Thoughts for Children

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. O God our source, We enter into this Daily Prayer for Peace desiring to find peace in the quiet and the noise of daily living. When we feel isolated and alone, may we hear the words, “Peace be upon you.” May you breathe your Spirit upon us. We long for the day when the Temple doors will be open wide, and the prayers of the people will echo up into the lofty spire under which we gather. Until that time, fill us with your peace that we may be ambassadors of your peace. Teach us the ways of justice and prepare us inwardly for righteous living that we might be agents of change for the Earth and the dispossessed of the Earth. Forgive us when we stray from living in accord with divine will. Open us to repair relationships and bridge the barriers between people. And once again, open our ears, soften our hearts, and strengthen our minds that we might hear, feel, and know these words, “Peace be upon you.” Amen. —Glenn Johnson

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Sharing Around the Table 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD, and the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV In retrospect, the monarchy may have been an important step in preserving the Hebrew nation from the ravages of the Philistines and uniting them into a whole. But history shows the price paid for the centralized government was high. In Chapter 11 Saul is presented as a military leader who leads the Israelites to victory in battle. Later Saul, Samuel, and the people traveled to Gilgal, where Saul’s kingship was confirmed. For better or for worse, the monarchy began. Questions: 1. What is your understanding of God’s role in the choice of political leaders? 2. What are the benefits of our form of government? What are the abuses and injustices? How does that relate to God’s reign?

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint. —Doctrine and Covenants 163:9 The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response. This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response: God of our discipleship, As we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us to save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Communion Statement For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NRSV All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ. We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let’s sing hymn 515 from Community of Christ Sings, “In These Moments We Remember.”

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV Thoughts for Children Invite children to sit in a circle. Say: I would like each of you to tell us your name and your favorite kind of cookie. Once everyone has shared their name and favorite cookie, go around the circle again and ask the children if they can remember what the person two people before them named as their favorite cookie. Some children may be able to remember. Most of the time, kids don’t remember what was shared. Ask: • Why was it hard to remember what others said? (Because we weren’t listening closely.) • What made it hard to listen when others were sharing? (Affirm all answers.) Say: Just like it was difficult for us to listen to other people share in our circle because we were thinking about what we were going to say, the Israelites in today’s scripture passage had a hard time listening to Samuel because his perspective was different from their own. As a result, they made a choice that wasn’t very good for them in the long run. They chose to have a leader who didn’t always take good care of them. The Israelites could have made a better choice if they had listened to Samuel’s perspective. Just like the Israelites, we also get to choose who or what leads in our life. When we are making decisions about who or what we want to be most important to us, it is helpful to listen to other people’s perspectives. Ask: What can we do to be better at listening to others? (Affirm all answers.)

ORDINARY TIME PROPER 5; Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4–20; 11:14–15 NRSV