SECOND GATHERINGThis month your reading, praying and reflecting will flow from the first 5 paragraphs of The Eucharistic Letter.
The theme is: THE VISION AND ESSENCE OF A LITTLE DESIGN COMMUNITY. You will find much to chat about in these pages.
Enjoy a deepening experience as you share hearts and listen to each other's stories.
...and the greatest of these is Love!
SECOND LITTLE DESIGN GATHERING
Words of Welcome
Opening Song Fire of Love (or CD of your choice)
Gathering Prayer of the Little Design Communities
Holy One, evidence of your self-communication in love is all around, everywhere.
In the inner depths of my own heart, in the world, in all creatures around me,
you live and move and have your being. I am not separate from you,
and because of your wondrous love I am not separate from all creation.
Help me to live with eyes wide open to your self-communication.
Help me to be open to your lavish grace, to receive it without fear and
with the conviction that you want nothing more than for me to receive it.
In turn, may I be gracious to others, an instrument of your lavish grace to all I meet. Amen.
-from Judy Cannato, Field of Compassion
Scripture: A reading from the prophet Habakkuk 2:1-4
I will stand on my watchtower,
and take up my post on my battlements,
watching to see what he will say to me,
what answer he will make to my complaints.
Then Yahweh answered and said,
‘Write the vision down,
Inscribe it on tablets
to be easily read,
since the vision is for its own time only;
eager for its own fulfillment, it does not deceive;
if it comes slowly, wait,
for come it will, without fail.
“See how he flags, he whose soul is not at rights,
But the upright one will live by faithfulness.”
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. Pause for silent prayer (5-7 minutes)
Guided Reflection on The Eucharistic Letter: vision and essence of the Little Design -paragraphs 1-5
- Download these pages from the website or…
- Go to the white binder and read the commentary for these 5 paragraphs.
- One person reads the original text – Medaille’s written words.
- Another person is prepared to speak about the commentary.
- Open conversation and responses from the gathered community.
Sharing the State of the Heart
Everyone chooses ONE of the cards from the plastic folder. Choose a WORD that just seems to resonate with the state of your heart. Sit in silence with it awhile and let your story reveal itself to you. Then…
Spend as much time as is needed to have everyone share their story. Just listen to each other. No one needs to comment, fix, or resolve the situation. Let the Spirit work in your midst! Listen to each other and observe the shifts, growth, insights, changes all occurring within the other person’s journey over the past month. There is a ‘spiritual direction’ emerging in and through all the situations. Most of all listen to your own insights as you share from your own heart. Be receptive and obedient to the Spirit promptings within you.
Pray for each other as the individual coloured cards are placed around the Christ candle. Imagine everyone being touched by the light and love of the Great Lover God.
Closing Prayer
O God, who through your servant, Jean-Pierre Medaille, have deigned to call a great number of souls to the imitation of the Word Incarnate. In his great love for God and humanity, we beg of You, glorify Your name and glorify your servant, by granting us through his intercession the favors which we ask. We pray also that by his intercession the whole family of “the little design” may be continually renewed in his spirit and hasten with joy along the way which he has traced out for them towards this greatest love. Amen.
Refreshments – enjoy a cup of hot cider with appetizers, fruit and the companionship of new friends. Sip together the cup of blessing!
