SIXTH GATHERING It is only now that Fr. Medaille speaks with us about the activites that will naturally flow from living in the mindfulness of Great Love. We will ponder and share how the contemplative soul understands this movement as a flow of 'grace in' and 'grace out'... yes, the lavish grace from the Beams of LOVE cannot help being shared with others. There is a unique expression for each person! Celebrate the diversity of expressions found in your own Little Design Community. How do each of you "love LOVE and let LOVE love through you"? The theme this month is THE VIRTUES, ACTIVITIES, AND NATURE OF THE LITTLE DESIGN COMMUNITIES.
My cup runneth over!
SIXTH LITTLE DESIGN COMMUNITY GATHERING
Words of Welcome
Opening Song Fire of Love
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 Gospel of Luke 6:36-38
Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.
Do not judge and you will not be judged yourselves.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves.
Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Give, and there will be gifts for you:
Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over,
will be poured into your lap;
because the amount you measure out is
the amount you will be given back.
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. Pause for silent prayer (5-7 minutes)
Guided reflection on The Eucharistic Letter - the virtues, activities, and nature of The Little Design communities - paragraphs 26-33
Download these pages from the website or…
See section in the white binder commentary for these paragraphs.
One person reads the original text – Medaille’s written words.
Another person is prepared to speak from the commentary.
Open conversation and responses from the gathered community.
Sharing the State of the Heart – see notes and coloured cards in the white binder.
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, change 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 tea with cheese, crackers and veggie tray. Sweet is good too!
