SEVENTH GATHERINGWe think you will find this month's theme very appealing. Father Medaille encourages us in paragraphs 34 and 35 of The Eucharistic Letter to prepare for the next step of passing on this Good News to others. With some discernment, he suggests each member invites 3 persons - most likely found in your immediate circle of family, friends or parishioners, who you think may be experiencing a call or a desire for a small faith community similar to what you are enjoying. The theme for this month is THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF THE LITTLE DESIGN COMMUNITIES. Enjoy your sharing of hearts.
Proclaim Good News today!
SEVENTH 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 St. Paul's letter to the Philippians 1:3-11
I thank my God whenever I think of you; and every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it, right up the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of the Lord Jesus comes. It is only natural that I should feel this toward you all, since you have shared the privileges which have been mine; both my chains and my work defending and establishing the Gospel. You have a permanent place in my heart, and God knows how very much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognize what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. Pause for silent prayer (5-7 minutes)
Guided reflection on The Eucharistic Letter – the growth and spread of the Little Design communities -paragraphs 34-35
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, 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 tea and fruit breads. Celebrate being soul-friends!