Session 5: The City of Hope

Materials:
Hymnals or copies of the hymn “My Hope Is Built”
Newsprint and markers

For Experiential Options
Bible dictionary or commentary
Journals or paper
Pens/pencils

Opening Statement (Leader to summarize where indicated during session or to copy for group):
            A couple years ago I climbed on board a bus full of young people to head out from Pennsylvania to Colorado for our denomination’s national youth conference, an event that occurs once every four years.  Although we’d be making a number of tourist stops along the way, we’d also have a lot of sitting time.  I needed to pack light, so I decided to limit myself to one book – beyond the Bible, of course.  What book should I take?
            The volume I chose, nearly a thousand pages long, was Aaron Mialvec‘s The Didache: Faith, Hope, and Work. It is not light reading, but it turned out to be a fascinating glimpse into the early church.  This book tells the story of first-century Christianity through the lens of the short document known as The Didache (dih-dah-key) or “The Teaching.”   Milavec paints a picture of a committed community of Christians who, despite the fact they had the whole Roman world against them, shared a life full of meaning because of their hope in Christ. The Lord’s Prayer was an essential part of that community.  Its familiar words are part of The Didache.  Milavec suggested that while some early Christians may have recited the Lord’s Prayer verbatim, most would have followed the Jewish practice of using such a text as a guide for expanded prayer.  In other words, the leader might say, “Our Father,” and then pray about the meaning of this special relationship with God, and so on through the familiar words many of us know by heart.
            This idea caused me to see the prayer in new ways. The Lord’s Prayer is many things, but for me it is a prayer of hope, especially when we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it already is in heaven. When we pray in this way, we express hope and the idea that God loves us, cares for us, will provide for us, and will forgive us.
            This week, let us look as the community of faith in this set of meditations through the lens of hope.  Though our eyes are on the cross, we are an Easter people, filled with hope.

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5; Matthew 6:9-13

Focus Statement: Hope does not disappoint us.

Gathering
            As the group gathers, talk about news of the week, concerns and joys.  Begin with whatever rituals you have developed. 
            Sing “My Hope Is Built.”  Then write “H,” “O,” “P,” and “E” as large letters on a sheet of newsprint.  Invite group members to list hopeful things that begin with these four letters.  Write these down.  Invite group members to pray sentence prayers about items on the list, expressing the hope that Christians share.
            Take a deep breath and find a relaxed position.  With hope in mind, share the following Lectio Divina exercise.

Lectio Divina: Romans 5:3-5
            Tell the group that Romans 5:3-5 will be read four times. Have the group subdivide into smaller groups of three or four persons for this activity.
            First the group leader reads the text aloud twice, slowly. Invite group members to listen for a single word or phrase that gets their attention, and to repeat it inwardly, reflecting on it in the silence.  After two or three minutes of silence, invite people to say aloud the word or phrase that appealed to them.
            The scripture is then read a third time, by a different person than the first reader. Using the word or phrase that spoke to them earlier, group members wait in silence to hear or see Jesus in the scripture. One might focus especially on the ways Jesus is touching our lives through this piece of God’s word. After the silence, group members are invited to say a sentence or two about what they saw or heard.
            As the scripture is read a fourth and final time, group members are invited to examine themselves in silence to determine what this scripture is calling them to do or to be in the 24 to 48 hours. After a time of silence, invite group members to talk about the invitation or call they heard. Conclude by having group members pray aloud or silently for the person on their right.

Marking the Milestones (Daily Meditations from The Upper Room)
           As you turn to the week’s meditations, pray the Lord’s Prayer together.  Focus your heart on the word hope. As always, feel free to move back and forth among the meditations as the discussion unfolds.

Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Thorns
Where is the hope for the hopeless?  There is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.  Yes, as Easter people we look to resurrection and restoration, but caregivers bear a great burden in this life, and putting a small bandage over a gaping wound doesn’t help much right now. Yet the cross was endured for situations like the one described by today’s writer.  Rather than ask questions, why not consider ways we as the people of God can share burdens that people ordinarily bear alone.  Pray for those in similar situations – and then determine how you can be present to them and help bear their burdens.

Friday, February 29, 2008
Strength or Weakness?
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness” says the hymn. Consider the words of the hymn as you reflect on the writer’s reminder that God “has a better plan: walking by faith.”  Despite our desire to control our lives, hope is to be found in trusting God.  How much of this writer’s self-description match your self-perception?  What are ways that we try “to generate a finished product”?  Have you ever experienced the strength of God in your weakness?

Saturday, March 1, 2008
Eyes to See
Discuss experiences similar to those described by the writer in today’s meditation.  Have you been on the viewed rather than the viewing end of such an encounter? What excuses have you made or heard regarding lack of response to those like the ones described here, who are truly on the margins of society? The writer talks about practical ways of alleviating suffering.  What might you and your group do to improve the lives of others and ro change your society?  What programs are already in place in your area?  What services are lacking? 

Monday, March 2, 2008
The Holy Day
Describe a typical Sabbath in your life.  How have you observed the Sabbath at various stages of your lives?  What is your definition of rest?  Do you think of the word gift when you think of Sabbath?  Name tasks in your work and home that never seem to be completed.  Some in the Roman Empire thought that Jews and Christians wasted a seventh of their life by taking a day off.  What do you say and do to “justify” taking time off?  Can you use both of the words hope and Sabbath in one sentence?

Tuesday, March 3, 2008
Nothing Is Impossible
Reflect on times when as individuals and as congregations we say that something is impossible. The writer uses Abram and Sarai as examples of God’s work in situations that seem hopeless.  Do you consider them examples that help you in your faith?  Are some things truly impossible? Role play a conversation between Abram and Sarai about God’s hopeful promise.  What are ways we can encourage people in situations that seem hopeless?  Define what it means to trust God. 

Wednesday, March 4, 2008
Walking Humbly
 The author talks about being truly mistaken regarding Christian faith and practice, showing us that we can grow and change. Talk about ways you may have been wrong in matters of faith.  How receptive are you to correction?  Can you find humor in your mistakes?  What have you learned about Lent during this small-group study?  Talk about biblical stories involving a mistaken notion of what pleases God.

Reflections

           How can I bring hope to others?

           How can I remind myself in “impossible” situations to look for signs of hope?

           What does God’s rest look like, and how we can live it?

           What barriers have I erected in my life to prevent God’s will for me?

Going Forth           
            Mention here thoughts from the opening statement that apply to your discussion.  Return to the hymn “My Hope Is Built.”  Sing the first stanza; then ask group members aloud where they find hope. To close, invite group members to “expand” the Lord’s Prayer, one clause at a time.  A leader will say a phrase and invite group members to pray a short prayer or make a statement based on that phrase.  Conclude with the whole group praying the Lord’s Prayer together.
                       
Experiential and Journaling options
            Use a Bible dictionary or commentary to explore  the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Discuss differences in the wording of the prayer in different versions of the prayer and different translations of the Bible.  Discuss possible reasons for the differences and ask group members what they see about differing traditions in the versions of the prayer. Or copy Matthew 6:9-13 with Luke 11:1-4 alongside and explore reasons for the difference.
            Write a paragraph in your journal or on a piece of paper about what the Lord’s Prayer has meant to you at different times. 
            If there are individuals in your group proficient in languages other than English, ask them to pray the Lord’s Prayer together in another language.

For a Children’s Session:
            Materials:
            Magazines
            Scissors
            Glue
            A large sheet of newsprint
            Spread out magazines, scissors, glue, and the newsprint.  Talk about the origin and place of the Lord’s Prayer.  Focus on the meaning of its words, and ask children for examples from their lives to illustrate the meaning of or the hope suggested by each phrase.
           With the written text of the prayer before them, ask children to cut out letters from headlines and advertisements and paste them on paper to print out the Lord’s Prayer.  Read the prayer together to end your session.