SESSION 6: MAKE THE MOST OF GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE

Before the Session
Read through the scripture, meditations, and prayers from The Upper Room March 26-April 1. Write on large sheets of paper the scripture references and questions listed in "Reflection on The Upper Room" in the pages at the back of the March-April issue of the magazine. Display these on the wall or on tables in your meeting space.

Opening Prayers and an Introduction to the Study (5 minutes)

An Introduction to the Theme for the Session (5 minutes)

Invite the group to join you in saying responsively,

LEADER: "This is the day that the Lord has made;
PEOPLE: let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

Introduce the theme for the session, saying,

The beauty of Christian faith is the newness and novelty of life. Sometimes in our busy lives, we put aside the more important tasks of celebrating God's good gift of life, strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ, and loving our neighbors.

Reflection on The Upper Room (25 minutes)
Invite discussion of the meditations for March 26-April 1. What does each meditation say about living life to the fullest? How is Christian living unique? Which meditations are most meaningful to you? Which come closest to your understanding and experience?

After they have discussed the daily meditations from The Upper Room, invite each of the participants to walk around the room, to choose one of the following scripture passages, and either to reflect on or to discuss the questions listed below:

March 26 Galatians 6:1-10
What is the scripture's advice to those who follow Christ?
What does Galatians 6:1-10 mean: "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ"?
In what ways do we live for the flesh? How do we live for the Spirit?
Memorize Galatians 6:10b: "Let us work for the good of all."

March 27 Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
According to Ecclesiastes, what has God provided for our lives?
What is the role human beings play?
What in your experience demonstrates the reality of the author's message?
Read aloud verse 12-13: "I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in their toil."

March 28 Daniel 1:1-20; Galatians 5:16-25
What is the source of Daniel's strength, good health, and wisdom?
How does Daniel honor God?
What does Galatians say about Christian living?
What are the desires of the flesh? What is the fruit of the Spirit?
What does Galatians 5:18 mean: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law"?

March 29 I Thessalonians 5:6-24
Why stay awake? What does it mean to "belong to the day"?
What are the characteristics of Christian living?
In what ways does your faith community follow the instructions of 1 Thessalonians?
In what ways are you strong in faith?

March 30 Luke 6:27-36
How do the teachings of Christian faith differ from conventional wisdom?
Who are your enemies?
What conflicts fill the morning paper?
Why is loving our enemies difficult?
How can praying for them help us love them?

March 31 1 Kings 19:1-13
What was Elijah feeling? How did he answer God's question, "What are you doing here?"
When have you felt the same way?
In what kind of experiences did Elijah expect to find God? How did God appear to him?
In the "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12, KJV), what did God say?
Where do you look for God? How does God speak to you? What does God say?

April 1 Philippians 4:4-9
Why does the scripture tell us to rejoice?
How do you celebrate God's blessings?
How do you celebrate the kindness of others?
When have you experienced the peace of God in Jesus Christ?

Celebrate New Life (20 minutes)

Say, "The community of believers is called to celebrate God's gift of new life by living faithfully and boldly in the love of Jesus Christ."

Post on large sheets of paper a picture or outline of an individual and a picture or outline of a church. Invite one person to stand by each sheet of paper. Give him or her a marker to record the group's answers.

Ask: In what ways can we as individuals celebrate the goodness and love of God? (possible answers: Pray daily. Do an act of kindness for someone you know or a stranger. Help carry an older adult's grocery bag. Send a thank you note to a relative or friend. Plant a bulb, a flower, or a vegetable. Visit a neighbor.)

Then ask: In what ways can we as a church celebrate the goodness and love of God? (possible answers: Worship. Have a fellowship supper. Give money to local charities. Go on a mission trip. Start a soup kitchen. Help children or adults learn to read.)

Post on the wall a map of the world. Provide newsmagazines and newspapers as well as information about international organizations such as Church World Service, Heifer Project, Doctors Without Borders. (Information on these can be found on the Internet.) Invite the group to look through the news and to identify places in the world where people are suffering because of war, poverty, injustice, epidemic illness, or famine.

Ask: In what ways can we celebrate the goodness and love of God for the world?

Invite the group to brainstorm, to create a list of possible ways to show God's love in the world, and then to choose and plan one project they would like to pursue.

Suggested Activities for Multigenerational Groups

• Tell the participants to form small intergenerational groups. Provide newspapers and newsmagazines, highlighters, scissors, construction paper, and glue or tape. Ask the groups to clip news articles about war and conflicts, poverty, injustice, illness, and so on. Ask them to underline in the articles the names of people, groups, or countries that are suffering and then glue or tape the article to construction paper.
  
  Bring the groups together. Tell the participants to sit in a circle and place the article in the center of the circle where everyone can see them. As one person to begin by saying, "Let us pray for..." and naming the people and the reason for their suffering.
  
  Allow a moment of silence. Invite the group to conclude each prayer, saying, "Lord, lead all of us to live together in love."
• Blow up balloons. Ask: What are ways that we can celebrate God's goodness and love? Give a balloon to each person who suggests a way of celebrating. Ask him or her to write the idea on the balloon. Provide healthy snacks, and invite the group to celebrate together.

Closing Prayer (10 minutes)

Invite the group to sing together "Ube Caritas" or "Live in Charity" (TFWS 2179) in both English and Latin.

Live in charity and steadfast love. Live in charity. God will dwell with you.
Ubi caritas et a-mor. Ubi caritas. Deus ibi est.

Say a Prayer: All praise and thanksgiving are yours, oh God. You have given us the gift of life. Help us to care for our lives, for one another, and for all your creation, celebrating your love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Week at Home
(facilitators: make copies of the following brief suggestion and distribute to people as they leave)

Encourage the participants to continue their daily devotions using The Upper Room. In addition, invite them to use "A Calendar for Holy Week" as a way of walking with Jesus to the cross and preparing their hearts and minds to rejoice on Easter Sunday.

A CALENDAR FOR HOLY WEEK

Palm Sunday, April 5

• Read Matthew 21:1-11.
• Jesus' entry into Jerusalem fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-10, a promise of peace and rejoicing because the Lord has come into his kingdom. But after Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, his death is certain.
• Throughout the day, sing praises to the Lord, saying, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Monday, April 6

• Read Mark 11:15-19.
• Religion had become big business; but Jesus taught, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations." He refers to Isaiah 56:6-8, in which God welcomes all people into the community, and Jeremiah 7:11, a prophecy of judgment.
• Say a prayer: God, forgive us for using religion to profit our own agenda, for giving power to some and excluding others. Gather together all people from all nations and give them one voice in prayer. Amen.

Tuesday, April 7

• Read Matthew 22:34-40, Mark12:13-17, and Luke 21:1-4.
• Giving God all that belongs to God and giving all that we can and more are ways to obey the Great Commandment. Jesus' teachings angered the religious leaders because he uncovered their lack of obedience.
• Today, put all your spare change in a dish. At the end of the day, think about how you spend your money. What does the way you use money say about your priorities? Do you give to God all that you can? Plan to collect your spare change for the rest of the week. On Easter, put it in the collection plate-and remember the poor widow.

Wednesday, April 7

• Read Mark 10:32-34, and Mark 14:3-9.
• Jesus tells his disciples about his death and a woman anoints him, preparing his body for death.
• Spend some time in silent reflection. Bring to mind pictures of Jesus crucifixion. How do you feel about Jesus' death? How do you understand his being condemned and crucified?

Maundy Thursday, April 8

• Read Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:32-34, and Mark 14:43-50.
• On the day before his death, Jesus ate with his disciples. He prayed, struggling to be obedient, and was arrested in the garden.
• Go to church; participate in the Lord's Supper. If you cannot go to church, plan to spend an hour with another person. Light a candle. Talk with each other about the events of this day. Pray together, confessing your sins, your betrayal of Jesus' lordship, and asking God's forgiveness.

Good Friday, April 9

• Read Matthew 26:51-67, Luke 22, 54-62, Mark 15:1-5, John 19:16-30, and Luke 23:50-54.
• On this day Jesus was tried and crucified.
• Either read the scripture passages spaced out throughout the day or set aside the hours from noon to three for silence and reflection. Light a candle. Alternate readings and silent meditation on Jesus' crucifixion and death. After three hours or after the final reading, sing a hymn such as "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" or "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed." Say Jesus' prayer, from Luke 23:46: "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit." Extinguish the candle.

Saturday, April 10

• Read Matthew 27: 62-66 and Luke 23: 55-56.
• Think about how death is glossed over in our culture and in our churches. Yet the scripture is quite clear: Jesus is dead-stone-cold dead-and buried. A guard is posted against deception, to keep someone from stealing the body and claiming a resurrection.
• Go about your business. Forget about it. Try to remember what you were doing before this week. But before you sleep, say a prayer: God, give me faith to live free in the face of death. Amen.

Easter Sunday, April 11

• Read Matthew 28:1-10.
• Raise your window and shout: "Christ is risen!" Play the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah or sing hymns of resurrection, such as ""Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" or "Thine Be the Glory." Go to church. Celebrate!
• Later in the day, read Luke 24:34-49 and John 20:19-29. How has the risen Christ been revealed in your life? How is the risen Christ revealed in the words of worship?