Norton Heights
Sacred Space Small Group Worship
July 9, 2023
July 9, 2023
Romans 7:15-25a Where is My True Self
Presiding: Kellie Brady
Welcome
Invitation to Worship
Our experience today will invite us to be present with discerning hearts. Jesus, the peaceful One, modeled a devoted life of prayer and relationship with God. When life gets busy, even in church, it is all too tempting to step away from prayer and spiritual practice. In our lectionary scripture from Romans, it is made clear that when we step away from prayer and discernment, we begin to lose sense of who we are in God, and how the Holy Spirit is calling us to live our lives. Today, through spiritual practice, music, and sharing, we will explore ways to more deeply align our hearts and minds with divine purposes.
Opening Hymn Now in This Moment CCS 96
Opening Prayer Anaya Brady
Scripture Reading-Kellie Brady
Romans 7:15-25 RSV
15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17 So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, 23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Prayer for Peace Anaya Brady Statement
It is important to consider peace through the lens of discernment. Discernment invites us to discover the mutual yearning between ourselves and God. Somewhere in the midst of that yearning, God meets us, and an emerging vision for a peaceful world becomes clearer. It is easy to dismiss peace when we consider the suffering present in human lives, natural systems, and creation as a whole And yet, God invites us to a vision of hope. God reminds us that even in the midst of significant challenges, the work of reconciliation continues.
We yearn for peace when God’s yearning breaks open our capacity to see, to “suffer with,” and love The deepest discernment question in our hearts needs to be: “What does God yearn for?” The Enduring Principles of Community of Christ state it clearly: “God wants shalom (justice, reconciliation, well- being, wholeness, and peace) for all of creation.” The larger goal of discernment is to recognize and join God’s redemptive activity of restoring creation to wholeness and joy
-Carolyn Brock, Yearning for GodLight the Peace Candle.
Prayer
God of Peace, We yearn for your peace. We yearn for your justice. We yearn for your action.
We yearn for your grace.
We yearn that you might restore creation. God of Peace,
You yearn for our peaceful way of life.
You yearn for justice in our daily living. You yearn for action in our faith. You yearn for grace in our relationships. You yearn that we might restore creation. May we meet in this place. In the name of Jesus, the Peaceful One. Amen.
Time of Community Practice: The Prayer of Examen - Kellie Brady
In our Lectionary scripture from Romans 7:15, we hear and relate to these words: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” We live in a world of interrelated and complicated choices. We wrestle with the dissonance between the values of our Christian faith, and the predominant influences of forces including capitalism and individualism. Sometimes we are conscious of this dissonance. At other times, we get so swept up in the patterns of our culture that we lose touch with the rhythm of life that God calls us to practice.
Sharing in Small Groups in Response to Lectio Divina- Kellie Brady
Print or project the following questions. Form small groups or pairs to reflect on the questions.
·What kind of experience did you have engaging with the Prayer of Examen?
·How might this practice impact your personal discipleship?
·How might this practice impact this community?
·How might this practice, like Paul in his letter to the Romans, help us recognize and respond to natural dissonance between the ways of our world, and the way that God yearns for the world to be?
Disciples’ Generous Response- Anaya Brady
Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
9 Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint. Break free of the shackles of conventional culture that mainly promote self-serving interests. Give generously according to your true capacity. Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that flows from compassionate hearts without thought of return. Could it be otherwise in the domain of God, who eternally gives all for the sake of creation?
Statement
During this time of a Disciple’s Generous Response, we focus on aligning our hearts with God’s heart. Our offerings are more than meeting budgets or funding mission. Through our offerings, we are able to tangibly express our gratitude to God, who is the giver of all.
As we share our mission tithes either by placing money in the plates or through eTithing, use this time to thank God for the many gifts received in life. Our hearts grow aligned with God’s when we gratefully receive and faithfully respond by living Christ’s mission.
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Generosity Statement
Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.
—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a
The offering basket is placed on the counter by the meal. Please give as you can.
This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:
Discipling God, as we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us to save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.
Hymn of Sending Forth
“We Are One in the Spirit”
Benediction
CCS 359
The Mission Prayer Offered by the presider or as a unison reading for all present. God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new, And become a blessing of your love and peace.