Gathering 7 – Who Has Brought Us Joy – Revisited
Informal - 15 minutes
- Warm greetings with eye contact and smiles as people are welcomed in
- Pre-printed name tags retrieved – provide a conversation starter note for each week
- Serve simple refreshments
- Mingle and offer warm greetings to others
- Conversation Starter: Ask, “What is the most enjoyable sight you’ve ever witnessed and enjoyed?”
Non-formal – VIDEO – whole group – 30 minutes
- Three sets of “4-4-4-4” breaths to place onto Christ any cares of the day/week and to quiet/calm – 2 minutes
- Prayer to welcome God’s presence and read Psalm 139:23-24 (“wicked way” is literally “way of pain”) – 2 minutes
- Watch Video – 10 minutes
- Each person share a 30-60 second gratitude/appreciation or read an excerpt from your journal – 10 minutes
- Each person answer the question, “What was the most meaningful gift you have ever given or received?” – 10 minutes
Split up into gender-specific triad (or 2 close friends) – 20 minutes
- Each person take 5 minutes to share about a relationship with a second family member, friend or even a pet that brought joy into their life experience – 15 minutes
- Ask any clarifying question of a group member’s memory about which you are curious – 5 minutes
- Say a blessing prayer over the person on your left – 2 minutes
Regather whole group – 10 minutes
- A few folks share a 30 second gratitude/appreciation from this gathering
Fun-work: The host will email the video homework assignment to everyone
- Journal a bit about your experience this week.
