UNIT E: Living spirituality

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Contents

UNIT E: Living spiritually........................................................................................................E1

Session 1 - Introductory Notes..........................................................................................E3

Preparation for Session 1:.................................................................................................E5

SESSION 1........................................................................................................................E6

Worksheet E1....................................................................................................................E8

SESSION 2......................................................................................................................E10

Notes - E 2.......................................................................................................................E13

SESSION 3......................................................................................................................E16

SESSION 4......................................................................................................................E21

Being a disciple (Session 4)............................................................................................E23

1. A ‘Rule of Life’..............................................................................................................E23

2. Christian Disciplines....................................................................................................E25

SESSION 5......................................................................................................................E28

Living Spirituality..............................................................................................................E30

Prayers.............................................................................................................................E31

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Session 1 - Introductory Notes

This unit is different from the others in that it focuses on offering resources on the theme of Spirituality. Students are invited to explore different approaches, but none of the unit is assessed.

There will be background source material and you are encouraged to experience a different way of prayer and reflection each week. The group sessions will give you an opportunity to talk about your reactions to this and to learn from others.

The title of this unit is ‘Living Spirituality’. We have seen already that the Christian faith is a living and loving relationship with God as Trinity. We are invited into that dynamic relationship, at the heart of which is the love which draws Father, Son and Holy Spirit together in an intimacy which neither excludes nor possesses. ‘Spirituality’ is a word which is used a lot today, but in this unit, when we speak of spirituality, we mean the various ways in which we express a relationship with the living God.

Christian spirituality includes a number of things, particularly:

o The beliefs we hold about God and our relationship with him

o The way we express our care for ourselves in mind, body and spirit.

o The understanding we have of the earth, and human relationships

o The practices and disciplines we pursue such as worship, prayer and reading the

Scriptures

o The values which our daily lives reflect at work, at home and in our communities.

‘Spirituality’ is something that we live. It is not a set of beliefs prescribed by the Christian faith, or a set of religious rules which we are supposed to keep. It is the way in which we integrate every part of our lives, from prayer to diet and exercise; from the way we speak to our neighbours to the leisure pursuits we choose. Spirituality is the lifeblood of our daily choices and priorities and the ‘spectacles’ through which we interpret everything around us. Our spirituality is what gives life its distinctive perspective; it is the light by which we see, the music we dance to, the place of integration in which we make sense of the direction and purpose of our lives.

Many people find the idea of spirituality attractive but have no idea how to build it into their lives. They know that they are looking for a faith which is not just about beliefs but about ways of living. For some, the practices and disciplines which the church engages in may not seem immediately accessible, helpful or relevant. For those who have no experience of prayer, Scripture, or liturgy, the world of the church can seem more like a foreign culture than an invitation to intimacy with God.

Can we discover a ‘spirituality’ which draws us into that intimate encounter with God? Can we look at the practices which the church has developed and find in them, not a set of rules, but an invitation to an integrated life? That is, a life where faith in God and the daily world of choices, work, and relationships are not in separate compartments but flow together seamlessly, so that faith renews daily life, and daily life expresses and demonstrates faith.

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How does the unit work?

This unit invites you to look at the ways Christians have expressed ‘spirituality’ and it suggests lots of practical ways you can explore these for yourself. You will gain the most from this unit if you put aside for now, the idea of learning as studying and gathering information. Give yourself time to learn about prayer by praying, to engage with the disciplines of spiritual life for yourself. You can do this whether or not you have a clear idea of what you believe about God. Anyone can pray, there is no entrance exam! Experiment and explore, try some new things and most of all, think about how far your life is truly integrated. Can you identify ways in which the things you believe in and hope for are not truly reflected in the way you live? Christian spirituality invites us to a life in which we are being healed by the love of God of the fragmentation and dissonance which we so often experience.

We hope that since you began your journal in the first unit, you have been keeping up with it and continuing to record your reflections, prayers and questions. Now is a good time to review what you have recorded so far. And during this unit, because you will be learning from your experiences, it will be particularly important to include your reflections and insights. Don’t forget you can include quotes, pictures, poems, or anything at all which is meaningful to you as you continue your own spiritual journey.

What is in this unit?Introduction and Introductory Worksheet

Session one: Living Journey: Knowing my own story

Session two: Living Prayer: Learning a Relationship

Session three: Living Word: Engaging with Scripture

Session four: Living the Life: Being a Disciple

Session five: Living the Life: Answering the Call

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Preparation for Session 1:

One of the themes that appear again and again in the Bible is ‘Journey’. Even if you have thought about this theme before, it is always worth revisiting, for surely such a rich image will never be finally exhausted, but will continue to offer us its treasure.

To prepare for the first week of this unit, we invite you to take a look at the journey of Joseph. You can find this in the book of Genesis, chapters 37 – 50. Don’t be too daunted, you probably know the outline of Joseph’s life already, and this is an opportunity to read a complete story. It tells of many journeys, since it is not just Joseph who travels, but members of his family too. And taking ‘journey’ as a metaphor, there are those who ‘travel’ in the sense of moving from one way of understanding to a new place of faith and belief. Can you see, for example, some journeys from pride to humility?

Read the story in a modern translation, in one sitting if possible. First, read right through these chapters without stopping to take notes. This will give you a sense of the flow of the whole story. Then, look at the questions below and reflect on what you have read. Review the story if you need to and note some brief responses to the following questions.

1. What physical and geographical journeys are recorded? Who travels, and where do they go?

2. Do you notice any inner journeys in the story? Are there people who are changed in the way they see things? Their outlook, attitudes and perhaps their faith may be transformed by their experiences.

3. Have you experienced a journey, real or inner that has changed you? You can record this in your private journal, and will not need to share this unless you wish to.

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SESSION 1

Living Journey : Knowing my own story

Opening worship

1. Feedback to Introductory Worksheet

Brief review of the work people have done in preparation, concentrating not on the background to the Biblical story but on personal reactions to it.

The Bible is concerned about the journey of the whole people of God as well as about individual journeys.

The tutor will divide the following passages between small groups, ensuring that each group has at least one Old Testament and one group of three Gospel passages.

i. God’s pilgrim people

Abraham: Genesis 12:1-9What is the significance of the journey for the individuals involved?

What is the significance of the journey in the wider picture of the journey of God’s people?

Moses: Exodus 12:33-40

Deuteronomy 1: 19-25

Joshua 3

Jesus the pilgrimGroup 1 Mark 1: 35-39

What is the significance of the different journeys for:

Jesus?

The disciples?

Us?

Matthew 10:5-15Mark 10:32-34

Group 2 Mark 3:13-19Mark 8:31-34Luke 9:51-62

Group 3 Matthew 4:1, 23-25Mark 9:30-31Luke 19:28-39

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In full group afterwards discuss what connections you can see between individual people’s journeys and the development of God’s plan for all people.

Coffee

Jesus was a pilgrim who found no earthly security, having his heart fixed on eternal values. In the three short years of ministry, he travelled towards Jerusalem, then into Jerusalem, the Passion, Gethsemane and the Cross. After the Resurrection, the journey to Emmaus and His promise to his disciples to meet them in Galilee were immensely significant for them. The rest of this session, and the activity for the week, will be to think about how our personal journeys have been, and will be, journeys with Jesus.

2. The week’s exercise - My Life Journey

The tutor will introduce Worksheet E1 (page E8)

The worksheet gives detailed instructions as to how to undertake this reflection which will be the homework for this week. The purpose of the task is not to produce something ‘good’ on paper as to engage in inner prayer and reflection – this is the real task, not the paper. This will mean that adequate time will have to be given to it – so try to set aside a time during the week when you can be undisturbed.

For each person it will be important to spend some time thinking and praying over their life before attempting to begin. Reviewing ones life is an opportunity to recognise the gifts of God and give thanks, but it may also evoke some painful memories and feelings. If this happens, do be merciful on yourself, take a break, talk to a friend or spiritual director, pray.

You will not be asked to show their work to anyone - it is essentially a private and personal piece of spiritual work and it may be helpful to remember that no-one else needs to see it.

Closing worship

Note to tutors

You will need to bring examples of liturgical prayers, orders of daily service etc., for next week. The recent Anglican Daily Prayer and/or Celebrating Common Prayer is obviously helpful. You may also have access to a variety of others such as a Celtic office, or prayers used by the Iona community, or the Taizé community. Other forms of prayer may be slightly less formal and structured but may nevertheless include a simple order for a prayer and reading or meditation. A simple order of daily prayer is included in the notes.

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Worksheet E1

My Life Journey

The idea of life as a journey is, as we have said, an old one. If you were to draw a map which showed that journey, it would show different kinds of terrain and many different features.

At times the journey might have felt as though you were travelling along a twisting and winding path overgrown and barely discernable – you might have struggled to find the way and taken some dead ends. At other times you might have felt as though the path was wide and smooth. Sometimes you travel alone, sometimes with others, you might be ahead or feeling that you lag behind.

You will be drawing a map of your own, showing some of the important things along your own journey, but first you need to prepare carefully. Prayerfully ask God to guide you and remind you of what is most significant. Then, take a piece of paper and pencil and be ready to jot down some thoughts and ideas as you think about the following questions.

Depending on how old you are, think about your life in sections of five or ten years at a time. Then starting at the beginning of your life, think about each period carefully and make some notes ….

1. What were the significant events at this time in my life? (such as arrival of siblings, illness, bereavement, or later, marriage, change of job, moving house – or events which are small in themselves but had a big impact for you).

2. Who were the significant people? Perhaps parents or other carers, teacher, family members, religious figures, people at work or neighbours.

3. Where was God in the picture? Did you have a relationship with God at all and if so what was it like? What did you think God was like and how did you relate to God?

4. What did prayer mean for you during this period in your life?

5. What feelings, emotions, were present for you are this time? There may well have been a mixture, times which included joy and sorrow, anger, rebellion, wonder and laughter for instance.

When you have done this you will have some notes about the significant events, people, feelings and the place of God and prayer during each five or ten year period of your life. Now take a large piece of paper, flip chart size is good if available, or a large piece of wallpaper would do.

Draw a line along it to represent your life, thinking about whether each section might be straight or convoluted to represent some of the things which happened. Next, by adding another parallel line, turn it into something which looks more like a path or a road – make it narrow in some places and broad in others to fit with your experience of the journey. Just do this roughly, so that you can alter it and adjust it later if you wish.

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Now, around each section of the ‘route’ add features such as rocks, forest, mountains, valleys, bogs, which symbolise the events, people and feelings you have begun to think about. For example, a time of academic study might have felt like climbing a hill up a narrow path. But it led to a plateau where you could stop and look at the view. You might want to draw in figures to show the important people around you.

If you find it hard to think of symbols, then do put in words where you need to as well, but don’t be afraid of a challenge to express yourself in new ways.

You can use colours to represent the feelings at different times, showing perhaps dark skies or bright sunshine. You might like to colour the path itself in greens, reds, purples, or whatever colour best ‘fits’ for you the mood of those times.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to create your very own ‘map’. Take the opportunity to play and be creative. The purpose is not to produce a piece of art which will be assessed, for no-one is going to look at it or ‘mark’ it. This is just for you, an invitation to review what has been important in your life and consider some of the stepping stones along the way. It’s a chance to look at the big picture. You might spot some recurring themes, such as a tendency to revisit certain ‘places’ more than once – for example you might notice that several times in your life you have lost an important person to you in one way or another – and then immediately changed your job!

Don’t be surprised if you find this quite an emotional experience. There may be memories or feelings which you revisit which you have not thought about for some time. When you have finished your unique map there may be thoughts, feelings and questions which have stirred in you which you would like to talk about with your spiritual director. Do make sure you take the time to do this.

This is quite a challenging piece of work which will take a little while. However, when you are happy with what you have put down on paper, take some time to write in your journal about what it has meant to you to review your life in this way. How did you feel before you began, whilst you were doing it, and when you finished? What is your prayerful response to God now?

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SESSION 2

Living Prayer – Learning a relationship.

The purpose of this week is to learn about the relationship we have with God in prayer, not by studying texts or books, but by praying!

Opening worship

In full group briefly review the experience of mapping the life journeys that group members have made. Do not go into the individual details, but concentrate on the process - was it helpful, painful, difficult or a release, for example?

The tutor will introduce some of the Christian traditions of prayer, which are described on page E13 (Notes E2), which show different examples of liturgical material. There are many ways to pray and it is difficult, if not impossible, for one person to tell another that their prayer is either right or wrong. We can only invite and encourage each other to look deeply and with discernment at the meaning of our experiences. These are some ways that Christians through the ages have prayed.

The tutor’s input may be all in one piece or divided into sections, interspersed with small group activity. But make sure there is time for all that follows with a coffee break as well!

1. Look at the Lord’s Prayer in small groups and identify the different elements of prayer within it. If you are someone who prays think about your own pattern of prayer, is there a balance of adoration, thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition? If one form of prayer dominates, why do you think this is? Why are some kinds of prayer more difficult for you?

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2. What kinds of liturgical prayer are you familiar with? Take a few minutes as a group to share your experiences and look at any material which the tutor may have brought along. Notice how these services are drawn from Scripture – whether it is indicated or not in the text it is likely that most of the prayers will either be drawn directly from the Bible or very dependent on biblical images and words.

3. Find out if anyone in the small group has had experience of using Ignatian prayer, or Lectio Divina? What has they found helpful – concentrate on the things that have helped, not the difficulties! Does it, for example, help to find out more about ordinary life in Jesus time in order to imagine it? Have particular passages proved good for close, prayerful, reading?

4. Look at the worksheet for this week together. It asks you to commit yourself to one week of prayer for half an hour each day. Tell the group which form of prayer you are going to live with for the next few days and share any concerns you have about finding the time and space to do this. How can you be sure to guard the time for prayer? How do you feel about undertaking this venture?

Closing worship

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The week’s exercise:

Choose one of the ways of praying described in this session and stay with it for the whole week. You will need to find a space of half an hour every day. You may already be in the routine of praying each day, in which case it should not be too hard for you to set the time aside. If on the other hand, you pray only occasionally or not at all, you will need to decide how you can best approach this. The same time each day works best as it soon becomes part of one’s natural rhythm. But people find different times of day suitable – the important thing is to make up your mind and resolve to give it this one week – after that who knows what might happen! But remember – you need to take this assignment as seriously as any other kind of homework and there are no short-cuts! If you want to learn anything from this – you will have to resolve not to cheat and ask God to help you! However, if something goes wrong and you miss a day …don’t just give up. All is not lost, be kind to yourself and simply pick it up again the next day.

So – here are some approaches – settle on one only and stay with it for seven days, for half an hour each day at the same time of day if possible.

o Liturgical prayer. Choose an order of service such as Celebrating Common Prayer, Daily Prayer, a Celtic form of service or something similar. If you don’t have any material like this to hand you might like to use the Daily Prayer service included with Information Sheet E2. The prayers may suggest certain Psalms and Readings for each day. You can use the ones set or, if you are following a lectionary or Bible reading plan of your own, follow that. Take time to pray through the service you are using attentively, allowing the prayers and Scriptures to speak to you. There will be a time for you to include your own prayers of intercession too.

o The Jesus Prayer. It is helpful, but not absolutely essential, to use a string of beads. You may be able to find something suitable or make it yourself. Even a piece of knotted cord or string will serve the purpose well enough. Sit or kneel comfortably and take time to relax and slow your breathing. Pray the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner, silently or out loud, once for each knot or bead.

o Divine reading. Choose a passage of Scripture and read it through slowly a number of times. When a word or phrase seems to be insisting on attracting your attention in some way, put aside the Bible and stay with those words. Immerse yourself in the word God is giving you and let the Spirit do the work, don’t strain. When you are ready, make a response to God in a simple prayer. Then rest in the sense of God’s presence and the encounter you have had with him.

o Ignatian Prayer. Choose a series of gospel passages from Jesus ministry. St Luke’s Gospel contains many stories of Jesus’ encounters with people. Use these as springboards for imaginative participation in the story.

Write in your journal about the experiences you are having, either as you go along or at the end of the week. What has been new and inviting? What has been difficult? Have you experienced prayer in a new way? Will you continue the routine you have established this week? Would you like to try other ways of praying in the future? Most importantly, how have you encountered God in these times of prayer – have you been strengthened, comforted, encouraged or challenged in surprising and life giving ways?

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Note: Next session will look at using the Psalms for our prayers. You may wish to look back at pp 49-58 of the booklet which accompanied Unit B, which describes the psalms and Hebrew poetry in more detail.

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Notes - E2

Notes on Christian traditions of prayer

The Lord’s Prayer: The prayer which Jesus taught his disciples contains all the elements of prayer which have traditionally been thought to be essential: adoration, thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition. It appears in Matthew 6: 9ff

Our Father in heavenhallowed be your nameYour kingdom comeYour will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.And do not bring us to the time of trial,but rescue us from the evil one.

Can you identify the different elements within the prayer?

The Jesus Prayer: Another, shorter prayer which tradition also holds to be complete in itself is the ‘Jesus Prayer’ which has been particularly associated with the Orthodox Church. Traditionally, it is prayed with the aid of a string of beads or knots, and the prayer is murmured or offered silently as each knot is held. This means that the prayer is made many, many times, until it becomes so much part of the one praying that it seems to pray itself somewhere deep within the heart. The believer prays, not alone but in and with the Spirit who is always praying to the Father, in and through Christ. Prayer takes one up into the living and dynamic relationship within the Trinity, a belief which we explored back in Unit A. Another important aspect of the ‘Jesus Prayer’, like the Lord’s Prayer, is that the one praying knows that he or she prays with countless other Christians. The prayer is shared not only by many generations and around the world, but also at this very moment others are praying with the same words, the same heart, the same Spirit.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner”

There are a number of ways to pray the prayer, it can be shortened further still to a few words such as Christ, have mercy, or even represented by just the word Jesus, uttered as an expression of love or a prayer for mercy.

3. Liturgical PrayerFor many Christians, the saying of a regular office is central to the daily expression of their relationship with God. There are many forms of Morning and Evening Prayer, not to mention Midday Prayer, Night Prayer and Compline which the Christian Church has used at different times. The canticles, responses and intercessions are usually drawn from Scripture and the order of prayer will also include Psalms and Bible readings for each day. The Anglican Church has recently produced ‘Daily Prayer’ which draws on previously available material and offers prayers suitable for each day throughout the Church seasons. If there is a preference for less formal material, there are numerous resources available which may offer a reading, a prayer and perhaps a poem or a meditation for each day.

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4. Ignatian PrayerSt. Ignatius of Loyola is known for the emphasis he placed on meeting Christ in prayer particularly through an encounter through Scripture. The method of prayer he taught involves careful reading of a Gospel story and imagining oneself to be a part of it. What sights, sounds, and smells are there? What can hands and feet feel? As you read through the story and imagine yourself there, where are you standing? Close to Jesus or an onlooker from afar? What is your reaction to what happens? What would you say to Jesus? This imaginative exercise is a way of meeting powerfully and authentically with God in prayer.

5. Divine Reading ‘Lectio Divina’This is different from Ignatian Prayer though it also begins with Scripture. There are four steps along the way, which are helpful to the beginner, and if you were to work at this for a time you would find that they flow quite naturally into each other.

(i) Reading.One way of beginning is to read carefully a chosen passage of Scripture, perhaps a number of times. As you read, allow the words to speak to your heart rather than pose questions to your mind. You do not need to look for meaning or understanding or try to dissect the text as if it were an analytical Bible study. Just read and ‘hear’ the words until a particular phrase, or even a single word seems to lodge in the heart as significant in some way. You may have found on occasions that sometimes words seem to jump off the page as if you had never really noticed them before. Sooner or later, you will sense what the word or phrase is that you should take deeper into prayer.

(ii) DwellingThen it is important to dwell on the words, again without analysing, but simply so that they can soak deeply into your being. For example, the words ‘Fear not’ may emerge from a reading as somehow offered to you in a very personal way. Putting the Bible away, stay with the words ‘Fear not’ for a time, allowing them to resonate into all the fearful places within.

(iii) RespondingAfter a time, you may want to make some response to God such as ‘I will not be afraid if you are with me’ or ‘thank you for the deep reassurance of your love’. Without forcing a response or searching for it, allow it to rise in its own time from your heart and then offer if freely to God.

(iv) Contemplating – or just ‘loving and being with’When you have sensed that God is speaking to you through his Word, and you have received that word and made a response, the natural thing to do is just be lovingly in one another’s presence. If you find all kinds of distractions and other thoughts intruding, you can return to your prayer of response and consciously offer it again. Or, you can just thank God for speaking to you and being with you. You can tell him that you love him and delight to be in his presence. Sometimes it is helpful to focus on a lighted candle or hold a cross or other symbol in the hand. As an example, if you have prayed the prayer above in (iii) you might stay focussed on the reassuring nature of God, whose love drives out fear. You might ‘immerse’ yourself in that reassuring presence.

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A note on distractions. Most people find that when they come to pray they are distracted by noises outside themselves and the insistent voices in their own heads. Don’t worry – prayerful people have been grappling with this problem for thousands of years! Here’s some of the advice given:

Ask God to help you in your prayer.

Pray out loud.

If you are thinking of someone in distress or some situation that needs prayer, commit that to God – and leave them/it there.

If distracted by other thoughts immediately return to the substance of your prayer; do not dwell on the distraction.

It takes time and practice to still our hearts and minds and concentrate on God. Some people find it helps to concentrate on their breathing to do this. In both Greek and Latin, the words for breath, wind and spirit are the same. As we breathe slowly and attentively we will still our heart beat and are better able to appreciate God’s breath entering us, in-spiring us.

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SESSION 3

Living Word – Praying with the Psalms

Opening worship

1. Review Spend a few moments getting feedback to the group’s experiences of prayer over the last week. Do not get into detailed discussion but identify some of the positive and negative experiences people may have had.

2 Praying with the Bible, We often read the Bible for instruction- or to find a message for someone else. Praying with the Bible may require a different mind-set than studying it.

In small groups: How many prayers from the Bible can you think of from memory? Who prayed and under what circumstances? Was there a particular outcome? Don’t forget prayers of praise, thanksgiving or confession as well as specific requests. Make a list of as many as you can think of.

Using the Bible to pray togetherForm groups of three and give each group one of the Bible passages below overleaf. Each group write four or five bullet points (on flip chart paper or an OHP slide) for intercessory prayer for the appropriate people or groups of people. Taking the Bible as a guide, what might you be praying for?

After 10 minutes, each group shares their bullet points with the rest of the groups in plenary.

How could you use these prayers in a church setting?

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Use these scriptures … … to pray for: Our bullet points: 1 Thessalonians 3: 12 –

13:

a local church o

o

o

o

o

o

Ephesians 6: 18 - 20: a missionary o

o

o

o

o

o

Psalm 20: political leaders o

o

o

o

o

o

Psalm 63: someone in need o

o

o

o

o

o

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Coffee

Using the Psalms to pray as individuals.

Types of Psalm There are two main types of psalm – of praise and of lament. These are the two we will look at in more details in this session. But there are also psalms that say sorry, psalms that testify to what God has done and psalms that affirm trust in God. And some psalms contain a mixture! In fact, most psalms that praise God record moments of doubt and difficulty and most psalms that complain look forward or back to times when the psalmist’s relationship with God was better.

The language is rich and vigorous and our translations often tone it down. “You can’t say that in Church” we might say – well the Israelites said it to God.

Divide into two groups, one to look at Psalms of praise and one to look at Psalms of lament.

Psalms of praise:

Read Psalm 147

This follows a threefold pattern – we are urged to praise God, (sometimes) given reasons for praising God and then given particular examples of what God has done. And this structure is itself repeated three times. Can you see in which verses this happens?

Why do you think so much effort is put into encouraging people to praise God?

Read Psalm 100How many actions and activities are recorded in these few verses? This is lively worship!

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Psalms of LamentPsalms that complain, or lament about a situation are very common – at least a third of those in the book of Psalms. The Israelites had faith that God would bless them, and if they were suffering they were confident enough in God’s goodness to ask “Why?”

Read Psalm 22

This is the Psalm that Jesus echoes when on the Cross, and Christians find in this fact the assurance that asking God such questions is acceptable. Have members of the group any experience of this kind of honest prayer before God, for themselves or for others?

The whole of Psalm 22 follows a pattern common to these psalms of lament. It is addressed to God, not to anyone else, (though we may listen in)

o It recalls God’s deeds in the past,o It is explicit about the effect of what is happening nowo It affirms continuing trust in Godo It gives God specific and detailed requests for rescue o It vows to praise God in the future – and begins now.

Taking each step at a time, do members of the group think this is a useful pattern of activity when life is very bleak?

Could you use this pattern to pray for other people, or situations? Try filling in the sections below in relation to something that has been in the news lately.

o It recalls God’s deeds in the past

o It is explicit about the effect of what is happening now

o It affirms continuing trust in God

o It gives God specific and detailed requests for rescue

o It vows to praise God in the future – and begins now

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Either as a group, or in pairs, try writing a psalm of praise, or a psalm of lament. Use the form of Psalm 147 or Psalm 22, with their mixture of praise, petition and complaint.

3) Finish with prayer, using some of these prayers.

The Week’s Exercise

Decide on one way that you are going to pray with Scripture this week.

1. Consider using a lectionary or Bible reading plan that takes you through the best known and easiest parts of the Bible. Many of these link it in with the seasons of the Church Year. Decide on a plan, guide or lectionary and stick with it for a the week.

2. Memorise parts that speak particularly to you, start with a short verse or two or an already familiar short passage, then try a Psalm or part of an epistle.

3. Find some of the prayers that others in the Bible have prayed and see if you can pray them. Would you dare pray in the same words, asking for the same things?

4. Take a psalm each day, perhaps the one set in the lectionary and pray this for yourself or for others.

You might like to read the pages on a ‘Rule of Life’ on page 23.

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SESSION 4

Living the Life, being a disciple.

Opening worship

As a whole group, briefly reflect on the experiences of praying with the Bible.

The Christian is called to live a life which is ‘Christ-like.’ This is a tall order – no wonder St Paul talked about disciplining himself! But being Christ-like is usually seen in the everyday habits we adopt, the way we spend our time, and our money.

As a whole group try to think of as many short clichés or proverbs as you can that describe an attitude to life.

For example: ‘Do as you would be done by’ ‘God helps those who help themselves’ ‘Always look on the bright side of life’.

What kind of attitude to life do these reveal? Are they adequate, or do they have shortcomings?

In small groups look at the passage on a Rule of Life in the Information Sheet on page .

Do you think there are some essential things that Christians should do or not do? Do you think there are some things that will be helpful for growth in our Christian lives?

Coffee

The tutor will give some further input on the Christian disciplines outlined in the Information Sheet. It will be especially helpful to tease out the distinction between keeping a discipline and being bound by legalistic rules.

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The remainder of the session will be taken up with the group members in whatever size group is helpful, beginning to formulate their own rule of life.

o Some people will benefit from looking at a weekly pattern of activity, to help them to set a time for prayer and reflection into their regular lives. Drawing a diary page for a week can be helpful.

o Some people will want to look at one aspect of their lives, such as their use of money or leisure time, or relationships,

o Others may want to undertake a new ‘discipline,’ such as offering their gifts as a volunteer, or considering going with food or some luxury.

Closing worship

Exercise for the Week. Look again at the material in the information sheet on the Christian disciplines. Pray about these challenges and continue to work on your Rule of Life. You might at some time want to share it with your Vicar, spiritual director, a friend or someone else.

You may not be able to complete this work in a week – transformations can take some time! But do decide on one change to commit yourself to.

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Being a disciple (Session 4)

Christians are called to be Christ-like. This is a lifelong task! St Paul compares this to the discipline the athlete needs to win a race:

Beloved, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 13, 14.

He also writes of putting the old ways to death, with the help of the Holy Spirit:

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans: 8. 13.

What can we do to have a Christ-like life? Christ is the example and inspiration for each of us, as his life was dedicated to doing His Father’s will. So when we think about living a Christian life we are not intent on a competitive path to individual holiness, but joining a community of Christ’s disciples, working together to be more like Him.

Because Christian holiness is seen in the everyday habits of ordinary people as much as in the heroic gestures of well-known saints, the Christian disciplines which are described concern our habits and lifestyle.

1. A ‘Rule of Life’

Some disciplines and habits are to do with specifically religious activities, such as being part of the church, prayer and studying the Bible. Others are more to do with lifestyle and values. This might include our attitudes to money, sex, work, leisure activities and all our everyday activities and choices. There is a lot to think about! One way Christians have tried to order their lives is to give themselves a ‘Rule of Life’. This might sound rather legalistic but it simply means having some principles to live by. The idea of a ‘Rule’ came from monastic communities who needed to be clear about what the expectations of the members were. When they would pray, eat, sleep and work, and the kind of attitudes they should cultivate in their hearts. You might have heard of the ‘Rule of St. Benedict’ which is one of the most famous examples.

Here is a short extract from a chapter on ‘Humility’.

The first step of humility, then, is for a man to set the fear of God always before his eyes, and utterly to avoid forgetfulness. He must always remember all God’s commandments, and constantly turn over in his heart how hell will burn those who despise him by their sins, and how eternal life has been prepared for those who fear him.’

Elsewhere, the instructions are much more practical;

The brethren are to sleep each in a single bed … They should sleep clothed, girt with girdles or cords, but not with their knives at their sides as they sleep, for fear that a brother should be wounded while asleep

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The following is an extract from a ‘Rule’ which someone wrote after they had prayed about what was most important in their life. In fact, they did not call it a ‘Rule’ but a ‘mission statement’ which is really another way of expressing the same principle.

My mission is to live with integrity and to make a difference in the lives of others. To fulfil this mission:I have charity: I seek out and love the one - each one- regardless of his situation

I sacrifice: I devote my time, talents, and resources to my mission.

I inspire: I teach by example that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father and that every Goliath can be overcome .

I am impactful: What I do makes a different in the lives of others.

The person who wrote this went on to say more about their relationships with their family, the Church and neighbourhood, expressing their commitment to living, loving and learning with others.

Here is very different kind of approach found on a postcard headed ‘Simple ways to bless your day’. It is general, rather than specific about prayer, giving and service, but it has the power to inspire.

Take joy in the gift of today; Count your blessings; Shine in the light of God’s love; Forgive and forget; Grow gracefully; Seek simplicity; Obey with a cheerful heart; Stand and be counted; Be true to your beliefs; Encourage those around you; Invest your time in things that matter; Keep the faith; Fill your life with love; Share God’s Word, Be strong in the Lord; Pursue what is true; Listen with your heart; Delight in creation; Memorise the Scriptures; Celebrate God’s promises; Say your prayers; Believe in miracles; Live the Life!

There are no right and wrong things to include in a ‘Rule’ and it can be very short or extremely detailed. The key questions are:

o What is going to be my pattern of Christian discipline with regard to church, prayer, Bible, service, giving and so on.

o What is my lifestyle going to be like with regard to my work practices, the way I spend leisure time, my attitude to money, fashion, hobbies, friends……

o What is really important in my relationships with family and friends and what am I actually going to do in order to nurture those relationships.

o What are the really important values in my life, and what hopes and dreams would I like to fulfil before I die?

A rule can be very short and general, but the more specific it is, the easier it will be to know whether you are really living in it. For example, ‘I will be a good employee’ is a general aim which it would be more difficult to evaluate than ‘I will be punctual and honest and seek to serve and work with colleagues willingly and cheerfully; I will not engage in gossip; I will not ridicule anyone’. Likewise, ‘I will try to spend more time with the family’ is much more vague than ‘Once a month we will spend an evening together, eating and playing games with my children’.

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You might include the following in considering your Rule of Life:

Family,

Money,

Physical relationships

Food

Politics

Attitudes to others of different race, ability or gender.

2. Christian DisciplinesAs well as prayer and Bible, what specific practices might a Christian consider? Here are some ideas:

Belonging to a local church

We have all heard someone say ‘You don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian!’ But is this true? The Jewish faith and the early Christian church simply assumed the existence of believing communities. The people of God are a community, not simply a collection of individuals. So belonging to a church is essential.

But this might mean more than just turning up! What does it mean to belong; to be identified with your church? What responsibility do you take for what happens there and for the future? And what does it mean to be part of the diocese and part of the national Church of England?

Giving

You don’t have to search the Bible very hard to notice God’s concern for the poor. There are examples too of giving to support the ministry of the church. Jesus spoke many times about the people’s attitudes to wealth, possibly because it is a kind of ‘litmus test’ of our priorities in general. Some churches teach that every Christian should ‘tithe’ – that is, give a tenth of one’s income to the church or to other charitable needs. The Church of England advocates giving half of your tithe to your local church and half to other charities.

Fasting

Fasting is a way of reminding ourselves of our dependence on God. When we experience hunger, or silence, we are free to listen to our deepest desires without trying to cover them up with a quick fix. We get in touch with our deepest needs, our wants, demands and the inner place which wants its own way. Our deepest needs can only be met by God, fasting reminds us of that and challenges us to stop seeking temporary and superficial satisfaction elsewhere. Rather, we are freed to accept the fact that much of our desire for food, entertainment and distraction is just a kind of anaesthetic, covering up our real need for intimacy with God. Fasting can help us to focus spiritually in a way that is not really possible by any other means.

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The idea of choosing not to eat for a time is becoming surprisingly popular outside the church and guidance can be found about how to go about this. Some people need to take medical advice before considering fasting, and others might not be able to undertake it at all. But if the Christian church in the West abandons fasting it will lose an important route to a closer fellowship with God.

Fasting is valuable in breaking cycles of addiction, and food is not the only addiction to which we are prone. We can try to abstain from computer games, TV, noise, shopping or other aspects of our lives which we take for granted.

Volunteering our services

If we value the gifts we have been given and we are aware of what God might want to give others, we can be open to the possibility that it might come through us. If we have been grateful for the service of others, for example, if our children have been cared for in the Sunday School, we may be drawn to give something of ourselves to help others. Service might be offered in a whole range of contexts, which could include not only the local church, but also reflect commitment to the local community, the environment, peace and justice, mental health, the arts, to name but a few.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The sacrament of reconciliation, or Confession, is a very important part of spiritual life for some Christians, and it has never been part of the experience of others. For some, there may not be any formal habit of confession and absolution with the help of a priest, but there may be a regular way of reviewing areas of our life that need to be brought into the light for God’s healing and forgiveness.

At the same time we may wish to think about who we need to be reconciled with. Outstanding grudges are very destructive of spiritual growth.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction does take many forms but the common factor is that it will be an experience of talking honestly and confidentially with someone else, or sometimes with a group, about our relationship with God in daily life. The conversation may be about prayer, but it may also be about friends or family, work, or anything else of particular concern. In spiritual direction, the focus is to discern where and how God is at work in my life and how I need to be responding. It is not the same as counselling or therapy, these have different boundaries and require different specialist knowledge and skill. The spiritual director offers hospitality and encouragement in the context of a relationship where there is an absence of judgement and condemnation and a willingness to allow the disciple to find their own way.

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Care for Self

A well thought out ‘Rule’ will include some attention to the importance of looking after oneself, mind and body. Specific habits which allow for regular exercise and a healthy diet, keeping fit, maintaining a sensible weight and getting enough sleep might be included as well as consideration of unhealthy habits and addictions. Not to be overlooked is our need for development and education. The ‘Rule’ is an invitation to ask whether it might be time to think about a course of study or learning a new skill.

Study

As well as becoming familiar with the Bible, the disciple will consider a vast range of other writings and anyone who is able to read or listen will be able to find something to encourage and enlighten them on their journey. It might be poetry, classic literature, writings from the mystics, a recently published Bible Exposition, or a novel. A browse round a large bookshop gives endless scope. We can read what Christians from another age or perspective have to offer, as well as looking for those we readily identify with. And as well as literature, there is a whole world of art, film and music to explore. What ideas and beliefs have Christians sought to communicate in the past and what is emerging now?

Lifestyle

What values are reflected in the way we live? What do we spend money on? Where do we go on holiday? How do we spend our leisure time? What are our shopping habits? What and where do we eat? How do we travel? How do we use technology? Have we considered such issues as fair trade, oppressive working practices, packaging and environmental issues and do our lives support or challenge the values of our culture? What are we modelling for our children? Have we considered local, national and international political issues? Are there causes we are drawn to support? These are complex questions and Christians may take opposing views, especially on political issues. But what is important is whether we have taken personal responsibility to prayerfully consider our decisions and choices and their implications. The economic and political picture involves issues of a global scale, and it can be so overwhelming that we can just give up, bury our head in the sand and not ask too many questions. But we can begin with a small step and encourage each other, passing on information and suggestions.

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SESSION 5

Living the Life -- Answering the Call

Opening worship : choose a Bible Reading that describes God’s calling to a group or individual.

Review: How did the group get on with thinking about a Rule of Life? Group members are invited to share the commitments they have made – if they want to.

Answering the Call: 1. Bible study

Divide in to small groups to look at two of the following passages. (The tutor should try to allocate a contrasting experience):

Moses; Exodus 3: 10, 16, 17

Isaiah: Isaiah 6: 1, 6-8

Jeremiah: Jeremiah 20:

Gideon: Judges 6: 36-40

Jonah: Jonah:1, 1-3.

Look at the example of calling in the Bible allocated to your group (either) and consider the following questions:

What are some of the positive and negative aspects of the call?

In what way did the person know that God was really speaking to them?

What do we know about the person called, their strengths, weaknesses, gifts etc.?

Are there any other pointers or principles from this example that we should bear in mind when considering the call of God?

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Coffee

How is God calling me? God equips and calls each of us – but to different ways of participating in His work. The question is not whether God is calling – but how?

In small groups consider how we can pay attention to the following questions. Group members may wish to share some personal examples, but focus on ways of making time and space to listen to God’s call.

o Feelings: feelings of excitement, passion, or of boredom may give some clues

o Signs: sometimes people believe that God has given a particular sign, something that looks like it couldn’t just be a coincidence.

o Desires: in the deepest part of your heart, what do you really want?

o Intuition: sometimes we cannot explain from reason, we just ‘know’

o Convictions: strong beliefs, such as in fair trade or resistance to oppressive structures may influence us

o Scriptures: examples and teaching may inspire and encourage us

o Other people: sometimes have a clearer insight into our potential than we do

o Experience: when we try something, we soon find out if it is ‘me’

o Circumstances: do things happen which seem to open particular opportunities?

The tutor will describe the structures in the diocese which help in the discernment of calling – such as the SHAPE course, the deanery Vocations Advisers and the Vocations days each Spring. Information about retreat places and opportunities in the diocese will also be useful.

Closing Worship:It will be worth spending a longer than usual time in Closing worship, perhaps including a guided meditation or time of silence.

The worksheet that follows contains a framework for reflection that is a follow up to this unit. It will be worth group members using this sheet as they record their thoughts in their journals.

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Introduction to Session 1

Preparation As preparation for Sessions 4 and 5: Plan to attend a Communion Service in a church of a different tradition from your home church. What do you notice that is different? What does this tell you about the importance of various parts of the service to the people there? How do

you feel about it? What, to you, are the important aspects of the Holy Communion service?

Read accounts of Baptism in the early Church:

o Acts Chapter 2

o Acts Chapter 8.26-40

o Acts Chapter 10.34-48

o Acts Chapter 18.8-11

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Living Spirituality

WORKSHEET to Follow Unit E

Reflect on your experiences of ‘call’. Have there been times when you felt strongly that God was urging you to some particular course of action? This might be a one-off experience or a case of taking your whole life in a new direction.

How much do you feel that your current circumstances reflect a call from God?

How might you go about exploring more fully what it means for you to be and to do all that God has made you to be and to do?

Write your thoughts about this in your journal.

Finally, review the whole of this unit, and reflect on what it has meant to you. To help focus your thoughts, consider the following questions and write about them in your journal.

o Has this unit contained a ‘gift’ for me? What kind of gift is it?

o Have I come to a fresh insight? What is that and what does it mean to you?

o Have I been challenged in some way? What might I need to do about that?

o Is there a particular question which has been raised? What should I do with it?

o Has this unit cost me something? That might mean changing in some way, either in terms of inner life or outward relationships and priorities.

If you have a spiritual director you might find it helpful to discuss your responses prayerfully with them.

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Prayers

Intercessions are offered¶ for the day and its tasks¶ for the world and its needs¶ for the Church and her life

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy (or) Lord, hear us.

hear our prayer. (or) Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said

God of life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer is said

Rejoicing in God's new creation, as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven …

(or)

Rejoicing in God's new creation, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

Our Father, who art in heaven …

The Conclusion

May the risen Christ grant us the joy of eternal life. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The material is take from Common Worship: Morning Prayer in seasonal time. Copyright the Archbishop’s Council 2002.

Morning Prayer Easter

Preparation:

O Lord, open our lipsand our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

In your resurrection, O Christ,let heaven and earth rejoice. Alleluia!

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,to you be praise and glory for ever.As once you led your people through the watersfrom slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land,now you have delivered us from the dominion of darknessand brought us into the kingdom of your beloved Son.Rising from death, he has destroyed deathand opened to us the gate of everlasting life.May we, the first fruits of your new creation,rejoice in this new day you have madeand praise you for your mighty acts.

Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:Blessed be God for ever.

The Easter Anthems, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung

1 Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us: *so let us celebrate the feast,

2 not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness: *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.1 Corinthians 5.7b,8

3 Christ once raised from the dead dies no more: *death has no more dominion over him.

4 In dying he died to sin once for all: *in living he lives to God.

5 See yourselves, therefore, as dead to sin: *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 6.9-11

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6 Christ has been raised from the dead: *the first fruits of those who sleep.

7 For as by man came death: *by man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

8 For as in Adam all die: *even so in Christ shall all be made alive.1 Corinthians 15.20-22

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen.

The Word of GodThe appointed psalmody is said or sung.Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen.

Old Testament CanticleIf there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the Old Testament canticle.

The Song of Moses and Miriam may be said or sung

Refrain:In your unfailing love, O Lord,you lead the people whom you have redeemed. Alleluia!

1 I will sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously, *the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength and my song *and has become my salvation.

3 This is my God whom I will praise, *the God of my forebears whom I will exalt.

4 The Lord is a warrior, *the Lord is his name.

5 Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power: *your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

6 At the blast of your nostrils, the sea covered them; *they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

7 In your unfailing love, O Lord, *you lead the people whom you have redeemed.

8 And by your invincible strength *you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

9 You will bring them in and plant them, O Lord, *in the sanctuary which your hands have established.Exodus 15.1b-3,6,10,13,17

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen.

In your unfailing love, O Lord, you lead the people whom you have redeemed. Alleluia!

Scripture ReadingOne or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

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Death is swallowed up in victory.Where, O death, is your sting?Christ is risen from the dead,the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.Death is swallowed up in victory.The trumpet will soundand the dead shall be raised.Where, O death, is your sting?We shall not all sleep,but we shall be changed.Death is swallowed up in victory:Where, O death, is your sting?

Gospel CanticleThe Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung

Refrain:The Lord is risen from the tombwho for our sakes hung upon the tree. Alleluia.

1 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, *who has come to his people and set them free.

2 He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, *born of the house of his servant David.

3 Through his holy prophets God promised of old *to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us.

4 To show mercy to our ancestors, *and to remember his holy covenant.

5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6 Free to worship him without fear, *holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8 To give his people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9 In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Luke 1.68-79

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen.

The Lord is risen from the tombwho for our sakes hung upon the tree. Alleluia!

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