friends of the mystery
small group spirituality practice
(time frame • about two hours per gathering)
Begin (10- 12 minutes maximum)
• Light candle of community, signaling our beginning and
welcoming the moment together as a sacred guest.
• a sentence or two regarding how each person is at this time.
Period of Silence (10 minutes)
• three chimes of bell to announce the beginning of our silence.
• silent focus on personal, interpersonal, structural or environmental arenas.
• three chimes of bell to announce a closure to our time of silence.
End Silence & Sharing (60 minutes or so....who knows?)
• the session’s facilitator offers a few words inviting the group to describe
how the Mystery (which we call God) has been present in their lives.
• Each person who wishes shares in turn.
• NO Cross talk.
Period of Reverence (2 minutes)
• group will use time to consider impact of sharing.
Summary (3 minutes maximum)
• The facilitator asks each person how the sharing was for them.
• Each one offers a word or phrase describing how they are after sharing.
Evaluation & Dialogue (15 minutes)
• The facilitator poses the question “How has the Mystery of God been
present in this sharing here and now?”
• Each person describes what touched them in this meeting.
• Dialogue is encouraged.
Discernment of Theme (5 minutes maximum)
• Look for a theme in the “touches”.
• Dialogue is encouraged.
[to the Greeks dia-logos meant a free-flowing of meaning, “faith” through
a group allowing the group to discover insights, “god” not attainable
individually. Dialogue differs from the more common “discussion” which
holds similar roots with “percussion” and “concussion”, literally a heaving
of ideas (not meaning) back and forth in a winner-takes-all competition.]
Savoring (3 -5 minutes)
• If an insight, spiritual principle or truth statement
emerges to the group from the Mystery,
then take time to savor it and perhaps pray.
Choosing (3 minutes maximum)
• Choose:
- a facilitator from the group for the next time of gathering,
- a time,
- a place of next gathering..
Adjourn at the appointed time.
© Warren Lynn; 2001. Based on process learned from the Rev. Ronald Greene, Disciples of Christ pastor.