Community Mixtape: The Gift of Presence (10.28.19)

Leaders Note: This practice can be used for the full month of November.

Opening Silence & Prayer (5 minutes)

Open with a moment of silence for 3 minutes. With open hands, each person silently asks, “God, what do you want me to know?” Then read this passage:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

Practice: Sharing Stories & Group Intercession (40 minutes)

• Stories: Have 2-3 people sign up to share stories each of the next few weeks of CG.
• When sharing, the sharer shares for 10 minutes and the listeners offer their full attention. All phones and distractions should be put away. Practice the ministry of presence.
• Story-sharing prompts (can be selected by the sharer): 
  • One thing I would like my CG to know about me:
    • as it relates to my family of origin is….
    • as it relates to my experience of race is….
    • as it relates to my experience of marriage is…
    • as it relates to my experience of singleness is….
  • One major thing in my life that has shaped me has been….
  • One thing I’ve really been wrestling with over the last few series has been…
  • One thing I find difficult about living in authentic community here in SF is…
  • One thing my CG does not yet know about me but I think might be important to know is…
  • One thing in my life that brings me joy is…
  • One thing I have been thinking through since Sunday’s teaching is…
• After the sharer has shared their story, leave 5 minutes for clarifying questions, expressions of empathy, affirmations, and/or appreciation for the sharer’s vulnerability.
• After 5 minutes, the group gathers around the sharer, laying hands on them, and prays together, lifting up their brother or sister before God.

Practice: Playing Games (1 hour)

Play in any way you’d like from board games to banter to playing music together. For some simple inspiration on the importance of play:

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation”

-Unknown, often attributed to Plato

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is 
when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

Psalm 133