The Weekly Liturgy :: Week of 12/10/2023

Gather - We begin our Liturgy in corporate worship by coming together and acknowledging who God is through the Acclamation. God’s character and presence frames our corporate worship and this is also the way we begin our Weekly Liturgy whether we engage it personally or in a group setting.

• How did you experience God’s character and presence this week (joys, struggles, breakthroughs)?

Word - We desire for God’s Word to always be on our minds, upon our lips, and deep in our hearts. We want to read, reflect, listen, and respond to God’s word as we are formed more deeply as disciples of Jesus.

Read Luke 21:34-36 and Philippians 4:4-9

Reflect on these passages either individually or with others.

Listen to the Holy Spirit. How is God speaking to you through this passage?

• Describe how this Advent season has been for you and your family?  

• Read Phillippians 4:1-9.  What stood out to you about the text why?

• Vs. 6 provides an imperative:  "Do not be anxious."  What are the times in life when you have felt anxious?  

• In sermon, we looked at how anticipation can lead to disappointment.  Disappointment can lead to disillusionment.  Disillusionment can to disenchantment and the fruit of disenchantment will be either cynicism or anxiety (or both).  Do you agree/disagree?  Why?  If you agree, how have you seen this in your life?

• In verse 5, Paul emphatically says, 'The Lord is near'.  Describe a time when the worship of God or the recognition of His presence settled anxiety. 

• One of the spiritual disciplines that aides our awareness of God's presence is prayer.  Would you mind sharing with others what your best practices are with prayer?  

• Reflect on the following quote: "Prayer unites the soul to God." -- Julian of Norwich 

• In light of Philippians 4:1-9, what is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

Prayer - Spend a few minutes praying into the areas God has spoken to you about. Pray for one another, for the non-believers in your lives, and for the world. (Consider praying through the Lord’s Prayer).

Sending - We are all called and sent out into the world to bring the message of the Gospel. Where are you being sent this week to share Jesus through your actions and words? Is there a specific person or area you need to reach out to or pray for?