This week in worship. Our church is in a worship series called As For Me and My House. Sunday’s sermon: “Create in Me a Clean Heart,” 2 Samuel 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9. Worship is also online at mcphersonfirst.org.
A Grace Group is up to 12 people who meet about an hour each week to grow in faith and care for one another. There is no homework and nothing to prepare. We talk honestly, ask a few questions, and pray. You only need to show up and be honest, and everyone is welcome.
A Methodist Way of Making Disciples
Grace Groups recover one of the oldest Methodist practices. Almost three hundred years ago, John Wesley gathered Methodists into small weekly groups that asked one another, “How is it with your soul?” and watched over one another in love. A Grace Group is that same way of making disciples, brought back for today.
This Week’s Practice, 4 of 25, Prayers: Praying the Psalms. The Psalms are the prayer book Jesus used. Every kind of human emotion appears there: joy, grief, rage, gratitude, doubt, exhaustion, hope. Ways to try it. Pray one psalm a day, in order. Start with accessible psalms like 8, 23, 100, or 121.
Your Hour Together
The times are a guide, not a rule.
Getting to Know One Another (:00)
Share your name, then pick one of these to answer.
What is a compliment you remember receiving?
What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning?
We Begin (:05)
We’ll begin with a moment of quiet, and then we’ll pray together.
. . . a few moments of silence . . .
Holy God, you are not far off. Draw near in a way we can notice, and make us willing to be known here. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Covenant (:08)
We read these four out loud and say yes to them together.
Show up. Choose this hour on purpose. God honors small faithfulness.
Be honest. Be yourself here. God made you and knows you.
Keep it private. Keep what you hear private, and keep it in prayer.
Give everyone space. Share the floor. Love is patient, and so is listening.
The Three Questions
We go in order and everyone gets a turn. You can always pass, and the smaller questions are just to help.
First, what is going on between you and God.
Soul Tending: How is your faith journey going? (:10)
What has God been repeating to you?
This week’s practice (Prayers): Share which Psalm you prayed this week and what part of it stayed with you.
Next, where God has been at work in your days.
God Sightings: Where do you see God at work in your life? (:25)
Where have you seen God in unexpected kindness?
What has God protected you from?
Now we’ll name what needs God’s hands more than ours.
Growing in Grace: What challenge are you giving to God? (:40)
Who are you carrying in prayer right now?
What would resting in God look like this week?
Connect Back (:50)
Name one thing from this hour you will still be thinking about tomorrow. Short, and no fixing.
We Close (:55)
We’ll keep a few moments of quiet now, so what you shared and heard can settle in your soul and go with you into the week.
. . . a few moments of silence . . .
Faithful God, you began this hour and you will finish what you started in us. Send us out in peace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
McPherson First United Methodist Church · mcphersonfirst.org/gracegroups