GROUP REFLECTIONS

Faith Sharing
click here for the Faith Sharing Word document

Faith sharing is an opportunity for people to share their faith experiences with others on the journey.

• Choose and book a suitable location. Make sure everyone in the group knows when and where. If possible, create a space that invites sharing, such as lighting a candle and sitting in a circle.

• Let everyone know what the focus or gospel will be for your faith sharing so they can read it ahead of time.

• Your primary role is to lead the discussion. Although your own good sense will be your best guide in doing this, the following tips may help:

At the first session, you may want to introduce yourselves - say a sentence or two about your background or why you want to participate. At subsequent meetings, introduce yourselves if you have any new people. If it looks like people are tense or distracted and the group knows each other really well, ask participants to give a sentence or two as to “where they are at.” This is a time for mutual support. If someone doesn’t want to say anything, that’s okay, move on.

You should decide how long your faith sharing group meeting will last. Let everyone know that you will finish on time - and then finish on time!

You may want to remind participants before you begin that this is not designed to convince others of any particular view. There are no correct answers. Everyone will have different experiences and that’s to be expected.

Be respectful of all participants. It is important for everyone to have the opportunity to share. In a small group a few strong, articulate individuals can sometimes dominate. Try to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak. Gently direct questions to the more hesitant participants.

Sample Prayer (Faith Sharing) Outline

Gathering

Leader:           
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (Jn 8:12) Lord, you also said that where two or three come together in your name, you are here with us. The light of this candle symbolizes your presence here among us. We begin our gathering (making the sign of the Cross) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Since we believe that the Word of God we hear is an empowering Word and that Christ himself is present, great care must be taken to proclaim the Word with due reverence and in such a way that invites all to hear what God wants us to hear today. Therefore, the proclaimer should be prepared beforehand and proper time for silence and reflection should be given to all at the end of the proclamation. The person chosen to proclaim the Word should approach the bible/Lectionary/prayer service binder, stand and then proclaim the reading so that all can hear. All should be made aware that it is God speaking to us.

Reader:           
A reading from (Pick a Scripture passage that inspires you):

Period of Silence

Faith Sharing

The leader invites all to share their reflections. The following questions may help:

1. "What did you hear?" - all should be invited to share a line, a phrase, or a word that "touched them" - What sticks out for you? Recount the story in your own words.
2. "What does this mean to us?" What is the message for us? Sometimes this can be helped by focusing on what Jesus did (e.g., healing the blind man). "What can we do?" Invite all to move beyond personal meaning and to application.

End with a prayer that everyone knows (e.g. Our Father)

Debriefing
click here for the Debriefing Word document

What is it?

Debriefing is a way to help a group who takes part in a common activity to understand and filter their experience.

How do I do this?

Gather your small group (preferably no more than 12 people) in a circle, and use the following as a model for questions, prepared ahead of time, that will help guide the debrief. Make sure everyone has a turn to speak and share his or her thoughts and experience. Also, remind participants that everyone’s experience will not be the same. Set aside about 20 minutes for this activity.

• Introductions:  Introduce yourself then quickly go around the group and have everyone give their: name, what they do (go to school, etc.), and one word that describes their day/week/month.

• Review:  Popcorn style – Participants do not have to answer in any particular order. They speak up as they feel comfortable.

What types of things/activities did you do today?
Can you review the last activity for me?
On a 5-point scale, hold up the number of fingers that indicate how you would rate your day/activity, with five being excellent.

• Recall and Remember:     

In one or two sentences, describe your highest moment today. Why?
In one or two sentences, describe your lowest moment today. Why?
Who inspired you today? Why?

• Affect and Effect:

What kind of emotions did you feel throughout the day?

• Application:  Create your questions by weaving faith elements through them. Help the participants make the connection between what they did, their faith, and daily life.

How did your faith shine through in our activities/service today?
Did anything about the day remind you of something from Scripture or the Catholic tradition?
Do you see a connection between what you experienced during this activity and your everyday life at home? At school? At work?

• Commitment:  These questions are meant to challenge the group to make it a point to continue applying what they experienced to their ‘everyday’ lives.

When did you come out of your comfort zone?
Through this activity, how did we play out our role as disciples of Christ?

What is it?

This is a reflection from adult education where new knowledge, is examined through analysis of our own horizon (perspective, point of view). It is a process that helps you become aware of what it is you want, identify the obstacles to achieving your goal and begin the process of freeing you from the obstacles.

Why do it?

Horizon analysis helps you learn about yourself by honestly recognizing the limit (boundary) of your mental and emotional observations, experience, etc. It allows you to engage new knowledge in a way that will, hopefully, expand your horizon so that you can act based on your insights.

How do I do it?

After learning something new – whether it is from a catechesis or book, etc. – take time to reflect on the information and recognize your own assumptions, issues, and experiences in terms of whether they agree or don’t agree with the material heard or read. Ask yourself the following:

1, What attracts me here and why?
2. What do I resist and why?
3. What questions does this material raise for me? Answer for me? Not answer for me?