By Patrick Porter
Begin with prayer:
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Take a moment in silence, in the presence of Jesus and each other. Have one person pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief the most recent teaching and Practice:
- How would you summarize what the most recent teaching was about?
- What did you take away from the teaching?
- How did the practice go? When reflecting on your current rhythms, did you notice areas you have grown in? Did you notice areas that you need to grow in?
Read this overview:
When we write a Rule of Life, it will be essential that we are honest about where we are right now. We must be honest about our current Rule of Life, our current rhythms, and how we use our time. When we do this, we will see what we are already doing well and what we can improve on. If this is not your first time writing a Rule of Life, you can see where you’ve grown and areas in which you can still grow. Writing a current Rule of Life should be done without judgment. God will not be surprised by what you write down. This will be a tool to help you get the most out of writing your new Rule of Life in the coming weeks.
Below is a Rule of Life layout for you to fill out over the coming weeks. Page one is to be filled out, and page two shows what belongs in the three domains of your Rule. It also includes an example of a filled-out Rule of Life. (If you would like to use a different layout to which you have access, feel free to do so! Let your group know that you’ll be doing this.)
Rule of Life Layout here.
Do this practice now:
Everyone will need a journal, paper, or a notes app on their phone to write this practice down. As a group, review the Rule of Life layout from the link above and pick out one domain. You will fill out this domain with where you are right now and discuss it with the group. Remember, this is a non-judgmental exercise.
- As you were filling out this domain, what surprised you?
- What aspects were hard to be honest about in this domain?
- How would you like to see this area improve?
Talk over this coming week’s Practice:
This week, set aside time to look over the Rule of Life layout and domain categories. You will finish filling out the remaining domains with where you are currently.
Ask the Spirit to speak over your time doing this and to help you be honest with what you write down.
Be prepared to share how this went with your Community next week.
Close in prayer
End in prayer by having one person read the Nicene Creed over the group.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.