The document provides a leader's guide for a session on reducing a congregation's carbon footprint and engaging in social justice issues. It includes instructions for preparing materials, an outline of activities, and handouts. The session involves dividing into groups to discuss scripture passages in relation to environmental and social threats. Participants then read excerpts calling them to action and hope. They are asked to reflect on conversations with those different from themselves and pledge to further such dialog. The session closes with prayer, singing, and encouraging further engagement.
1. Session Four: Leader’s Guide
Preparation names of the organizations in the appropriate circle of the
newsprint diagram. Ask who from the congregation is
• Collect the following materials: newsprint diagram
involved with any of the organizations listed. Place a star
from previous sessions, markers, copies of “Session Four:
next to those.
Participant Material,” Bibles, United Methodist Hymnals,
Consider asking those named to write an article for
worship center from previous sessions.
the church newsletter, create a bulletin board, speak to a
• Check out the web site www.hopeandaction.org for
church gathering, or develop some other way to inform
additional stories and information that you may want to
the congregation about the work of the organization.
incorporate into the session.
1. Introduce the Theme 3. Reflect on the Pledges
Ask participants to read “Pledges” in the participant
Review the steps you developed in the previous
material. Ask them to recall their earliest memory of
session to reduce the congregational carbon footprint.
being in conversation with someone whose life experience
Report any progress that has been made, and continue
was dramatically different from their own. Encourage
with any planning that needs to occur.
participants to tell these memories, reflecting on the
Light the candle as you recall the symbolism of the
following questions:
Bible, the globe, and the candle on the worship center: to
• What did I learn from the experience?
orient our lives toward God’s holy vision, to practice
• In what ways was my life enriched?
social and environmental holiness, and to live and act
• Were there any long-term results of
in hope.
the conversation?
Divide into three groups and assign each group one
Then ask them to recall their most recent memory of
of the three interrelated threats. Ask participants to focus
being in conversation with someone whose life experience
on the assigned threat as they listen to Matthew 19:23-26.
was dramatically different. Encourage participants to tell
Then break into groups of three, so that each group
their stories, reflecting on the previous questions.
has one person who was focusing on each threat. Ask
Brainstorm a list of opportunities for participants
them to discuss the following questions:
to engage in dialogue with people who have different
• How do you think this scripture relates to the threat
life experience. These could be as simple as visiting a
you focused on?
restaurant frequented by immigrants and engaging in
• What word of hope do you find in the scripture?
conversation with the workers, to more formal things
Encourage participants to record their words of hope
such as enrolling in an interfaith dialogue experience.
in the appropriate circles on the newsprint diagram.
Encourage each person to select one thing that they will
Then sing together the first four stanzas of “We Utter
do in the next week.
Our Cry,” page 439 in The United Methodist Hymnal.
2. Read Segments of the Documents 4. Pray Together
Pray together the lament, “We Mourn a World of
Distribute copies of “Session Four: Participant
Inequality and Injustice,” printed in the participant
Material” and ask the group to silently read the sections
material followed by a time of silent prayer. Close by
titled “From the Letter.” and “From the Foundation
singing again the first four stanzas of “We Utter Our Cry”
Document.”
and praying this prayer:
Use the following questions as a springboard for fur-
May God’s grace purify our reason, strengthen our will,
ther discussion:
and guide our action. May the love of God, the peace of Christ,
• Where do these segments of the Letter and
and the power of the Holy Spirit be among you, everywhere and
Foundation Document intersect with your passions?
always, so that you may be a blessing to all creation and to all
• What do you want to learn more about?
the children of God, making peace, nurturing and practicing
Dividing back into the three previous groups, ask
hope, choosing life, and coming to life eternal. Amen.
each to identify existing organizations (local, national,
Encourage the group to explore the items in “Going
world) that are working to develop solutions to the
Further” during the next week.
assigned threat. As each group reports back, write the
God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action Session Four: Leader