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The Giving Season

Sunday, December 14, 2003

Sally Taylor

A Reminder of what we covenanted:

Group Expectations

1. attend regularly
2. notify a member of the group if you must miss a session
3. arrive on time, close on time
4. be clear with each other about the quality of each member’s participation
5. participate in group decisions concerning format, shared meal, discussion topics, service activities
6. participate in service activities planned by the group

Rules Review

- Respect the Talking Stick-one person speaking at a time, no interruptions, comments, questions etc. during check-in and first round of sharing on topic

- Make I statements whenever possible

- Use Active Listening

- Respect confidentiality of shared information

- Avoid giving advice

o May ask clarifying questions during second round

o Speaker may ask for advice which will be shared later

- Share time so everyone who wishes to may speak

- Anyone may pass at any time

- Encourage holding silences

Opening Words/ Chalice Lighting:

from Bets Wienecke

As we gather together this evening,

May we learn to recognize and affirm

The pieces of possibility—

The bits of good—we bring.

May we encourage rather than control;

Love rather than possess;

Enable rather than envy.

Allowing our individual gifts to weave a patchwork of peace:

The soft deep blue of sensitivity and

understanding;

The red energy of creativity;

The white heat of convictions;

The risky, fragile green of new growth;

The golden flashes of gratitude;

The warm rose of love.

Each of us is indispensable

if we are to minister to a broken and wounded

world.

Together, in our gathered diversity, we form the

whole.

So be it.

Check-in: Describe either the best or the worst thing that has happened to you since we met three weeks ago.

Reading

Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly, and well. Unless a character possesses this talent there is no moment more annihilating to ease than that in which a present is received and given.

Edward Wyndham Tennant

You need more tact in the dangerous art of giving presents than in any other social action.

William Bolitho

This is the Giving Season. For many of us the commercial version of Christmas has displaced the spiritual celebration and we find ourselves rushing around searching for suitable presents for our families, friends and business associates. Sometimes we simply want to get something-anything so that we can cross one more obligation off of our list. Occasionally we find the perfect gift for the right price. But most of the time gift giving is a challenge. But giving also means receiving and the gifts that we get are not always welcome. And that, too, can be a challenge. How should one respond to a totally unwanted gift? Tonight we are going to share our feelings about presents—both giving them and getting them.

Questions:

1. How do you feel about Christmas being called the Giving Season? Is it an accurate description of Christmas for you?

2. How do you feel about giving presents?

3. What is the best present that you have ever gotten?

4. What is the best present that you have ever given?

5. How do/should you respond to unwanted gifts?

6. Would you like to change the way you celebrate the Christmas season? How?

Check-out: Likes and Wishes

What gift you would most like to give this year? OR

What gift you would most like to get this year?

Closing Words from Sara Campbell

We receive fragments of holiness, glimpses of eternity, brief moments of insight. Let us gather them up for the precious gifts that they are, and, renewed by their grace, move boldly into the unknown.

Go in Peace.