Article
The Christian Life Community grew from an international Catholic organisation and now functions in the UK with ecumenical groups. It is based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. A group has been meeting in Hurstpierpoint for over eight years and includes a balanced number of Catholics and Anglicans, with one Methodist.
CLC publishes a set of leaflets to gradually introduce elements of the spiritual exercises, and meetings take a regular form:
- A short silence is kept to settle everyone into a calm and receptive frame of mind, and then an opening prayer is said.
- There is a short reading, usually a passage of scripture suggested by the leaflet we have been looking at during the week, or the gospel from the previous Sunday.
- Ten minutes of silence is kept in order to meditate on this.
- There is a time of sharing and listening. Members of the group share with each other their spiritual experiences of the week. This is a listening exercise, not a discussion group, and our response is chiefly in silent prayer (see notes on listening)
- a short formal prayer, such as the Lord's Prayer is followed by any intercessions members which to make .
- Any practical arrangements are deals with
- There is a chance to review the meeting - what was useful? Would I have liked something to be different? What will I take away with me?
- Closing prayer.
I propose that we follow this pattern up to number 5, using Matthew 18:19-20 as the short reading and then have an opportunity to ask questions. It would be helpful to spend some time on the scripture text in private prayer before the meeting, but remember that no one has to make a spoken contribution if they do not wish to do so.
DM
October 2007
Guidelines issued by the Christian Life Community.
Listening in a Listening Group
Listening to others is a way of listening to God; the Holy Spirit communicates with us through others.
- When listening to others, accept what you hear as the person's considered opinion and accept it. Do not judge.
- While someone is speaking, listen sympathetically, trying to enter the speaker's mind and feelings with sensitivity.
- Never interrupt, but save anything you do not understand until everyone has contributed and then ask for clarification.
- Leave it to the group leader to help the speaker if necessary.
- A notebook and pencil might be useful.
The process of listening to God in others is an aspect of seeking and finding God in all things, the basis of LC spirituality.
We listen to God in personal prayer, in the scriptures, in the church, in the liturgy, in the signs of our times, in our neighbours - and share our insights with them.
Speaking in a listening group
To share your thoughts with someone, you must believe that you have something to say which nobody else can express in quite the same way, because the Holy Spirit within each of us conveys a different aspect of the truth through each individual.
- Be relaxed and comfortable with what you are going to say. Don't say anything you do not want to. Sharing thoughts should not be a burden.
- Don't worry about what you say. God will speak to the others, whether you are aware of it or not.
- It often helps to put down on paper beforehand what points you wish to make. This means you can listen to the others instead of worrying about your own contribution. It also makes for brevity and clarity.
- What you say in the meeting is the result of your own prayerful meditation before the meeting:what the Spirit is saying to you.
- This is your chance to say what this scripture passage, this situation, means to you for your life.
- Use the first person: 'I feel..' rather than ‘we feel...' or ‘ought to feel...' Use clear , simple language.
- Don't preach to the others or use the group as a platform for your own hobby horses or pet aversions. Share humbly what you feel for your life, with respect, attention and confidence. Be sensitive to others
- Bear in mind that people cannot take in too much at once, so limit yourself to one or two points only.
- Don't take too much time and bear in mind how much time there is for everyone else to speak
- Be honest and respect the integrity of others.