SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
SAN JOSE
Truth/Wisdom
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ~
John 8
Truth is wrapped up in perspective and not absolute. So
truth must be looked at very carefully. ~FUSJ Congregant
I think of these as different concepts. With wisdom, I think
of Sophia, of Solomon, of applying more than justice to a
situation and using compassion and sense to do what is
wise rather than simply right. With truth, I think of a
longstanding debate I have with my born-again brother
where he views truth as fixed and singular, and I believe it
to be a multitude and not absolute, but flexible. Truth is not
just about fact when used in the spiritual realm, but about a
resonance or knowing that one has found a yes in one’s
heart. ~FUSJ Congregant
T312, January 12,2014
© 2014 First Unitarian Church of San Jose
Centering
See Leader Notes.
Preliminaries
Get volunteer to light the chalice and 2 readers for the
long poems. Announce upcoming church events.
Opening /
Chalice
Lighting
~ Lao Tzu
Sharing/Deep
Listening
(Read aloud together)
Let us shelter the light, the beacon of wisdom, the
warmth of human love.
Let us nurture the light, igniting the creative force in
those we love,
shielding from the winds of chance fragile human
hope.
Let us share the light, spreading the brightness of reason
and truth into the
dark corners of our
minds, spreading the warmth of love and concern
into the recesses of our
hearts.
May the light of wisdom and love
Ever be shining bright within our congregation,
Symbol of our hopes and our dreams..
Check-in
How goes thy spirit? What do you need to leave behind
in order to be fully present here and now? 2-3 sentences
Reading
Choose two readers, one for each reading. Read each
through pausing between the readings. Each person can
follow along on their copy.
Speak the thoughts and feelings that arose as you did the
preparation for this session. Sharing should be about five
minute per person.
Deeply listening, without response or thought of response at
this time, is the gift we give and receive as we share our
thoughts.
Discussion
This is a time to supportively respond to something another
person said or to relate additional thoughts that may have
occurred as others shared.
Singing
~ #184 Singing the
Living Tradition
Be ye lamps unto yourselves;
be your own confidence;
hold to the truth within yourselves
as to the only lamp.
Closing/
Extinguishing
Chalice
~ ~Ma. Theresa
Gustilo Gallardo
Join hands or link arms as you read the closing words
together.
Truth manifests itself with its own force. Let us ride on the
power of its revelation with a heart ready to receive, to forgive,
and to learn.
Sitting in
Silence
T312, January 12,2014
© 2014 First Unitarian Church of San Jose
T312, January 12,2014
© 2014 First Unitarian Church of San Jose