Week 7 Discussion: Love

This week we looked at the virtue of love!  We played a hilarious game (Honey if you love me, would you please just smile?) in which few were able to keep a straight face!  We discussed the different Greek words used in the New Testament to describe love: eros, philia and agape.  We took a look at the difference in how our culture views love and how God loves us and calls us to love others (1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 1 John 4:8-16, Romans 8:35-39).  After reading Matthew 22:36-40, we used our new chalkboard wall to write and draw pictures of the ways we show our love for God, and the ways we love our neighbors.  Then we put our love of God and neighbor into action and wrote agape letters for the Honduras mission team leaving this weekend.  So, I want to know what you have done this week to show your love for God and neighbor.  Comment on this post with your answers!

 

Reminder!

Don't forget, we will not be meeting for Gathering this Sunday, October 31st!

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Week 6 Discussion: Justice

This week at FUSION Gathering, we discussed the virtue of JUSTICE!  We looked as Scripture passages like Isaiah 1:16-17, Micah 6:8, Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 19:16-30.  We talked about how God calls each of us to acts of justice though it may look different in each of our lives.  We looked at clips from "A Bug's Life" where Flick, the main character, seeks justice for his ant colony.  We talked about some of the similar injustices that are happening in our own world and how the churhc responds to them.  One thing (among many) mentioned was Operation Christmas Child.  So, together we spent the rest of our evening packing 50 shoeboxes for OCC and folding and preparing about 200 more boxes for others to pack!  A group of us also went out earlier that day to the Southside SPCA and volunteered with their open house.  Way to work for justice for ALL of God's creatures!  I want to know what else you have been doing this week to seek justice?  Comment on this post with your answers.

Week 5 Discussion: Adventure

This week we explored the virtue of adventure!  We took a look at a clip from "Up" and talked about how adventure is virtuous when we find ourselves trusting God and doing what we were called to do.  We reviewed the adventures of Moses that we talked about last week, and then looked at the adventures of Jonah!  Jonah went on his own adventure by not trusting and following God's calling to go to Ninevah and ended up being swallowed up by a big fish.  When Jonah finally decided to trust God and do what God called him to do, the people in Ninevah listened to God's word that Jonah spoke to them and were saved from destruction!  We took time to think about what adventures God may be calling us to today and in the future.  I asked everyone to continue to pray and reflect on this question throughout this week.  Comment on this post below with your reflections!

Then, we went on a little adventure of our own.  Teams of three and four looked up clues found in Bible verses to lead them to various locations around the church where they found their next clue!  Check out the pictures below of our adventures:

Week 4 Discussion: Courage

Last night we took a look at the virtue of courage.  We discussed that courage is the strength to overcome fear in order to do what is morally right.  We looked at the story of Moses and Joshua in the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua.  God told Moses that he would not be able to cross the Jordan River with the Israelites into the Promised Land.  So, God called Joshua to be the next leader of the Israelite people and Joshua would be the one to lead them into the Promised Land.  God continually told Moses, Joshua and the people to "Be strong and courageous" because God knew it would take courage to lead and face their enemies.  Joshua had courage because he knew God would never leave him nor forsake him. 

We looked at a clip from "Cars" where Lightening McQueen shows courage in sacrificing winning the race in order to help a friend.  Then we looked at a clip from "The Incredibles" where Frozone, a superhero, is looking intently for his super suit in order to help the public from the danger of an enemy machine that is destroying the city just outside of his window.  While we know we don't have superpowers, there are situations in our every day lives where we are called to be courageous.  For example, standing up for a friend, standing up for our faith and beliefs, and having the courage to share God's love with someone else.  For a fun activity, we created our own superheros and decided what their name would be, what powers they would have, how they showed courage and we created their very own super suit!  Check out the pictures below:

Discussion question for this week:  How have you been courageous this week?  Comment on this post with your answers!

 

Week 3 Discussion: Humor

This week we discussed that while we don't necessarily think of the Bible as humorous...humor that is virtuous is humor that is grounded in joy and delight that come from God!  We talked about the ways in which humor can be destructive and cruel (making fun of others, hurting people's feelings, making someone an outcast).  Ultimately, though, virtuous humor looks at laughing as a sign of joy and celebration!  Just think about some of the Scripture we read:

Isaiah 55:12 "For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands!"

Psalm 32:11 "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart."

Ecclesiates 3:4 "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."

So, I want to know:  What has made you laugh this week?  Comment on this post with your answers!

Week 2 Discussion: Friendship

Sunday night we looked at the virtue of friendship.  We read John 15:12-15 to look at a Biblical view of friendship, and we read Luke 19:1-10 and discussed the types of people Jesus hung out with.  We talked about the importance of including everyone in our circle of friends, because we are all children of God who are made in God's image.  We discussed how bread is often seen as a sign of hospitality and symbolizes Christ in Holy Communion and looking at John 6:47-51 where Jesus says "I am the bread of life."  We made bread and were given the task of thinking of someone you need to offer friendship to, or someone you need to reconcile friendship with and give that person your loaf of bread this week.

So, I want to know...have you given away your bread yet?  How did it feel to give your bread to that person, and what was their response?  Comment on this post with your answers.

Here are some pictures from Sunday night:



Learning how to play hand bells!



Making bread!