When I am present, I am awake to wonder, discovery, and a sense of being part of the seasmless Oneness.

~ Lois Huey-Heck, Going Beyond Words: 10 Practices for Spiritual Unfolding

One life. One chance.
Jesus lived on the same earth as we do. He was born, grew through childhood, had a life and a ministry, was judged and killed. He rejoiced, celebrated, questioned, and suffered. He asked his followers, “Who do you say that I am?” And he asks that question of us over 2,000 years later.
Jesus asks us, “Who do you say that I am?”

~ Doris e. Kizinna, Go Deep: Spiritual Practices for Youth Ministry

The texts this week invite us to explore what it actually means that Christ is present with us. We use this language all the time in the life of the church but we don’t often talk about what that experience of presence actually is for each of us.

In a way that the gospel writers, and many of us, find hard to put into words, Jesus remains present with his community. This week’s discussions may help group members to consider how the resurrected Jesus invited the disciples to “touch me and see” – an invitation to get to know the risen Christ in a way they could understand.

How do we extend such gracious invitations to others? How do you experience Christ’s presence with you? Pray for each group member this week, that all may recognize and respond to Jesus as the Christ, alive in new ways in our world today.

• Access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage.
• Review information on Resources for the Easter Season at the back of your Lent, Easter material. Here you will find ideas for setting up your worship space and creating rituals for the season.
• Read about the poster Consuming Fire in “About the Art.” This poster can be like a mandala for meditation.

• Option: use the paraphrase “That’s Why These Things Happened” (p. 105) based on Luke 24:36b-48 from the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B; available as mp3 and projectable art downloads

Some of the many options for exploring Jesus’ presence and invitation:

• Ages 3-5: crayon rubbings, bubble prints, or making good news discs
• Ages 6-8: learning about fish symbol and making fish-shaped messages or hanger
• Ages 9-11: learning about fish symbol and making fish-shaped messages or peace plaque
• Multiage: fish symbol, breath prayer, fish-shaped hanger, peace plaque or bread message
• Ages 12-14: making fish-shaped hanger or peace plaque or peace pole
• Ages 15-18: peace projects, poetry reflection, peace prayers, or peace poles
• Adult: contemporary prayer poem, Cinquain poetry, or peace prayers

• Art engagement: Person at the Window: Jesus speaks of “being a witness of these things.” In both stories of Jesus’ appearance he gives the disciples a job to do: to start working for a better world. Look at the poster and imagine about what you might do to work for a better world. What are some of the things that Jesus might be asking you to do?
• Listen to the songs “Alleluia, Praise to God/Aleluya Y’in Oluwa” (#20) and “One, Two, Three, Alleluia” (#15) on the Seasons Vol. 7 Music CD; also available as mp3 downloads

April 29: Total Commitment

(Focus: John 10:11-18)

Forget about all those paintings you’ve seen where a tall, blond, Jesus carries a fluffy white lamb in his arms. The focus reading shows that everything is at stake. A flock of sheep without a shepherd will soon be gone – stolen, butchered, or taken by wild animals. And with the flock gone, the families who must depend upon it will soon be gone. And if the families go, society falls apart.

In the Ancient Near East, no one was more present with sheep than a shepherd. That closeness and attention to the needs and natural tendencies of the flock makes the shepherd a wonderful metaphor to explore what it means for God to care for God’s world and what it means for us to live in that care.

For SeasonsFUSION (which inspires worship in a setting for all ages) see the SeasonsFUSION blog and sign up to receive the SeasonsFUSION tip of the week.