Covenant Group Ministry

REACHING-OUT *

Opening Words and Chalice Lighting:
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.      ~Albert Schweitzer, Reading#447, Singing the Living Tradition

Check-In:

Reading:

Eugene Kennedy, a psychologist and a Catholic, wrote in his book The Pain of Being Human -

“Only a very grim and unredeemed theology tells us that we must suffer alone.  Nobody who tries to understand the Gospels can possibly believe or live by this notion.  Life is filled with more than enough loneliness; it is harsh and stoic to think that one must not admit, talk about, or share one’s pain with others.  Stiff upper lips are fine, and biting the bullet is great in old movies about the British in India, but turning one’s ears to a wall of loneliness is both unnecessary and unchristian in a world where, according to the apostle Paul, we are meant to help bear one another’s burdens.”

A Duke University study on “peace of mind” found that one essential factor for peace of mind was reaching out.  Here is what they wrote:  “When you find yourself in the grip of emotional stress, force yourself to be out-going to other people instead of retreating within yourself and building a prison of loneliness.” 

Topic Introduction:

Upon reading the statement above, it becomes obvious that its message may be applied to a multitude of philosophies and life experiences. Reaching-Out does not apply to only one target population or religion. Reaching out is a tool that works well for humans experiencing stress, a joyful event and/or various transitional periods in the life cycle. There are a very few people who choose to suffer in silence and find that such a choice helps dispel any preoccupation with thoughts and emotions in the present or in the future that eventually prove to be detrimental to one’s wellbeing. It is a universal principle that helps bring solace to all human beings and multiplies one’s joy when sharing with others.

Deep Sharing and Listening (Round #1):

1.   When you have been under great stress or experiencing great joy, have you turned inward or outward to other people?   What helped you most?   What challenges did you encounter in reaching out to others?

2.   What spiritual sources do you draw on during times of unhappiness or pleasure?

3.    Are there ways in which you have reached out within the covenant group?

4.   (Optional)    If you were to reach out today:   what would be your concern and who would you reach out to?

Discussion: (Round #2):

Housekeeping:

Likes and Wishes:

Closing Words:

“Life’s painful beauty does not reside in waterfalls or in cloud racks shredding golden against the sunset; rather, it is in relationships, in the mystery of love’s beginning and growth as we share ourselves and our lives with each other, in reaching out to each other, hurting and healing each other in the process - life lies in knowing these things firsthand.”

Let us be gentle with each other.                       – Eugene Kennedy

*     Adapted from the session developed by Rev. Glenn Turner, First UU Church, Auburn, ME