The Way Retreat
First Talk and Meditation and Reconcilition

8:45 PM FIRST TALK: My Way

Opening song

When we were little children we always seemed to use the words “I,” “me,” and “mine.” I wanted everything done my way. Everything I saw had to be mine. I wanted everyone to give everything to me.

As we grow, we start to realize that the world doesn’t revolve around “me.” We’ve had to realize that “my way” is not the “only way.” We’ve had to accept that there are millions of other “me’s” out there, each with his or her own story to share, talents to develop, friendships to build, and attitudes and feelings to deal with.

At this point the speaker should tell her life’s story, stressing the things that make him or her unique.

One thing I’ve come to realize more and more in recent years is the way God is involved in my life and the way He sends people into my life to help and guide me.

Give and example of someone who helps you and whom you feel is a sign of God’s presence in your life.

Jesus challenges me to look at His way, or life, as a model for my own. As I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that I need others to be a part of my life – including God.

Give an example of how God is a part of your life.

Each of us has a story to tell. While our stories may not be the same, all of them are important. And, as Christians, the most important thing for us to do is to see how God invites and challenges us to make His way our own.

Closing Song

Group Discussion 1

Begin by offering your reactions to the First Talk. Ask the candidates to share their reactions.

Then say: the speaker mentioned that each of us has an important story to tell. In your notebooks briefly write your own story, mentioning those who are important to you and who helped make you the person you are.

Allow only fifteen minutes for this so that the candidates will be forced to focus on the most important parts of their lives.

When all are finished, ask each candidate to share a key event or person in his or her life. You, the leader, should do the same.

Ask for a person to share with everyone during “Reactions.”

Reactions BREAK

MEDITATION AND RECONCILIATION

Opening Song: El Shaddai. (CHURCH)

When we hear the word “God,” all kinds of images and words come to mind. What words come into your minds when you hear the word God?

List their responses on poster board.

Note how these words tend to define what God is rather than who He is. (Point a few out to illustrate our point.)

Since the beginning of time humanity has sought to answer the question, What is God? For primitives, God – or the gods – was primarily viewed as a hidden, impersonal mystery who needed to be kept happy to avoid punishment or anger. (Give example of volcano.) The Hebrew People envisioned God as the Lord Almighty, the Lawgiver, the One who demands faith and is ever faithful to His People. Still, He is essentially a hidden God.

READER 1: The Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord. As God, the Almighty, I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but I did not tell them my name…” Moses said to God, “When I tell the people you have sent me, if they ask me your name, what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am… This is what you shall tell the people: ‘I am sent me to you…’ This is my name forever; this is my title for all generations…”

In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself as the Source of Life, as Existence Itself. He reveals what He is, rather than who He is. God also revealed Himself as the Lawgiver.

READER 2: I, the Lord, am your God… You shall have no other gods… You shall not carve idols, and you shall not bow down before them or worship them… (For I) will bestow mercy on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

As Christians we are not so interested in what God is. What is important for us is who God is. In Jesus, the source of Life lives with us and in us.

READER 3: Jesus stood up in the synagogue to read from the scriptures. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to captives and the ability to see to the blind…” When He had finished reading, everyone in the synagogue looked at Him intensely as He said to them: “I am the one of whom this passage speaks…” Jesus went all around, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Jesus’ teachings and actions were unlike any encountered in the past.

READER 1: “I have not come to abolish the Law; I have come to complete it… You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… You have been taught, ‘You shall not kill.’ But I tell you if you are angry with others, you have killed them… You have been taught, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you to offer no resistance to those who are evil. If someone hits you on the right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants your shirt, hand him your coat as well… You have been taught. ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with all of your strength. And love others as you love yourself… A new commandment I give you: Love one another… On this single law everything is based…” And the people said, “No man has ever spoken like this man…”

Jesus fulfills that which was revealed to Moses, showing by his life and actions that God is Love and that we come face to face with God in one another.

READER 2: …When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was sick, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you visited me… Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to me…

The most remarkable part of Jesus’ loving example is that He calls us His friends. No where else do we find an experience or concept of God as our friend.

READER 3: You are my friends if you do what I command you… Love one another.

Ask candidates to write down the first few words which come to mind when they hear the word friend. Share their responses.

Jesus’ love and friendship is even more intense than any we experience.

READER 1: No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friend.

Even as Jesus died for us – the ultimate expression of God’s love – He still loved, even those who put Him to death.

READER 2: If they knew who I am, they would not say or do these things… Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

Jesus did not come to establish a religion which would try to define what God is or to “keep us in line” through laws, rules and regulations.

Jesus gave us a way of life based on love. He challenges us to discover His loving presence in our own lives and to share it with others. Finally, by loving others, we experience God in a personal way.

During the closing song, write down the names of those whom God is challenging you to love.

Closing Song

Immediately after the closing song, Father will lead the group reconciliation based on this talk.

		Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry Orthodox Church in America PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791 http://yya.oca.org yyacm@oca.org The Hub | Back to top