Gathering 8.19: Memories

Decided to lead a discussion on Memories today, considering this will be my last day with this cafe and my last week in Chicago, and memories are becoming important to me. I posted up on the wall the sheets from previous weeks....
Interconnectedness:
Miracles:
Incarnational:
Stewardship:

and then a new sheet with:
Memories
Remember that....
(with some blank post-its).

This is the plan for the discussion:
Hand out sheets and two candles each.

Icebreaker: What is your very first memory?

Review all previous lessons… what we have learned, what we remember

1. What is it we should remember
2. How we can use memories for our world and for us to better our lives
3. How best to remember them

Death of loved one…memories help keep them alive

Loss of friend, move away, ….memories keep their actions active, love present

In a rough time, memories of better times can help get you through. Also memory of a bible verse or mantra or uplifting story can help. Remembering what God has done (ps 77)

(using memories in a positive way is different from being paralyzed by painful memories –the death, the loss, the regret. How can we change our perspective into seeing painful memories in a positive light to improve our being?)

After an awful event, remembering what happened can help that to never happen again.
(Always remember, never forget). Prevent history from repeating itself.
-Slaves in Egypt. Eat unleavened bread (Deut 16:3)

Have a symbol, a celebration to remember. Something tangible to hang on to that memory.

More memory we have, more thankful, more blessed, more meaningful.
Remember that we were in poverty, that we were sad, that we were lonely, that we suffered, but no longer… take actions towards helping those that still are. (Hebrews 13)

But so easily people forget (collective amnesia). This is why we have the commands to remember the Sabbath, to remember the exodus, to remember that God is our creator, that God is our redeemer. To remember.

Repetition helps us remember…. Celebrations, holidays…
Remember what God has done for you

List on post its : What do we want to remember today? ….About ourselves, About God, About the world, About life, About our calling, About our promises/actions

How can be best remember? Use a ritual, a symbol.
Then take a post it for the thing you want to remember. Light a candle. Keep a candle/

Take a candle in remembrance of this. Every time you see this candle and light this candle, remember this thing that you do not want to forget. // play video: Remember your chains






and quoted scriptures:
Psalm 77
In Times of Trouble God Is with His People
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
…
I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
I will remember your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
you have displayed your might among the peoples.



Deuteronomy 16:3 Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.



Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.


Colossians 4:18: Remember my chains. Grace be with you.