Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 107:1-15

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections as a group

1  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;

7 he led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

9 For he satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in affliction and in irons,

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

12 Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;

14 he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder.

15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

Nehemiah Responds

Nehemiah 1-2

1.       What is Israel’s Crisis? What is the response of Nehemiah’s heart? What is Nehemiah’s spiritual response? What strikes you about Nehemiah’s prayer

2. What is the Church’s Crisis? What is the response of your own heart? What is your spiritual response? What has been your prayer? How does Nehemiah’s prayer prompt you to pray?

3. What is Nehemiah’s strategic response to the Crisis? How does he leverage his personal influence for the sake of his faith and his people?

4. What has been your strategic response to the Crisis? How have you leveraged your influence for the sake of your faith and your people?

5.     Why would Nehemiah conceal his inspection and his plans from his countrymen? How does Nehemiah get his plan started?

6.      What steps have helped you to complete plans in the past? How can you employ your expertise to meet the critical needs of your Church?

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own.  Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1.    I will compose a prayer modeled after Nehemiah’s prayer (Nehemiah 4-11) and offer my prayer to the Lord on behalf of the Church.
2.   I will offer a fast or a penance for the sins of the Church. 

3.   I will examine and record ways I can leverage my influence for the sake of my faith and the people of God. 

4. I will discuss with a trusted friend an idea I have to bring renewal in my parish.
5. I will reflect on any areas that I am hiding from acting on behalf of God and discuss those areas with a priest.
6. I will read Letter to a Suffering Church by Bishop Robert Barron and will discuss what I read with my older children.


Previous Resolutions - Deuteronomy 32 & 34

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.