Be more: Be giving
Overview
The Be More prayers is a series of seven prayers that focus on ways in which we might engage in the mission of Jesus. The series of prayers are inspired by the words of St Oscar Romero "Aspire not to have more but to be more" and they draw on resources from Caritas Australia.
The prayer is intended for use with staff groups in a Catholic school community but can be easily adapted to other contexts.
Each prayer resource in the series comes in PDF format and contains:
an introductory note for the prayer leader
detailed directions for the prayer experience
a biographical sheet about one of the Be More heroes
a prayer sheet handout that can be reproduced for all participants.
Each of the prayers in the series follows a common structure of:
Gather - Listen - Respond - Go Forth
Creating the space:
Where possible, arrange chairs in a circle or semi-circle around a prayer focus point. Try to create different heights in your prayer focus – even if you conceal a book or box under your cloth to create a different height. Items to incorporate in your prayer focus:
- Red, green and yellow cloths
- Three candles (+ matches to light the candles)
- Bible – open at Acts chapter 4 (a book stand or small easel is ideal to display the Bible)
- Cross or crucifix
- Symbol for this week: gift-wrapped boxes
You will also need:
- Copies of the prayer outline for readers.
- lCopies of the prayer handout for the group.
- Copies of the Be More Bio of Dorothy Day - download from Caritas.org.au.
- Post-It notes and pens – enough for each person in the group.
Gather
- Welcome, introduction & preparation to pray
- Lighting of candles - 3 candle lighters
- Opening Prayer
Listen
- Introduction
- Scripture reading - 1 reader
Respond
- Be More bio
- ‘Giving’ activity
Go Forth
NB: Sections identified as ‘Leader’ may be divided amongst different people but it is helpful to have a recognisable leader of the prayer.
The structure and ideas included are just suggestions. Please feel free to modify or add to the wording to make the experience more personal and relevant for your staff. Adding you own touches will not only make the experience more enriching for you personally, but also for the rest of your group.
Approximate time required: 20 mins
Be Giving: Prayer
We Gather
The leader welcomes those present and acknowledges the gift of coming together in prayer.
Leader: Our prayer today continues our focus on ways in which we might engage in the mission of Jesus, calling us to Be More.
In today’s prayer we are called to Be Giving – to be generous with our time; with our skills; and with our resources in order to make a difference in the lives of others. In many ways, it’s easy to give money to charity and not really engage with the cause – it’s a ‘quick fix’ solution. To genuinely give of ourselves is a completely different matter.
Working in a school, we are giving to students and to others nearly every minute of every day. We particularly give our energy, so let’s pause for a moment of silence before we pray. … With each breath in we receive and with each breath out we give … receiving … giving … Because we have received, we have the capacity to give.
(Ring a chime or bell then pause for two minutes of silence. Ring the chime again to end the silence)
Leader: Let’s now begin by reminding ourselves that we gather …
All: In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Candle lighter 1: As we gather here in your name, Open our minds to know your voice. (light ‘head’ candle)
Candle lighter 2: Open our hands to do your work. (light ‘hands’ candle)
Candle lighter 3: And open our hearts to hold your Spirit. (light ‘heart’ candle)
Leader: Let us pray.
All: Generous God of abundance,
You have taught us how to give through your example of unconditional love.
You have gifted us with more than we need.
Guide us to imitate your generosity
with those who are close to us and those whom we will never know.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, your greatest gift. Amen
We Listen
Leader: The earliest Christian communities stood out at the time because of their incredibly strong sense of community and care for the well-being of one another. Their sense of giving to one another and making sure that the needs of all were taken into account was quite revolutionary in the first century. This passage from Acts gives us a little insight into the spirit of giving that was so dominant in those early communities.
(Acts 4:32-35)
Reader 1: A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul;
no one claimed private ownership of any possessions,
as everything they owned was held in common.
The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power,
and they were all accorded great respect.
None of their members was ever in want,
as all those who owned land or houses would sell them,
and bring the money from the sale of them,
to present it to the apostles;
it was then distributed to any who might be in need.
(pause…)
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
We Respond
Leader: You each have a copy of the Be More Bio for Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, who emphasised in her life the vital role of community and the countless small ways in which we can make a difference in someone’s life through acts of giving.
Take a few moments to read the bio and reflect on the suggestions of ways in which you can ‘Be More’
. (Allow time for group to read and reflect.)
Leader: One of the interesting things about the concept of giving is that we don’t often give one another the opportunity to give in a personal, relevant way. When people offer assistance we shrug it off with “No, I’m OK!” or “It’s almost done, anyway!” or even, “It’s no problem, I’m happy to do it!”
So today, we are going to give to one another the opportunity to give to us. (give out post-it notes and pens)
I’d like you to write on the post-it note your name and then a thing that someone – not a specific person – could do as an act of kindness and an act of giving to you. It should be something that would make your life just a little bit easier / simpler / happier / more connected / less frustrating.
Each person writes on a post-it note a small act of giving or kindness that another person might be able to do for them. (They write their name on the request.)
When all have written their requests, stick them on a wall or white board. We’re now going to look at one another’s requests and choose one request each to do that act of giving for the other person. What might seem to you a trivial thing that is easily accomplished might be the thing that makes a significant difference for that person.
The group now peruses the collection of requests and each member of the group accepts one request. They commit to undertake the task within the next few weeks. (Time may be dictated by the nature of the request.) Who chooses which task may be kept secret or openly announced. The group may wish to set a date to report back to one another about what difference these acts of giving made to one another.
(In a smaller group, this process could also be done in an open group with the person reading out their request and others indicating their willingness to accept the task.)
We Go Forth
Leader: Each of us has the capacity to give.
But we hesitate from giving because we don’t always know the spirit in which our giving will be received.
If our giving is without strings attached, then the gift is worth giving.
With an openness to both give and receive, let’s place all our prayers before God as we prayer together…
All: Ever-giving God,
You endow us with the capacity to make a difference in the lives of others.
Turn our eyes from their inward focus
to recognise the needs of those around us.
Turn our hands from grasping and acquiring to sharing and offering.
Turn our hearts from stony selfishness to loving compassion.
We make our prayer through Jesus who gave his life for all. Amen.
Leader: And let’s conclude with our blessing…
All: As we go about our day, O God;
As we strive to walk with Jesus as a giving people.
Remind us that we are the gift of Christ,
Who is with us always.
May your grace, mercy and peace,
Bless us, keep us and transform us all this day,
Now and forever. Amen.