Gatherings
Following is information on when and how missio Dei meets.
Where and When? – Calendar: Click here for updated details of all Missio-related events.
Background – missio Dei Gathering Shape
The rhythms and cycles of missio Dei take place over a two month period. Each cycle includes four fortnightly gatherings where the whole community meets. Over the cycle, there are four specific kinds of gatherings. They are as follows:
- Input – Outline of Book & Theme
- Practice – Communal reading of the Book of Cycle together and practice theme
- Mission – Going out and doing an act of communal mission together (Possibly get speakers to do some input on mission).
- Reflection – Facilitate feedback and reflection of book & theme
Who, what and how? – Glossary of Terms:
- Book of the Cycle: The book of the bible that has been chosen by the missio Dei community as the book that we are going to try and read together over the two month cycle. The pattern of selection is Old Testament Book, Gospel then New Testament Book.
- Cycle: A two month period over which missio follows a pattern of themed gatherings.
- Theme of the Cycle: missio Dei has:
- A vision statement: “To learn and live God’s transforming dream”.
- 5 values: (1) Righteousness, (2) Justice, (3) Peace and (4) Joy (5) in the Spirit,
- and 5 practices: (1) Listening Prayer, (2) Engaging the Biblical Narrative, (3) Inward Transformation, (4) Outward Transformation and (5) Stuff.
- missio Dei focuses upon the vision, the values and the practices in a rolling cycle over a rough period of two years. Each time we revisit our vision, values and practices, we get a different take as each facilitator brings their unique perspective and experiences to our focus upon the Theme of the Cycle.
- Facilitators: Each gathering is facilitated by two facilitators. A facilitator is normally a member of missio Dei. A member is someone who has mad a public commitment to keeping the practices of missio Dei at our annual Commitment Day, held roughly some time in November each year.
The Facilitators job is to lead the community through our fortnightly gatherings keeping to the intentions of the particular type of gathering (Input, Practice, Mission or Reflection) and the theme or value. The reason we encourage ALL people to facilitate is in order to bring different perspectives and experiences to our understanding and practice of the faith.
Following is a more detailed explanation of each of the gatherings and some examples for facilitators to put together an outline of our time together:
Input: – 1st Gathering of the Cycle
- Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we meet.
- A Look at the Book Bookmark: Facilitator is to put together the bookmark for the Book of the Cycle.
- A Look at the Book: Take the community through a brief introduction to the Book of the Cycle.
- Spotlight:
- Choose a member of missio Dei,
- in an interview fashion, help them to tell some stories about their attempts to participate in God’s mission in their home, street, suburb, nation, working life, family life etc.
- Spotlight is designed to help people be more intentional in their life and work, as well as serving as a source of inspiration to the rest of the community.
- This time may conclude with a brief time of prayer.
- Storytime! A story that is something that the whole community, both the kids and the adults, can relate to, interact with and reflect upon.
- Prayer: Prayer for and with the kids then the kids head out for kids time.
- Theme Input: Some input on the Theme of the Cycle. Facilitators are encouraged to do some research leading up to the Gathering, and then bringing their personality and experiences to the teaching of the theme of the cycle. Facilitators are encouraged to drawn on other people (within and outside of missio Dei) who might be able to help them give greater depth to their presentation of the theme of the cycle.
- Missional Journey: Significant time for the community to break into pairs or groups of three to share how we are doing participating in God’s transforming dream, making ourselves accountable, confessing our sins where we have opted out of Gods mission, sharing stories of failure and success, rejoicing together, commiserating with one another and sharing physical and prayer needs. The time can conclude with prayer.
- Stewardship: The Finance Team updates, challenges and facilitates any new requests that arise from our time of sharing. Offering is taken up.
- Communion: A short acknowledgement that the meal that we are about to share is something we do in remembrance of Jesus. “Christ has died, Christ is risen, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!”
Practice: – 2nd Gathering of the Cycle
- Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we meet.
- Storytime! A story that is something that the whole community, both the kids and the adults, can relate to, interact with and reflect upon.
- Getting into the Book A significant segment of time where in groups we use various techniques to engage the biblical narrative together. May include groups teaching each other.
- Wonder: A significant segment of extended Wonder (God becomes great, we become less and proportion is restored). Facilitators are encouraged to use a wide variety of expression. The intent is intimacy with our creator and the restoration of proportions in our individual and communal lives.
- Music
- Prayer
- Quiet reflection
- The arts
- Nature
- Stewardship: The Finance Team updates and challenges the community regarding our stewardship responsibilities. Offering is taken up.
- Communion: A short acknowledgement that the meal that we are about to share is something we do in remembrance of Jesus. “Christ has died, Christ is risen, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!”
Mission: – 3rd Gathering of the Cycle
- Community Mission: Facilitators lead the community in a collective action or activity. Facilitators are strongly encouraged to be in consultation with community members to ensure that it is something that fully involves and is healthy for the kids in our community, as well as possibly assisting a community member/household in their individual mission.
- (or) Mission Input: Possibly make some time to get some input in the area of mission. Possible examples are:
- Indigenous food trail.
- A back yard blitz type activity for a person/household known by a missio Dei community member.
- Some kind of seminar/march/protest.
- A clean up/tree planting type activity.
- A visit to the Banjilaka at the Melbourne Museum
Reflection: – 4th Gathering of the Cycle
- Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we meet.
- Storytime! A story that is something that the whole community, both the kids and the adults, can relate to, interact with and reflect upon.
- Reflection: Facilitators essentially organise the community to do some reflection and assessment in three areas:
- The Book of the Cycle: What have we learned and observed? How have we changed? How do we need to change? What must we lament? What must we celebrate?
- The Theme of the Cycle: What have we learned and observed? How have we changed? How do we need to change? What must we lament? What must we celebrate?
- Our Missional Journey: Our own individual and communal attempts at engaging in Gods transforming dream in our individual lives, in our households and as a community? What have we learned and observed? How have we changed? How do we need to change? What must we lament? What must we celebrate?
- A synthesis of the above process. Entries to be made into the missio Dei community journal for reflection in the months and years to some.
- Stewardship: The Finance Team updates and challenges the community regarding our stewardship responsibilities. Offering is taken up.
- Communion: A short acknowledgement that the meal that we are about to share is something we do in remembrance of Jesus. “Christ has died, Christ is risen, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!”
Location, Location, Location
All gatherings are generally at the Said’s or the Coggers. Details are as follows:
The Said’s
1/11 Rose Ave
Hurstbridge
Please advise Stephen or Lisa if you’re coming for catering purposes on:
- lisa (at) neurotribe dot net or
- stephen (at) neurotribe dot net
The Coggers
2/81 Lower Plenty Road,
Lower Plenty
Please advise Bec if you are coming for catering purposes on:
- rkcogger (at) hotmail dot com
@ other times during the month
Boys Accountability: Closed
Girls Accountability: Closed
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