Lifelong Faith Formation

Volume 14| February 2024

Faith Formation Findings

resources for everyday faith living

“Lifelong faith formation in the ELCA is guided by our baptismal covenant and the Holy Spirit's ongoing guidance as we live among God's faithful people, hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper, proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people, following the example of Jesus.

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Life of Faith Initiative in the Southwestern Texas Synod

The Life of Faith Initiative is a grassroots effort within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). All advocates of equipping all God’s saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12)

RESOURCES: A great place to start learning about the Life of Faith Initiative is their website: lifeoffaith.info. Check out their video library for an Introductory video, and several others

And the book: The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life, by Dwight L. Dubois

Cohorts participating in the Life of Faith:

Abiding Presence, San Antonio
First, Edinburg
Peace, New Braunfels
St. John's, San Juan

Life of Faith Initiative

Update

Faith Practice for All Seasons

Lent: A Time of Feasting and Fasting

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever really thought about the fasting that we often associate with Lent? Some folks give up their favorite things: time on social media, chocolate, spending, and eating out. It can be very healthy to turn ourselves away from things that aren’t so good for us and toward things that are better for us. And since Lent is 40+ days, it can be a time of change. Anything we can do consistently for that long changes us.

So, this Lent, let’s think about ‘feasting’ on the good things in our lives, that bring us together and that bring us closer to God. And let’s ’fast’ on the things that aren’t so good for us, things that distance us from each other and God.

Faith Practice 1: (An Intergenerational Activity)

Paint a Love Mural

For this faith practice you will need to gather supplies:

Large sheets of paper (a roll or poster board)

Masking tape

Pencils

Coloring medium: markers, crayons, etc.

For older participants: paints, brushes, paper towels etc

Tape the paper/poster board to the wall. Hand out pencils to each person.

For this practice, ask your church family to think about 1) what they love about your community, and 2) to imagine what new thing they would love to see happening here as well. This will be a way of feasting on the good stuff.

Have each person draw on the paper, an image of one or both. Encourage them to use lots of color, and not to worry about what the image looks like. They can write a few words too if that helps! Set a timer for 25 mins or more. Play some music while they work. Once the time is up, ask if anyone would like to share what they love. Then say a prayer thanking God for a good feast and time together.

Faith Practice 2: (for the family)

Paper Prayer Chain of Goodness

Materials: Tape, markers, and strips of paper (enough for 3 per person plus 5 extra)

This chain is made like the ones we make for Christmas but this one will have good/favorite things written on the links. You can also mix in a fun activity or treat to share with the whole family and take turns picking one to do.

Ask your family to think about things each one has done over the last weeks/months that they think are good as well as nice things that have been done for them. Examples: picking up trash, making a new friend, sharing a snack, writing a nice note, helping a friend, making a bed… Take turns writing on the strips of paper and assemble the loops into a chain. Talk about why these God things are important. Hang the chain somewhere where everyone can see it.

Now say a prayer thanking our loving God for family and helping us to find good things in our lives.

Faith Practice 3: (for the youth community)

Fasting and Feasting with friends

This faith practice has several parts. Start by having a conversation with the group about what really feeds you spiritually, and about fasting: moving away from those things that aren’t. What feeds us is the good stuff (a feast) we all want more of, and what we might fast from. What are things that aren’t feeding us and that we can choose to fast from?

Using the regular times that your group gathers for a meal or activity, brainstorm what else you could do with that time that would feed the group.

For example, if your group usually meets after worship on Sunday, invite the elders in your congregation/community for a meal that your group will prepare and serve. Or if you meet on Saturday, find a food ministry that needs cleaning/reorganizing. Ask your group; they will have ideas and connections that might fit you perfectly. Many towns have nonprofits already doing great work that could use a group of volunteers to help.

Remember you are the body of Christ! Be Christ for your neighbors and discover new ways to be church in the world!

Faith Practice 4: (for Adults and Elders)

Learning to Forgive, Yourself and Others

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful ways that we see God’s love for us. And it’s one of the hardest things we can do. It’s so simple to hold on to the hurt and stay angry. This anger is certainly something that we could ‘fast’ from, instead choosing to forgive, and ‘feast’ instead. Jesus said: “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you."

Luke 6:27-28

Forgiveness activity supplies:

A bowl of stones

Wipes/napkins/paper towels

Washable Markers

Meditate on the above verse, and ponder some folks you feel have wronged you, your ‘enemies.’ When a name pops into your head, pick up a stone and write their initials/name on it. While holding it in your hand, say a prayer of blessing for the person you are thinking of. Ask God to help you let go of the wrongs and hurt you are feeling. Ask God to forgive them for you if you need to.

If you can let go, then wipe the stone clean as a symbol of forgiveness, If not, take the stone with you as a reminder to keep trying.

Now it’s your turn to forgive yourself. Do the activity again for yourself. You deserve God’s love and forgiveness too. Keep this stone in your pocket to remember you are forgiven! Amen.