All-Knowing Creator

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Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Who are the people in your life by whom you are truly known? What is it like to be known in this way?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18.

• Think back to a time you tucked a loved one into bed, “hemming” them into a safe slumber. In the first several verses of this scripture, the psalmist uses a collection of similar images to talk about a relationship with God. Which images show the depth of God’s searching and knowing about the psalmist’s life? (Psalm 130:1-6)
• What metaphors does the psalmist use to describe the way we are made? (Psalm 139:13-16)
• The psalmist says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. What do you think that phrase means and why does it (or does it not) matter?
• Notice that the preaching notes interpret the psalm as, “the only knowledge of God accessible is in relationship.” Are there aspects of God we can think about and reason outside of a personal relationship with the Divine?
  • If so, what are the limitations of reasoning out who God is?
• If not, how can a person deal with personal doubts surrounding reasoning that may seemingly come into conflict (e.g., scientific insights)?
• Let’s get personal. What does it mean to you to consider that you are a “wonderful” work of God? How does considering this reality make you feel (e.g., angry, relieved, unmoved, inspired)?
• Let’s put on our creative thinking caps. The preaching notes for today talk a lot about the need for creeds or a shared list of beliefs: “A creed, then, is a statement of belief that defines us as a community of faith. It identifies us for ourselves and for the world at large. We are the people who believe. And because we believe, we live, we serve, we act, we love.”
• Come together with your group and give each person a chance to write a single line of belief based upon reason and/or their relationship with God. (Ask someone to serve as a scribe or use a whiteboard.) Read the Creed you have made as part of your closing prayer.
• Have someone agree to email or take pictures/make copies of the creed now to use daily (or whatever is agreed by the group) for one week, even if the creed is not perfect. (Note: Each person has the freedom to adjust the creed as needed for personal use.)

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

God, who has searched us and known us: we are longing to be hemmed in by your love. Release us from what we thought we knew about you and create afresh in us an image of who you might be in our midst. Help us to know you as you know us and therefore to move closer and closer to the grace you have waiting for us today. Amen.

Apostles' Creed

United Methodist Hymnal, 881

Traditional Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

United Methodist Hymnal, 882

Ecumenical Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Traditional use of this creed includes these words: "He descended into hell."
**universal

These are the versions in the current United Methodist Hymnal. https://www.umc.org/en/content/apostles-creed-traditional-ecumenical.

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Rev. Manohar Joshi is the author of the best-selling book The Resilient Parent: Everyday Wisdom for Life with your Exceptional Child and senior pastor of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church in California. Manohar (aka Mantu) brings his experiences as a stay-at-home dad, sports coach and referee, creative writer, university teacher, and minister in the trenches together in ways to help you find your fresh connections with the Divine.