With Shouts of Joy

Small Groups

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

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). Invite participants to discuss the following questions in pairs or groups of three: “When is the last time you laughed out loud? What contributed to your laughter?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You likely won’t get through all the questions in the time you have together. Consider inviting group members to work through any remaining questions on their own throughout the week.

• This psalm, with restoration as a key theme, is divided into two parts: a previous restoration (or a dream of one) and a need for another restoration. Read Psalm 126. Invite participants to have the scripture in front of them, either in a Bible, on a phone app, or printed on paper. After reading it, ask the following questions:
  • How would you describe the first part (verses 1-3)?
    • What attributes of restoration are described here?
  • Metaphors in the second part (verses 4-6) of the passage are used to describe the anticipated restoration. What do you notice about the picture the psalmist paints of restoration?
  • Count how many times “joy” or “rejoice” is used in Psalm 126. How have you seen joy and restoration go together in your life or in the life of a loved one?
• The Preaching Notes for December 13 say:

“Here we are in Advent, remembering the promise of eternity, but also remembering the inbreaking of the kingdom in a birth in a manger on a star-filled night. Who around you is filled with joy this season? Who among us knows what it is to be unable to keep joy contained? Maybe this is part of what Jesus meant when he told us we need to become like little children. Maybe he was suggesting that we need to be filled with joy, to let our mouths be filled with laughter, and to let it out every chance we get in shouts that serve as a reminder that something wonderful is happening, has happened, will happen, and therefore is happening. Psalm 126 wants us to let joy spill out like water in the desert. Our liturgical obligation this Advent season is to give space in worship and in work for shouts of joy.”

• How easy is it for you to give yourself over to joy? What prevents you from being able to allow laughter to bubble up? How can you “give space” for shouts of joy in your life?
• Verse 6 connects weeping with shouts of joy. Weeping bears the seeds for sowing, and the “sheaves” of the harvest are accompanied by shouts of joy. What do you make of the connection between weeping and joy?
• Read back through the scripture passage. Is there a word or phrase that stands out? Write it down for consideration in the week ahead.
• Just One Thing: What is one thing that you can do to be present to both the seeds of weeping and the harvest of joy in the week ahead?
• Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
  • Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
  • Read the text of your choice [Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28] out loud.
  • What do you notice about the text?
  • What questions arise?
  • What do you think God might be saying to you in this text?

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:

Dear God of Restoration, you specialize in showing up in places of pain and grief, bringing renewal. Would you give us the courage to weep the tears of sorrow and give us eyes to see where you are bringing a harvest of joy? In this Advent season, as we await your restoration, may laughter slip between the cracks of control and judgment, breaking loose the places where joy can grow. Thank you for adding the gift of joy to your hope and peace. May we receive it with gladness! In the name of the one whose very presence is restoration, we pray, amen.

Subscribe to receive the Discipleship Email Newsletters at https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/subscribe.

Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Director of Adult Discipleship, an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, served in campus ministry for twelve years and in leadership with the Great Plains Conference for over a decade. She has a passion for connecting people with resources and encouraging them to nurture their faith and walk in step with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She has a D.Min. in spiritual direction from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ashlee also has a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching through Discipleship Ministries.