Group Prayer Activity (10 minutes)
Silent Reflection: Take 2 minutes of silence for each person to identify one specific area where they need to experience "Emmanuel—God with us."
Popcorn Prayer: Anyone who feels comfortable can offer a one-sentence prayer about their need or about someone else in the group.
Closing Prayer: Leader prays: Lord Jesus, you know what it means to flee in the night, to face threats, to experience the fragility of human life. Thank you for not staying distant from our pain but entering fully into it. Help us this week to recognize your presence in our chaos, to hear the bells that still ring, and to let your light enter through the cracks in our lives. Give us courage to be honest about our struggles and compassionate toward others in theirs. May we truly know that we are never alone. In your precious name, Amen.
Looking Ahead
For Next Week:
Continue practicing your chosen application
Read the next sermon text in advance if provided
Consider: How have you experienced God's presence in an unexpected way this week?
Group Care: If anyone shared a particularly difficult struggle, arrange a follow-up check-in during the week. Remember: we are called to be the presence of Christ for one another.
Additional Resources
Songs for Reflection:
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" (especially verse 3)
"Fairy Tale of New York" by The Pogues
"Anthem" by Leonard Cohen
Scripture for Further Study:
Hosea 11:1
Jeremiah 31:15
Isaiah 11:1
Jeremiah 23:5
John 1:5, 14
Question for Journaling: "Where do I most need to experience Emmanuel—God with us—in my life right now?"
