What's your go-to way of getting someone's attention when you need it?
Now that you've answered the Icebreaker, here's another question - this one, about winning.
Because this whole Spotlight focuses on Psalm 22, it would be pretty helpful to have it opened in front of you. In fact, let's give it a first read now.
Hopefully that makes enough sense to get you started.
Pray this prayer to get into it:
My God, my God,
sometimes we feel abandoned.
Sometimes the pain is too deep,
and the silence too long.
Be with us.
Amen.
Pray this prayer to get into it:
My God, my God,
sometimes we feel abandoned.
Sometimes the pain is too deep,
and the silence too long.
Be with us.
Amen.
Use this prayer to reflect further. You will need 3 volunteers, plus there are two sections that the whole group should read together.
All Together
Living God,
we come to you now, in wonder.
First Volunteer
We have heard of your works -
as Creator, Upholder, In-dweller, Lover of all –
and we have known you
in our own times,
in our own lives,
in the lives of our neighbors.
Before the mystery
of your presence all around
and within,
it is right for us to be silent,
and to offer thanks and praise.
Second Volunteer
But, living God,
we also come to you
in anger and despair.
We look out,
and see children dying of hunger,
see nations torn apart by war,
see greed and corruption blighting
the lives of millions.
And we look within,
and see our complicity in much of this,
see our compromised lives,
see our broken hearts,
our broken promises.
Third Volunteer
Before the mystery of evil rampant
and injustice unpunished,
we ask, “Where were you, God,
when all this went so wrong?”
Hear us as lift our voices to you and cry
“O God, why have you abandoned us?”
All Together
In silence, then, before the mystery
both of your presence and of your absence,
we wait upon you now.
Amen.
All Together
Living God,
we come to you now, in wonder.
First Volunteer
We have heard of your works -
as Creator, Upholder, In-dweller, Lover of all –
and we have known you
in our own times,
in our own lives,
in the lives of our neighbors.
Before the mystery
of your presence all around
and within,
it is right for us to be silent,
and to offer thanks and praise.
Second Volunteer
But, living God,
we also come to you
in anger and despair.
We look out,
and see children dying of hunger,
see nations torn apart by war,
see greed and corruption blighting
the lives of millions.
And we look within,
and see our complicity in much of this,
see our compromised lives,
see our broken hearts,
our broken promises.
Third Volunteer
Before the mystery of evil rampant
and injustice unpunished,
we ask, “Where were you, God,
when all this went so wrong?”
Hear us as lift our voices to you and cry
“O God, why have you abandoned us?”
All Together
In silence, then, before the mystery
both of your presence and of your absence,
we wait upon you now.
Amen.
Staying through the Unwinnable
For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
Psalm 22:24
Some work feels holy, not because it’s successful, but because it’s faithful.
Some people show up every day to heartbreak, silence, and unwinnable situations—
and still, they stay. In this serve section, you'll seek to support them.
The Seattle Children's Hospital works with Safe Crossings and runs another program called the "Journey Program," which is specifically for families who have lost a child. The people who work in these programs show up for the worst days of people's lives.
You can write an encouraging email to the people who work in these programs using the email journeyprogram@seattlechildrens.org.
A Blessing for the Ones Who Stay
God of the long night,
bless those who sit in silence with others.
Bless those who walk into pain they cannot fix,
hold hands they cannot heal,
and offer presence instead of answers.
Give strength to the ones who show up
even when nothing seems to change.
May their faithfulness echo beyond what they can see.
May their weariness be held by your rest.
Amen.
You can write an encouraging email to the people who work in these programs using the email journeyprogram@seattlechildrens.org.
Pray for One Another
Examples:
To close, we’re going to pray with the thoughts of Psalm 22, which began by asking God "Why?" and ended with the hope that "He has done it!"
Anyone can jump in on this prayer, and when you do, you only need to speak two short lines:
First: A real, honest cry that starts with: "God, I don't understand why..."
Then: A declaration of faith, even if it’s small, that starts with: ‘But still I believe…’
You don’t need to explain, fix, or sound poetic.
We’ll leave silence between voices.
If no one speaks for a bit, that’s okay. The silence is part of it.
Examples:
“God, I don't understand why some people suffer needlessly.”
“But still, I believe you are good.”- “God, I don't understand why you don't answer right away.”
“But still, I believe you are listening." “God, I don't understand why there is injustice."
“But still, I believe you have mercy."
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