Description: This seven-week Lenten Journal Journey uses the already popular trend of writing clubs and makes the common interest spirituality, which is the interest du jour in Lent. Young adults will have the opportunity to reflect on the weekly psalms and build intimate community with others in the group.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Four weeks in order to create announcements and ads for the program, secure space, and gather materials. The facilitator should also spend at least 30 minutes reading over each week’s psalm and writing prompts in preparation for each gathering.
- Volunteers Needed: Four or more — One person to handle promotion and logistics, one person to bring refreshments, two people to provide materials and facilitate gatherings.
- Ideal Group Size: You can facilitate this program with a small or large group of young adults.
- Who is this for? Young adults who wish to start a new spiritual practice this Lent would especially enjoy this program. It is also perfect for the writers or creative types in your young adult group.
- Supplies Needed: Each participant will need: their own journal and the ability to write in it (I put it that way because of the possibility of electronic journals in addition to paper journals), a copy of the Lenten Journal Journey Workbook (See Resources section). You should also provide something to eat and drink (creating requires it). You might have a theme for each gathering and provide suitable refreshment. For example, ask one person to volunteer each week to bring a snack from their racial/ethnic background or maybe something inspired by a previous week’s reflection/journaling. Be creative!
- Reserve the Space: You want to be able to create comfy and practical nooks for people to think and write. Creative energy needs to flow freely. Meeting at a coffee/tea lounge, or at someone’s house may be good options. If you meet at the parish, avoid the typical conference style setup. Be creative about location and setup. For example — use the rectory common room, or a room with a large rug or carpeted area where participants can bring pillows to sit on. You might meet outdoors, weather permitting.
- Ideal Time: If you have a small young adult group, see if those interested might be able to agree to a time for a first meeting. Then schedule the remainder of your gatherings at the first meeting. Above all — select a time that’s convenient to the most young adults and the facilitator.
- Publicize the Program: Spread the word through e-mail, parish bulletins, flyers, and social media. You should also post an announcement in any local coffee/tea shops or library common areas where people gather to write.
Prayer for Program Planner: Gracious God, we ask that you join us in conversation as we embark upon a discernment journey this Lent. May our conversations draw us closer to you in truth, wisdom, and love. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. St. Joseph, patron saint of successful work … pray for us. St. Raphael, patron saint of happy meetings … pray for us. All Holy Men and Women … pray for us.
Community Building: In a society where the solitude of new media communication is booming, it is simultaneously fostering a greater urge to be in the presence of one another. One need only check the popular connection site Meetup.com to see how many impromptu “communities” are forming based on common interests. Writing clubs are among the most popular communities being formed. This Lenten Journal Journey takes advantage of the trend of writing clubs and makes the common interest spirituality, which is the interest du jour in Lent. Additionally, the sharing aspect of this program provides strength, encouragement, and insight to others, as faith sharing is always wont to do. You might find interest in continuing to meet as a writing group after Lent. Be sure to talk with young adults about this possibility.
Make It Happen
- Before your first gathering, e-mail everyone a reminder of when/where you will meet and include a copy of the Lenten Journal Journey Workbook (see Resources section). Bring some extra copies with you to the gathering.
- When people have gathered, welcome everyone and make any housekeeping announcements (e.g., point out the bathrooms, ask people to silence their cell phones, point out the food, tell young adults where they can sit/spread out and what’s off-limits, designate who they should come to with questions, announce allowances for music, etc.)
- Open the gathering with a prayer. Use the “Prayer for Program Planner” (above), if needed. You might have a different participant offer the prayer for each meeting.
- Read the week’s Responsorial Psalm in the same manner that it is done during liturgy (scripted for your convenience in each week’s handout in Lenten Journal Journey Workbook).
- Instruct participants to use their journal guide to lead them through their writing.
- Allow at least 30-40 minutes for writing. An hour is ideal.
- Give the participants 10 minutes to finish up, stretch, move, and come together in the large group.
- Open the floor for any voluntary reading or sharing. Remember that this is a time simply for information sharing, not responding or fixing. Employ the “Group Meeting Ground Rules” in the workbook.
- Close with a prayer that ends with the “Our Father.” You might solicit any prayer requests or intercessions.
- Dismiss.
Resources
