Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8)
Dorothy Day was born in America in 1897. In the 1920s and 1930s, when she was still a young woman, millions of people in America suddenly lost their jobs and became very poor – many had no money at all, and some lost their homes. Dorothy realised that the best way to help was to follow Jesus and obey Jesus’ commands to love and care for those in need, so that’s what she did.
Let’s briefly REFLECT on some of Jesus’ words from John’s gospel – words that shaped Dorothy Day’s whole life.
Read by Bella
John 13:34-35
I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.
John 13:34-35 (NCV)
Dorothy did lots of things to love and care for people. She opened ‘houses of hospitality’, to provide shelter for those who were homeless. She set up farms where people could live better, fairer, lives together. She started a newspaper to call for better care for those who were poor. And she protested against wars and violence, bravely standing up to people in authority who weren’t caring for those in need – even if it meant that she got arrested. Dorothy did everything she could to demonstrate the love and care of Jesus and her example has inspired many other Christians to do the same.*
Dorothy set up farms so people could grow their own food. Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is; Have we ever grown something that we’ve eaten? If not, maybe we could give it a go?
Dorothy Day didn’t let the size of the problems of poverty overwhelm her or stop her from doing something about it. She trusted God, and she trusted that even the small things that she did would make a difference. Let’s ASK God to help us be a little bit more like Dorothy.
Loving God, help us to remember that it doesn’t matter how big a problem is, you’re always bigger. We ASK you to help us trust you, just like Dorothy Day did. And we ASK you to give us the courage to do something to make a difference, even if it feels small.
Who do we know who is a bit like Dorothy Day? Someone who loves and cares for those who are in need? Someone who helps those who are poor or who don’t have homes of their own? Someone who challenges injustice in some way, maybe through their work or through the way they live their life?
Loving God, as we think of these people, we ASK You to be with them. Fill them with your Holy Spirit and give them extra energy and courage to keep going, even if the problems seem too big. Remind them that you are bigger and you are with them!
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, thank you that you love the whole world and everyone in it. We say YES to loving and caring for everyone, especially for those in need. Show us what we can do to love and care for someone else this week.
Pause
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
* Much of the biographical text has been adapted from Mark Doblmeier’s documentary film, Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story (Journey Films, 2021) See https://vimeo.com/ondemand/revolutionoftheheart
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
