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Reading the Signs of the Times is a bilingual (English and Spanish) tool that the growing
number of small Christian communities can use for identifying social needs
within their larger communities and for deciding what action to take in
response. The process is easy to lead but thorough. The first six sessions
focus on examining a different "reality" in the larger community — in culture,
the economy, the family, politics, the media and religion —— using a format
that combines, prayer, Scripture and reflection. The concluding session
helps the group members decide on a specific social action based on their
observations and reflections. Because the book is written in both English
and Spanish, people used to speaking either of these two languages can
achieve some unity by using the same process to examine their communities.
Special Bulk Pricing (each)
6 - 9 copies, $5.00;
10 - 19 copies, $4.00;
20 - 29 copies, $3.00;
30 - 49 copies, $2.00;
50+ copies, $1.50
Review
"It's easy to talk about 'stuff.' But 'naming the present' accurately
is a daunting task. Nor can we wait for seasoned experts. Reading the
Signs of the Times will be a great help in forming wise practitioners
to interpret the world as it is addressed by God. This is a remarkably
accessible piece of work for grounding small Christian communities in a
solid reading of experience."
— Bernard J. Lee, S.M., professor of theology, Loyola University,
New Orleans, and author of The Catholic Experience of Small Christian
Communities
About the Author
Nora Petersen is director of the Department of Parish Resources
for the Diocese of Oakland, Calif. Over the course of her ministry, she
has been involved with RENEW groups, the Catholic Family Movement, cursillo
groups and many other small Christian communities.
Table of Contents
Welcome Letter
Introduction: How the Sessions Are Developed and Suggestions for Facilitators
First Session One Body, One People: Cultural Reality
Second Session God and Our Goods: Economic Reality
Third Session Thank God for Family: Family Reality
Fourth Session A Reflection on Power: Political Reality
Fifth Session Positive and Negative Influences: Media Reality
Sixth Session In Service of the Kingdom: Religious Reality
Conclusion Keep Going!
Reading the Signs of the Times:
A Seven-Week Small-Group Process for Social Change
Welcome Letter
Warm greetings to all small communities who will follow the process
we describe in this booklet! We write this material as three participants
in a broad network of small Christian communities. We are many and we are
one! We hope that this process will bring generate an increase in your
community’s public life and in doing so will build a more peaceful and
just society.
This booklet comprises part of an ongoing series designed for use by
the Diocese of Oakland's small faith communities. Enthusiastic feedback by readers all over the
USA and by pastoral workers in some other countries called us to make this
simple and communal process available more broadly.
Entry to a new millennium invites us to read the signs of the times
and become more consciously aware of the world in which we live. Jesus,
himself, mentions the importance of reading the signs of the times (Mt.
16:3). Such awareness can lead us to renewed efforts to say to the world:
"God loves you, Christ came for you", through transforming the concrete
realities we observe.
We use the methodology of "See, Judge and Act". "See" and articulate
our own experience. "Judge" our reality against Scripture and Church Teaching.
"Act" in the way we discern God is calling us. We treat the action step
differently here than in many guides. In this booklet, we hope to raise
concerns and listen for God's call to a deeper and more fundamental life response. So, rather than identify a concrete response
at the end of each session, in the last session we invite the group to
revisit the insights of all of the sessions and to try to identify God's
call to respond in a more holistic way.
You will find that the booklet presents the process in both Spanish
and English. We’d like you to know that we wrote the material simultaneously
in both languages. We have found that each language perceives and presents
the reality which surrounds us in different ways. The very activity of
writing the booklet in both Spanish and English modified and enriched the
outcome in each individual language. In this work, neither language translates
the other; both Spanish and English undergird this booklet.
We offer our thanks to the Oakland Diocesan Small Community Advisory
Group whose input and support inspires this process. Our gratitude also
to Teresa Peña for all of her work in bringing this booklet together.
Nora Petersen, Director of Parish Resources, Diocese of Oakland, California
Steve Hicken, Director, Friends Across Borders, Maryknoll Mission Association
of the Faithful
Hector Medina, Director, Latino Ministries, Diocese of Oakland, California
How the Sessions are Developed and Suggestions for Facilitators
God is experienced in daily life. This booklet guides
us in a communal process to discover how we experience God’s presence,
and at times, God's apparent absence in daily life. Each person is an "expert"
in this process of "reading the signs of the times." Through our baptism,
we are gifted with a new heart and new senses to perceive God's presence
around us. We hope that this process will help guide us in a prayerful
communal discernment about how to concretely live out our faith in our
daily lives.
You'll note that the following sessions are not tied to the Lectionary
or any particular time frame. We hope that you'll proceed through the sessions
according to the natural rhythm of your group. Feel free to modify anything
which will serve your group best.
A special note to Groups just beginning. You may wish to take a full
session simply to introduce yourselves and to review these general instructions
along with the Small Faith Group Norms.
In the following paragraphs, you'll find an overview of how to carry
out the sessions. Each follows the same format except for the last session
which asks groups to review the fruit of the previous sessions. At the
beginning of the process, the facilitator might read aloud the "General
Small Faith Group Norms" listed on the following page.
Introductions/Check-In: (5 minutes) We suggest this as
a time group participants intentionally become present to each other. Each
might share a word or two about how they are. If a participant has significant
news, this is the time to mention it. The group, as a group, might decide
that it is more important to accompany, provide support for and play with
the person(s) in need. Or it might decide to go ahead with the session
as planned. As in all things, seek a balance. Note that the first session
allows for a little more time for this introductory moment in case the
group is reconvening after a while or if there are new people.
Centering Prayer: (5 minutes) This moment of communal
prayer enriched with symbols places us in the presence of God and requests
God’s blessing and the gift of wisdom. The symbols we name are only suggestions.
Feel free to use other symbols or add any readings or verbal prayer which
best suits your group.
Experience of Life: (30 minutes) Think of this time as
"taking a photograph" of the aspect of reality which is the theme for this
session. Value each person's incredibly valuable lived experience. The
guide questions help you to describe your experience objectively
and without analysis. The group does not need to come to consensus or agreement.
In both sharing and listening to others, we hope all will gain a broader
perspective. No one person knows it all. The perception of the group
is what we are seeking to surface here.
Facilitators: Be sure to invite sharing by all participants
before anyone speaks twice. Remind the group that the goal is to "create
a photograph" from the life experience of all of the participants. Use
the suggested questions to help prompt spontaneous input, but do not feel
you must cover all the questions.
Scripture Reading: (5 minutes) The following four step
process is designed to help us to listen to the scripture with a listening
and searching heart.
1) Read the Scripture aloud.
2) Read the commentary aloud.
3) Read the Scripture aloud again.
4) After a brief silence, invite participants to share just a word or
phrase which stood out for them, something they remember from hearing the
reading.
Facilitators: The sharing of words/phrases does not take very
long. For a short scripture passage, there might only be three or four
words/phrases shared - and participants may center on similar words or
phrases. Use your best judgement to invite this input without spending
too much time here. This is a time just for initial response, not discussion.
The Church Teaches: (one brief reading) Simply read this
section aloud.
Judge - Interpret the Signs of the Times: (30 minutes)
This is the really fun part. The group has just had a chance to describe
the reality they experience, listen to scripture and the Church's teachings
as they relate to the indicated aspect of the reality. Now is the time
to evaluate the reality we experience from the standpoint of our
faith; from the standpoint of Jesus as we best understand his teaching.
What is good about our reality? Where do we perceive evil to be working?
Invite the group's spontaneous insight.
Facilitators: Some of the themes covered may be sensitive.
Opinions can range widely. If necessary, simply remind the group that together
we are seeking God’s insight and wisdom concerning the theme at hand.
Summary Sentence: (10 minutes) At this point, ask each
person to reflect for a moment and write down one phrase or sentence which
they consider to be most important insight they gained during the reflection.
Then, when all are finished, have each read their insight aloud. Have someone
save these sheets of paper as they will be needed for the last session.
Facilitators: You'll need to have enough pens/pencils and
paper ahead of time. Be sure that someone collects and saves the insights
from each session. You might save them in a Bible which is brought to each
session. You might also, see if someone can transcribe the insight sheets
onto one sheet of paper, one for each session. This will help keep the
thoughts together and allow for a richer reflection for the last session.
Closing Prayer: (5 minutes) Spontaneous prayer inspired
by the discussion or some other need.
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