New Chapters: Hope in Co-Authoring Life Stories with God
Week 3: Location
2024 Lenten Journey
6 March 2024
Dear Faith Friend,
This Lenten season, as you know from COS emails, our series is entitled “New Chapters: Hope in Coauthoring Our Life Stories with God.” God’s Word tells us that “for everything there is a season,” which means that new chapters inevitably come as both challenge and opportunity. Like new verses carry a song, grand stories are written with new chapters. Through them all, God is faithful.
There are several new chapters we’re facing specifically at COS in addition to life in general. And it’s important that we talk about them, growing in perspective through the insights of others and being together.
You can call together your own New Chapter “chapter” or join one of these:
- Pastor Fritz: Wednesdays at 7 PM via Zoom. (Meeting ID: 892 0262 2093. Passcode: newchapter.)
- Nancy Shepack: Wednesdays at 5 PM in Conference Room.
- Pastor Miriam: Wednesdays at 3 PM in Conference Room.
- Ellen Pfundt: Thursday evenings.
- Dean Hudson: Fridays at 6 AM via Zoom with men.
- Ingrid Hudson: “New Chapters Chat” with moms, Wednesdays.
- Barbara Anderson: Wednesdays at 7 PM in Room 210.
- Pastor Miriam: Wednesdays at 7 PM in Conference Room.
- Open Door Sunday Discussion Group, Sundays at 11 AM in Room 214.
- One that YOU might start! Call Barbara Anderson for updated list of groups and help with starting a group on your own.
Secondly, enjoy a faith testimony from Karen Shelnutt about New Chapters in Location, which will also be featured in tonight’s 25-minute Holden Song Prayer Lenten service in the Sanctuary at 6:30 PM.
Thirdly, if you’d like to review Sunday’s sermon, upon which some of these questions are based, watch here.
Discussion Guide #3
New Chapters: In Location
Pastor Fritz Wiese
“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3.11
- THANKS EVERYONE for making time to be part of what God is doing in our “New Chapters” Lenten Series.
- Thank you, leader, for pulling this New Chapters “chapter” together.
Opening prayer:
Thanks, God, for gathering us together for these fun and holy 30 minutes. We’re grateful that you promise to guide us in all chapters of our life stories. Send your Holy Spirit upon us in these moments, leading us to new life-giving perspectives and convictions about our stories with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discuss:
1. Warm up: Since this week’s topic is new chapters in “location,” let’s briefly introduce ourselves again and share a meaningful location in our lives. And to make it fun, you can’t say your home.
2. Beginning April 15, the Sanctuary pews and carpet will be removed and the Sanctuary Renewal Process will begin. What have you heard about why people are excited about the renewal process? How do you think the renewal might be difficult as well for a few?
3. In his sermon, Pastor Fritz shared that changes in location or space is on the “Top 10 List of Anxiety Triggers” for humans. Can you give an illustration of this? Why do you think locations can stir so much meaning and power in our lives?
4. As cited this past Sunday, the Bible in Numbers 14 describes the story of 12 spies scouting out the Promised Land as Joshua and the people decide if they should enter. 10 spies agree the land looks bountiful but advise the potential dangers are too risky. These 10 spies even suggest that they should consider returning to Egypt—even if it means a return to slavery. Only 2 spies advise that they should proceed into the Promised Land, since God is on their side. How do you make sure that the “voices of pessimistic spies” don’t drown out the voices of hope in the Lord calling you to move forward?
5. In her video testimony, after describing moves of complexity, Karen Schellnutt cites the hope she took in Deuteronomy 31.8, “It is the Lord who goes before you. God will be with you; God will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Has this promise brought hope in your life as well?
6. Many vacations include a change in location. Why is a temporary change in location healthy?
7. There has been good humor with the fact that the Sanctuary’s carpet is over 35 years old or so. What is the value of updating periodically our spaces? What is the value of leaving some dynamics of our spaces the same?
8. Who can give an illustration of how they feel about a place that is clearly tied to a special event that happened there—whether happy or sad?
9. Why is it healthy that all humans, but especially COS folks in the midst of transition, reflect upon and talk about new chapters?
If you have time . . .
10. What’s one important perspective about new chapters in location that hasn’t been mentioned yet in your group?
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, thanks again for these holy moments with friends in Christ this session. Thanks for all the locations that you’ve used to help our stories with you unfold. Help us see the value in each. Inspire us to take care of the locations that mean so much to you and that you plan to use for the benefit of your children. Be with us this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thanks everyone!
See you next week!
Next week’s topic: New Chapters . . . in Agenda (with Jesus’ New Command)
