The Church of My Dreams

Opening
Say, Tonight we are going to be talking about the church and to start things off I would like to lead us in a guided meditation.

Guided Meditation (Read through a number of times before the session so you can read it reflectively with plenty of pauses)
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath…letting go of any worries of the past or future…just being in this moment….imagining God’s love surrounding you…washing over you…filling you up with peace. Now I want you to just think about the word church. What images does that word bring up for you…people praying, crosses, communion, pews, kneelers, friends, rosary, maybe there are painful memories associated with the church…moments of rejoicing…memories of sacraments….healing moment…moments of reconciliation and forgiveness…of welcoming or being welcomed..stay with those experiences for just a moment…
Now, no matter what your experience of church has been in the past I invite you to lovingly set those experiences aside just for a moment and create a space in your heart for God to speak to you of a new church…a church that is to be dreamt of within your heart and imagination……PAUSE…
I want you to imagine the church of your dreams…what does it look like physically….are there alters and pews….people sitting on couches….where are people positioned? What kind of symbols or art work are used? Is there incense, special music…there are not limits to this, because this is your dream church…that God is dreaming up in you…so just let your imagination soar… Who is presiding at the service…one person or many….men, women, children… what is each of their roles? Is there a diversity of people…ages, ethnic backgrounds, classes, sexual orientation....who are the people in your dream church? How do you celebrate? What kind of music is sung, if any… Is there a Eucharistic celebration or communion? How are people welcomed? What is the feeling to your church…is there energy, excitement, sadness, fear, joy, peace, is there a feeling or welcoming and openness?… Is forgiveness and healing a part of your church? What role does working for justice play in your church?......What is your role in the church? Do you have a special role as presider, musician, reader…….now just sit back and in your minds eye take a picture of this church…experience the sights, the sound, the smells…all the feelings experienced with this new dream church…PAUSE for about a minute…..when you are ready open your eyes

Activity
Say, God uses our imagination to dream new dreams and to bring about God’s vision for the world. So I just want to take a moment for us to share some of the images and ideas from your dream church. On a piece of chart paper –titled “Our Dream Church” write down their ideas and images. Help them to come to a consensus about there dream church and to express why things are important to them. After everyone has had a chance to speak and all their ideas are out lead them in a discussion using the following questions (or do the optional activity and come back to these questions):
What do you like best about your dream church?
How does this dream church differ from your own experience of church if at all?
Who is responsible for making these dreams a reality?
How can we make this dream church a reality?

To round out your discussion, read the following statements:
The Church is equal parts mystery and equal parts mess.
- Theologian, Eugene Peterson
If anyone loved the church of their dreams more than the real church then soon they would not belong to any church on this planet.
-Theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
What do these two statements say to you? Do you agree? Disagree? Why or why not?

Optional Activity:
After listing all of their images and ideas about their dream church, have them take those ideas and use construction paper, crayons, markers, glitter, poster board, tape, pipe cleaners, etc. to build their church. After they have completed their church or while they are in the process of creating, lead them in discussion, using the above questions.

Closing
Close with a circle prayer inviting students to voice their intentions and thanksgiving. End with the following prayer and a sign of peace.

The Church of My Dreams

This is the church of my dreams;
The church of the warm heart,
Of the open mind,
Of the adventurous spirit;
The church that cares,
That heals hurt lives,
That comforts old people,
That challenges youth;
That knows no division of culture or class,
No frontiers, geographical or social;
The church that inquires as it upholds,
That looks forward as well as backward;
The church of the Master,
The church of the people,
High as the ideals of Jesus,
Low as the humblest human;
A working church
A worshipping church,
A winsome church,
A church that interprets the truth in terms of truth,
That inspires for this life and hope for the life to come;
A church of courage,
A church of all good men and women,
A church of the living God.
-adapted from John Milton Moore, The Treasure Chest