Small Group Process: Facilitators Guide
Choose a Lenten Guided Prayer (LGP) Coordinator (a pastor, elder, or other interested person) who will:
Group size Groups of approximately 3-4 persons are recommended to allow for adequate time for each person to share.
The purpose of the small group is to provide opportunity to share one’s experience of God, one’s learnings and struggles with a few others who are also open to share and to listen. It is important that the group pay careful attention to each member in turn and honour their sharing. It is not meant to be a lively discussion group, but rather have the relaxed feel of time with trusted companions.
The facilitator’s role is to take responsibility for organizing a place and time for the group to gather, to distribute prayer sheets, to provide a simple opening and closing, and to ‘hold the space’ for people to share.
The suggested process for a group meeting includes a welcome and reminder of the group’s purpose. Scripture from the past week might be read aloud if desired as an opening. A liturgy is provided for the first and final week of the LGP series.
Sharing Each participant is then given opportunity, in turn, to share from their experience of prayer during the past week, while the others simply listen without commenting, asking questions, or giving advice.
Reflecting back It is helpful to plan for a minute or two of silence after each individual shares, to allow everyone to reflect, and then to take a few minutes for the group to comment on what seemed significant to them in what was shared (ie. Where did you sense God at work? or a word or phrase that stood out). If participants begin asking questions, offering advice or discussing, gently guide them back to the intention of simple reflection of what they noticed. Another quiet time, of a minute or so, can help group members re-centre as they prepare to hear the next person’s sharing.
Closing When all have shared and have been heard it is appropriate for the group facilitator to pray a prayer of gratitude and blessing for the week that is past and the week that is ahead.
This video provides a more detailed outline of what a small group process could look like.
If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to
contact the registrar at [email protected]
- Promote the Lenten Guided Prayer experience within your congregation
- Recruit group facilitators and provide them with a copy of this Facilitators Guide.
- Distribute prayer sheets to participants along with a copy of the Participant Guide.
Group size Groups of approximately 3-4 persons are recommended to allow for adequate time for each person to share.
The purpose of the small group is to provide opportunity to share one’s experience of God, one’s learnings and struggles with a few others who are also open to share and to listen. It is important that the group pay careful attention to each member in turn and honour their sharing. It is not meant to be a lively discussion group, but rather have the relaxed feel of time with trusted companions.
The facilitator’s role is to take responsibility for organizing a place and time for the group to gather, to distribute prayer sheets, to provide a simple opening and closing, and to ‘hold the space’ for people to share.
The suggested process for a group meeting includes a welcome and reminder of the group’s purpose. Scripture from the past week might be read aloud if desired as an opening. A liturgy is provided for the first and final week of the LGP series.
Sharing Each participant is then given opportunity, in turn, to share from their experience of prayer during the past week, while the others simply listen without commenting, asking questions, or giving advice.
Reflecting back It is helpful to plan for a minute or two of silence after each individual shares, to allow everyone to reflect, and then to take a few minutes for the group to comment on what seemed significant to them in what was shared (ie. Where did you sense God at work? or a word or phrase that stood out). If participants begin asking questions, offering advice or discussing, gently guide them back to the intention of simple reflection of what they noticed. Another quiet time, of a minute or so, can help group members re-centre as they prepare to hear the next person’s sharing.
Closing When all have shared and have been heard it is appropriate for the group facilitator to pray a prayer of gratitude and blessing for the week that is past and the week that is ahead.
This video provides a more detailed outline of what a small group process could look like.
If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to
contact the registrar at [email protected]