Gathered by Eucharist Sent in Mission Preparing our hearts…

Prayer Reflection Questions Why is it important that the first people to visit and bring gifts to Jesus were Magi – men of different culture, beliefs, and religion? Why is it significant that his first followers were ordinary people and those on the margins of society? Is the Catholic Church a light in the world today? Explain. What does Formed by Eucharist, Sent in Mission mean to you? Prayer Reflection Questions

The Chaos of Preparation Small Group Discussion Questions If you had to give a title to each drama, what would it be? Which character in the dramas did you relate to most? Why? Which character bothered you the most? Why? What do you think were the major mistakes each household made that prevented them from preparing well for their departure for church? The Chaos of Preparation Small Group Discussion Questions

Getting ready… How attentive are we to Eucharist? It sometimes depends on how much—or how little—we prepare throughout the week for the upcoming Sunday liturgy. There are many different ways to do that. How do you prepare? Getting ready…

We can reflect on the Sunday readings ahead of time and then identify issues in our lives which are related to the themes in the readings. We might choose to journal about how the readings challenge us to live.   We might engage in a discussion or an activity as a family or household to prepare for the Sunday Eucharist! How to…

Matthew 25:31-40 …feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to those who are thirsty, visit those in prison… Gospel

Project and discussion… In your group… Identify the key theme of the Gospel. Discuss how the story applies to your lives today. Brainstorm questions/challenges, one for each day of the week. Gather items for the project – and create the rearview mirror. Project and discussion…

Ready for the weekend –celebration of the Eucharist! We’ve looked at ways to prepare for Sunday liturgy ahead of time. Let’s find ways to focus from the moment we wake up on Sunday morning to the moment the opening procession begins at our parishes. We want to make Sunday really different from the other six days of the week. Ready for the weekend –celebration of the Eucharist!

Your group will take of the skits from opening session. Your task is to re-write the skit showing how the single person, the couple or the family could have actually prepared for Sunday morning without so much craziness. What would be different on Sunday morning for a prepared and ready home? Rewrite that skit!

Preparation makes a difference When we take time to be ready for the celebration of the Eucharist with our parish family – we are ready to hear the Word, engage in the prayer, and let Jesus into our lives with open hands. We are ready then to go into the world and share the Good News of Jesus! Preparation makes a difference

Random Acts of Kindness Discussion Questions What forces in our culture drive us to only think of ourselves? What would compel a person to do things for others? Complete the following phrase: a random act of kindness can_____. Random Acts of Kindness Discussion Questions

What does it look like when parishioners come to liturgy shaped by our self- centered culture? How does Jesus give to us in a Eucharistic celebration? How do we give of ourselves at Eucharist? How can those little random acts of kindness make a difference?