Our last GIFT Sunday of the year focused on the topic of You = US. ​We focused on compassionate solidarity that starts with one person “you”, and when it becomes “us” it turns into a revolution. In the words of Pope Francis, the future has a name, and that name is HOPE.
Here's what we did!
  1. Eat. We began with a terrific meal of minestrone soup and cookies.
  2. Sing & Pray. We sung the Gift Song and prayed the Gift Prayer.
  3. Intro. Leif introduced the topic of the day with these words of Pope Francis: The future is made of yous, it is made of encounters, because life flows through our relations with others. Quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone's existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions.

    A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you. And then there will be another "you," and another "you," and it turns into an "us." And so, does hope begin when we have an "us?" No. Hope began with one "you." When there is an "us," there begins a revolution.

    The future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a "you" and themselves as part of an "us." We all need each other. 
  4. Listen. We heard Robin Neal share about her work with elderly, and her solidarity with them. (See video to your left.)
  5. Discussion. In pairs, participants were invited to "tell of time when yo did something special for someone else without regard for yourself.
  6. Watch. We heard Martin Luther King, in his very last speech reflect on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He challenged his listeners to respond to those in need without counting the cost. See video to the left.
  7. Discussion. Participants were invited reflect on two questions: 1) If I go and help, what will happen to me? 2) If I don't go and helps, what will happen to them. They were then invited to tell about someone they know who is always asking the second question.
  8. Listen. Truls Neal shared about his work with youth, and how is always called to answer the second question. (See video to your left.)
  9. Participants at tables then brainstormed practical ideas for what it means to ask the second question in these settings: home, church, neighborhood, work, school. These ideas are on display in the church entry. 
  10. ​Sing. We ended by singing the GIFT song.