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May 2026 – Week One

  • 43 minutes ago
  • 5 min read

Open In Prayer 

Begin by praying together – taking some intentional time to breathe, be still, and invite the Holy Spirit to be with you all as you set aside time to be together.


Below is an optional liturgy you could pray: 

Let us find You, Holy Spirit, among us now as we gather together. In this ordinary rhythm of our lives, where we’ve come seeking kindred connection, may we find You, present in our midst, accomplishing good things among us. Nudge our hearts. Steer our conversations. Ultimately, because You have loved us so well, let us to love each other better. Amen.

Around The Table & Reflect On Last Gathering’s Practice

This is space during your gathering to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy one another. 


  • What’s one thing that you’re looking forward to as we approach the summer?


Read This Aloud Together

As we continue in our series, What is a Christian? Rediscovering the Faith We Didn't Invent as a church, we are going to continue our exploration of the Nicene Creed within our Ethos Communities.


Tonight, we are going to focus on the next several lines of the Nicene Creed that focus on the person of Jesus:


Read This Portion of The Nicene Creed Aloud Together

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

(Leader Note: John 1:1–14 is a great passage of Scripture that aligns with the video, if your Community is looking to read more Scripture together.)


Discussion Questions

  • Reflections on how the video presented the Bible as one unified narrative that leads to Jesus? 


  • How does this video help you understand different lines in the Nicene Creed? Example: “begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father, through Him all things were made” or “His kingdom will have no end”. 


  • Why does it matter that Jesus is not just sent by God, but is God?


Read This Aloud Together

Christianity isn’t just a set of teachings about love, justice, or compassion. At its core, it’s rooted in a historical claim that Jesus actually rose from the dead. If that didn’t happen, then Christianity falls apart. But if it did happen, then it changes everything because it means Jesus isn’t just one wise teacher among many. It means He is who He claimed to be. That’s really the center of it all!


It’s vital for every person to wrestle the questions: What do I believe about the resurrection of Jesus? Why do I believe that? Who do I believe He actually is?


(Leader Note: 1 Corinthians 15 is a great passage of Scripture that aligns with the video, if your Community is looking to read more Scripture together.)


Discussion Questions

  • What stood out to you most from the video? Were there any questions you’ve had that NT Wright answered? What questions remain? 


  • Which line of the Creed feels more real to you after this video…and which still feels distant? Our goal here is not simply to recite theology, but to wrestle with it so that it becomes rooted in our reality.


Practice: 5 Minutes of Silence To Ponder The Resurrection

“The invitation to silence is an invitation to enter more deeply into the intimacy of relationship with the One who waits just outside the noise and busyness of our lives. It is an invitation to communication and communion with the One who is always present even when our awareness has been dulled by distraction. It is an invitation to the adventure of spiritual transformation in the deepest places of our being, an adventure that will result in greater freedom and authenticity and surrender to God than we have yet experienced.” 

- Ruth Haley Barton


Each day, intentionally set aside at least five minutes to be with God in the quiet. This is very basic, yet powerful. If you can do longer, do so…if five minutes feels right, start there.


You may find this exercise works better for you at night before bed, midmorning when your toddler is napping, or on your lunch break; that’s great. But for the vast majority of people, we recommend first thing in the morning, when your body is rested, your heart open, and the day is new.


  1. Find a quiet place  that is as distraction-free as possible. This may be in your home, in nature, or in the car.

 

  1. Begin to take long, slow breaths from your belly all the way up through your lungs. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. If you want, count up 5 seconds on the inhale and down 5 seconds on the exhale.


  1. With each inhale, prayerfully welcome the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit into the deepest place within you. You may want to repeat a simple prayer like “Come Holy Spirit” or “Lord, have mercy on me” or just “Jesus.” Something to keep your mind focused and to let this be more than just breathing, but prayer.


  1. Your mind will seize this opportunity to run wild with thoughts, feelings, memories, to-dos, and distractions. That’s okay. Don’t judge yourself, feel bad, give up, or worry. Distraction doesn’t mean you’re “bad” at prayer; it means you’re human. When you notice your mind starting to wander, just come back to your breathing or your prayer word. 


  1. Now that you are centered in your body and in God, spend a few minutes just resting in God’s love for you. Allow your imagination to consider Christ’s resurrection…you may bring God questions or ask Him to make His presence known or just say nothing and allow God to love you. But don’t try to fill up this time. And don’t try to make anything happen or control the experience — just be with God.


  1. After a few minutes, you may want to continue your time in solitude by praying a psalm or reading a story from the Gospels or a passage from Scripture. Or by praying over your life. Or by journaling to God. Follow your heart. 


  1. Whenever you’re done, close your time with a simple prayer of gratitude to God for His presence, love, and goodness in your life.



End in Prayer

Before you conclude, spend some time as a Community praying for one another.


Below is an optional liturgy you could pray: 

Lord Jesus, There is no greater prayer than yours — make us one as you are one, in devotion, in living, in love. Amen.

 
 
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