Aim: To show that with openness, our language and imagery around the word God develops and changes, and then shapes and influences us.

• Different-coloured fabrics
• Matches and large candle
• Pens and paper
• Bibles (participants to bring their own)
• Multitudes of postcards, newspaper and magazine cuttings (a mixture of specifically religious and non-religious)
• A list of some examples of familiar and less-familiar words and images used of God
• CD: God Beyond All Names by Bernadette Farrell

Suggested focal point:    Coloured fabrics, large candle, and postcards, surrounded by newspaper and magazine cuttings.

Gathering music: God Beyond All Names

God, beyond our dreams, you have stirred in us a mem'ry; 
You have placed your pow'rful spirit in the hearts of humankind. 
All around us we have known you, all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth.
God beyond all names, you have made us in your image; 
we are like you, we reflect you; we are woman we are man.
All around us we have known you, all creation lives to hold you. 
In our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth.
God beyond all words, all creation tells your story;
you have shaken with our laughter, you have trembled with our tears.
All around us we have known you, all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth.
God beyond all time, you are labouring within us;
we are moving, we are changing in your spirit ever new.
All around us we have known you, all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth.
God of tender care, you have cradled us in goodness,
you have mothered us in wholeness, you have loved us into birth.
All around us we have known you, all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying we are bringing you to birth. 

Centring exercise: Take time to reflect on the words of the song.

Session 1: Input

Highlight how, despite Bernadette Farrell's words, "God beyond all names", poets, writers, liturgists, leaders of worship, songwriters and countless women and men have wrestled with what is appropriate language and imagery to use around the word "God". 

Remind people that none tell the whole story, for none is complete and God is in the end mystery.

Offer examples of

• Helpful language and images enabling us to relate more fully to God, that are life-giving and encourage growth and a moving on with God.
  
• Less-helpful language and images, maybe relevant at one time, perhaps in childhood, but not necessarily now.

• Damaging examples of language and images that may restrict growth in love, distorting the individual and God.

Show how, during the course of the day, there will be opportunity to explore how images and language around the word "God" shape and influence us.

Session 2: Suggestions for prayer and reflection

• Hand out a list of some examples of familiar and less-familiar words and images used of the word "God".

• What images and language were you first given, and by whom and how were they given?

• In what ways, in the light of adulthood, are the images and language helpful, less-helpful, and damaging?

• After a time for prayer and reflection move into listening groups of, say, three or four people, and share with the group whatever you are led to, without comment.

• Invite people to choose three pictures that somehow connect with the word "God".

• In what ways do the pictures reflect how God is for you now?

• What images and language around the word "God" do you find helpful, less-helpful, or damaging at this stage of the journey?

• After a time for prayer and reflection, move into listening groups as before.

Session 3: Suggestions for prayer and reflection

• Invite people to choose three passages or texts from Scripture that currently speak of God's being and activity in their lives and the life of the world.

• After a time for prayer and reflection, move into listening groups as before.

Worship:

An opportunity, for those who choose, to share something of their journey with images and language around God, perhaps bringing choices of postcards, or cuttings, or passages / texts from Scripture. Honour each contribution with a short time of silence after it, and after all who choose have contributed, play again "God Beyond All Names".

List of some examples of familiar and less-familiar words and images used of God:

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