These are some starters for a listening group, in the context of a house or prayer group, or for a study group for preachers and worship leaders.

God beyond all names
In her reflective song for worship "God beyond all names", Bernadette Farrell has penned these words:

God beyond all names, you have made us in your image,
We are like you, we reflect you, we are women, 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 names - and yet writers, poets, liturgists, leaders of worship, song writers, and countless women and men have wrestled with what is appropriate language and images around the word God. Pictures, thoughts, feelings, metaphor - words and more words, all seeking to help us relate to God, but none telling the whole story, for no language or image is complete. God in the end is a mystery.

There are nevertheless:

• Helpful images, enabling us to relate more truly to God, revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. In images there is a language that is life-giving, that enables growth and moving on in our relationship with God. Images are a language that encourages maturity in our attitudes to others and the world, and which moves us to greater freedom for life and for living.

• Inadequate images that may have been relevant for us at one time, perhaps in childhood language.

• Damaging images that severely restrict our ability to grow in love, a language that not only distorts the individual, but also deforms the God revealed in Jesus of Nazareth.

Reflecting on our own and others’ images and language around God
(There may be in these exercises materials for 3 or even 4 meetings)

In a small group engage in these exercises as a listening group, remembering that discussion groups tend to enlighten the mind, whereas listening groups tend to touch deeper into the heart, so enabling us to ponder and treasure what is shared (see Praying Through Sharing and Listening). 

Each person will need a pen and scrap paper for jotting down responses.

• Begin with this prayer, or a similar one:

God of peace
May your peace soak up our thoughts, flood our hearts,
Still our bodies,
Fill this place … (silence).

• Sing "Be still and know that I am God", or a similar song.

• Raise the questions:
  
  What language and images of God were first given you, perhaps as a child?
  Who gave them (parent, Sunday School teacher, school)?
  In what ways, in the light of adulthood, was the language and images helpful, inadequate or damaging?
  
• Allow 10 minutes quiet to reflect.
• Listen in turn to each others’ experience without comment.
• Ensure a short pause between each contribution as respect for the offering.

  Part 2 – Raise the questions:

• What biblical language and images of God immediately come to mind from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures i.e. Old and New Testaments?
• In what ways is the biblical language and imagery helpful or unhelpful for you?
• Time to reflect, listen and contribute without comment.

  Part 3 – Raise the questions:

• How is God for you now?
•  damaging at this stage of your journey?
• Time to reflect, listen and contribute without comment.

• Choose 3 passages or verses from Scripture which speak to you directly of God’s being and activity

• Raise the questions:
  Why are they of particular significance?
  What does the passage or verse put you in touch with?
  In what ways do they speak of God or the things of God to you?

• Give time to reflect, listen and contribute with comment.

• Choose 3 pieces of music that speak to you of God, or perhaps have become important to you in your relationship with God.

• Raise the questions
  How does the music connect with your experience of God?
  What does the music put you in touch with?
  
• Give time to reflect, listen and contribute without comment

Close each meeting with a piece of music and the Grace.

Resources: "God beyond all names", Bernadette Farrell (CD from OCP Publications).

Praying With Our images of God (2)

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