All-Consuming Presence

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Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “When was the last time you felt ‘in the moment’ and gave your full attention to whatever was present? Was it on a walk or looking over a vista that took your breath away? Was it watching a young one in a school play or on a walk noticing the seasons change?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Isaiah 6:1-8.

• As Isaiah lays out this scene, who is present with Isaiah, and how is God portrayed in this vision (Isaiah 6:1-2)?
• Can you describe the scene using each of your senses? Let this be an immersive experience together! What do you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, throughout this encounter with the Divine?
• “Here am I” is a phrase that shows up time and time again in the scriptures. Can you recall times that this phrase has come up for other figures in the Bible? Is there a particular figure who stands out? Why do you think this figure comes to mind for you today?
• The Preaching Notes for May 26 say that there was something about Presence that drove Isaiah to his knees. Do you agree that this may be Divine Love? If not, how do you see this force (e.g., awe, fear, regret, shame, or confusion)? If yes, what does this “drive-you-to-your-knees-love” look like in your life?
• Notice how an encounter with God’s presence changes Isaiah and seems to open him to new possibilities in his life. Most of us are not ready to listen to the callings of God without some preparation of the heart. What are the experiences you are called to put into your life (e.g., poetry, quiet, hiking, scripture) to be ready to respond with the kind of openness of Isaiah?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

God, who touches our lips and pours over our senses a fresh sense of your Divine presence, open in us a readiness to respond to your presence with our own. Help us to put down our cell phones, our disruptions of life, and the constant list of to-dos long enough to notice your greatness around us. May that presence move us and invite us to say, “Here I am, send me.” Amen.

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Rev. Manohar Joshi is the author of the best-selling book The Resilient Parent: Everyday Wisdom for Life with your Exceptional Child and senior pastor of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church in California. Manohar (aka Mantu) brings his experiences as a stay-at-home dad, sports coach and referee, creative writer, university teacher, and minister in the trenches together in ways to help you find your fresh connections with the Divine.