(St James’ Youth Ministry discussion notes, which include excerpts from The Room Where It Happens: A Lent course for groups or individuals based on the musical Hamilton by Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin)

Weeks 3, 4, and 5: ‘The unimaginable’: Forgiveness and Redemption; ‘We’ll bleed and fight for you’: Love and Sacrifice; ‘The story of tonight’: Hope and Courage through Adversity

FORGIVENESS

Prayer: “Lord, teach me to strive to be in the room where forgiveness and redemption is daily sought after”

Watch “Burn”

1. Can you remember a time when you were hurt by something that was said or done to you?
2. Or have you done or said something that caused another to feel hurt?
3. Did you find it easy to forgive them, or did they forgive you? How did that leave you feeling?

Read Matthew 18:21-35

1. How might forgiving someone release us from the pain of carrying the hurt?
2. Should we only forgive when there is a ‘genuine apology,’ and who decides if it is genuine.

[Simone’s note. We discussed what it means to apologize. There are different ways to apologize, and each person may have a different preference for the type apology that has the most meaning for them. The book The Five Languages of  Apology by Gary Chapman offers this guidance on the languages of apology:

1. Express regret – “I apologize”
2. Accept the responsibility – “I was wrong”
3. Genuinely repent – “I’ll try not to do that again”
4. Make restitution – “What can I do to make it right”
5. Request forgiveness – “Will you please forgive me”

What does it take for you to forgive someone? How do you seek forgiveness to those you’ve hurt?

Watch “It’s Quiet Uptown”

Read Genesis 50:15-21

1. Was there real regret by Joseph’s brothers, or were they only concerned about themselves and how they would survive now that their father had died?
2. How might forgiveness in action become the glue that keeps families together?

Bishop Hudson Wilkins invites us: “in silence, let us individually think about or call to mind those who over the years have wrong us, and those who we indeed have wronged. Perhaps we can own to ourselves the people we are holding in our hearts, struggling to forgive. Might we be ready to let them go–to forgive them? Might we be ready this Lent to go in peace to someone (a family member, a work colleague, [a classmate], or an acquaintance) who behaves in an antagonistic manner towards us? If we are not able to meet face to face, might we be prepared to find a way symbolically to acknowledge God’s grace in our lives, the source of forgiveness and redemption?

Prayer

“Lord, when I am tempted not to forgive, remind me of your grace and your willingness to forgive me. Help me to pray with meaning, the words you taught us: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.'” Amen.

LOVE

1. Can we truly love others if we do not love ourselves?
2. Is it selfish to love ourselves, or is loving ourselves crucial to our understanding of Christ’s love in us?
3. What are the signs that real love in in place, and should feelings play a large part in this?

Read John 21:15-19 and 1 Corinthians 13

Watch “Dear Theodocia”

In the musical, Burr and Hamilton are addressing their firstborn children, Theodosia and Philip. These two very different men discover that they do share something in common–a sacrificial love for their children.

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin asks, “I wonder which bit of the song you were moved by?”

We, the St James’ youth ministry, were moved by the sweetness of the song in the midst of such an intense story and history. It made us ponder some of the sweet moments of the Covid pandemic. And reflecting on the people in our lives we love. We certainly know love at this church!

Reflect a moment on some signs of love in our St James’ community that you’ve witnessed or experienced in the past two years.

Prayer

Lord of life and love, open our eyes that we may see the generosity of your love bestowed on us. Enlarge our hearts to show compassionate love to our fellow humans across the globe, and enable us to lovingly care for your creation. Teach us to pattern your unconditional and sacrificial love so that together we may transform your world. Amen.

HOPE AND ADVERSITY

Share briefly some of the really difficult moments that you have had to face during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic [or recall other memories of hard times]. As you share your stories, seek to identify moments of hope and some of the courageous steps taken along the way.

Read Mark 9:14-29

1. In what ways was the father of the boy expressing hope?
2. How would you describe the real adversity being experienced?
3. Mark’s gospel says this was accomplished only by prayer and Matthew’s gospel speaks about faith (Matt 17:20). What does that mean?

Read Luke 23:32-43

The same crowds who thronged him on Palm Sunday, shouting ‘Hosanna’ (Matt 21:9) made up the crowds who also shouted, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:13-14) and created false accusations about him (Matt 26:59-60a). Jesus, however, showed much courage through adversity. It was as though he knew he was in his Father’s hands, and even in this situation of being jeered at and cursed, we are presented with a Jesus who was calm and at peace. In the words of the songwriter, “They crucified my Lord, and he never said a mumbalin word’ (Traditional Negro spiritual.)

1. If we were in Jesus’ position, would we have remained quiet?
2. What have we learned from this passage?
3. What does the manner of Jesus’ death tell us about our need to be risk-adverse?

Watch “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?”

Bishop Hudson-Wilkins writes, “Someone once said, Christianity is not taught, it is caught…Just imagine how wonderful it would be if our children and grandchildren and grandchildren’s generation caught faith from us. Caught it, because they heard us telling the story and caught it, because they saw us living the story of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Right now, the church is experiencing a vacuum because we do not have enough storytellers who are confident enough to talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to the message of the Good News….

Will you live and tell the story?

Prayer

Grant, O Lord, that amidst all the discouragements, difficulties and dangers, distress and darkness of this life, we may learn to depend on your mercy. Teach us to build our hopes on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, so that having this sure foundation we may become all that you desire us to be as your children, loving, forgiving, and full of hope and courage. Amen.