√ √Paper, scissors, markers
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Take a moment to centre yourselves and arrive together. If you have small children, you might specifically invite them to take five deep breaths.
Light a Candle
Opening Prayer
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Song: God Bless Every Step
The eagle represents love because it has the strength to carry all the teachings. The eagle has the ability to fly highest and closest to the creator and also has the sight to see all the ways of being from great distances. The eagle’s teaching of love can be found in the core of all teachings, therefore an eagle feather is considered the highest honor and a sacred gift. To know love is to know peace. View your inner-self from the perspective of all teachings. This is to know love and to love yourself truly. Then you will be at peace with yourself, the balance of life, all things and also with the creator (The Seven Grandfather Teachings: Love, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence).
Gallery Paintings
Take time to explore the art entitled “Love” in the online exhibition. Sift through the artist reflections as the age and stage of any children present allows.
What do you notice about the artwork? What do you wonder about the artwork?
Bible Reflection
The greatest and central commandment in Christianity is to love God and to love neighbour. The dual command involves loving God and loving self, which is presented as the pre-condition for loving others. Sometimes we forget the loving-self part of this commandment, especially when the Christian teachings on humility and being a “servant” to each other are twisted. This can lead us to demand too much of others or to give of ourselves in ways that are too demanding and lead to resentment. Remembering that love is found in all the other teachings, as eagle suggests (including humility), is perhaps an important lesson for those of us in the Christian tradition.
Matthew 22:35-49
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
One of the most famous New Testament texts on love is found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
New Testament scholar Mona Tokarek LaFosse helps us understand how we might approach this passage in the context of our reflections on the Seven Sacred Teaching. She writes, "You may have heard this read in the context of a wedding, associated with the love two partners have for one another, solidified in their marital commitment. That is one way to read it. But the context within Paul’s letter is actually about a community that has members who lack humility. They are so preoccupied with cozying up to prestigious people and bragging about their spiritual gifts that they are neglecting or rejecting others in the group. Paul’s powerful list of what love is (and isn’t) is meant to help the Corinthians see that love is about relationship that honours both the self and others as valuable for who they are. This passage is not meant to make us feel guilty for when we don’t love perfectly (sometimes we aren’t patient or kind to ourselves, and sometimes we’re irritable with others). Rather, it can help us come back to a foundation of love for ourselves and others when we face difficulties and challenges.”
To keep the balance that eagle teaches, it can be helpful to remember that the New Testament word for love in 1 Corinthians is agape, which is God’s unconditional love. It is accepting and being filled with agape love that allows us to love others. Can eagle help teach us this balance of loving self and others?
Reflection Questions
When do you feel loved?
Do you have experiences of feeling surrounded by God’s love?
When do you find it difficult to be loving towards others?
Art Activity
Eagle is an important animal in Christianity as well for its ability to fly high and see truth. Take some time to make a soaring eagle! Find out more here.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
“4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
“4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
New Testament scholar Mona Tokarek LaFosse helps us understand how we might approach this passage in the context of our reflections on the Seven Sacred Teaching. She writes, "You may have heard this read in the context of a wedding, associated with the love two partners have for one another, solidified in their marital commitment. That is one way to read it. But the context within Paul’s letter is actually about a community that has members who lack humility. They are so preoccupied with cozying up to prestigious people and bragging about their spiritual gifts that they are neglecting or rejecting others in the group. Paul’s powerful list of what love is (and isn’t) is meant to help the Corinthians see that love is about relationship that honours both the self and others as valuable for who they are. This passage is not meant to make us feel guilty for when we don’t love perfectly (sometimes we aren’t patient or kind to ourselves, and sometimes we’re irritable with others). Rather, it can help us come back to a foundation of love for ourselves and others when we face difficulties and challenges.”
To keep the balance that eagle teaches, it can be helpful to remember that the New Testament word for love in 1 Corinthians is agape, which is God’s unconditional love. It is accepting and being filled with agape love that allows us to love others. Can eagle help teach us this balance of loving self and others?
Reflection Questions
When do you feel loved?
Do you have experiences of feeling surrounded by God’s love?
When do you find it difficult to be loving towards others?
Art Activity
Eagle is an important animal in Christianity as well for its ability to fly high and see truth. Take some time to make a soaring eagle! Find out more here.
Song: The Gospel in One Word
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.
Closing Prayer
May we journey with love until we meet again. Amen.
May we journey with love until we meet again. Amen.
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.
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For a Shorter Daily Ritual,
Go here.
Go here.