Gathering for Sharing of the Living Experience

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="01ed4c00dduajq.png"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Experience</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The First Brothers and Sisters </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCCB2" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>(Third Order)</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Count Orlano of Cruisi</B></div> <div> <B>Lady Jacoba de'Settesoli</B></div> <div> <B>Praxedis the recluse</B></div> <div> <B>Blessed Luchesio</B></div> <div> <B>Buona Dona</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFCCB2" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="558" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#990000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#660066" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#339999 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 WIDTH="546"><div> <A HREF="basic_understanding_of_communal_gathering_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guidelines for Gatherings"><U>Guidelines for Gatherings</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="fourth_order_prayers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gathering Prayers "><U>Gathering Prayers </U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="creating_sacred_space.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Practical Considerations"><U>Practical Considerations</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="silent_meditation.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gathering for Prayer and Meditation"><U>Gathering for Prayer and Meditation</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><B>Gathering for Sharing of the Living Experience </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="study_circle.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guideline for the Study Circle"><U>Guideline for the Study Circle</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 73 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d14e490.png" border=0 width="78" height="73" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>The Fourth Order of Francis and Clare </B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="home"><U><B>home</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 04"><U><B>site guide</B></U></A></FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="gathering_for_sharing"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Gathering for Sharing</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Opening Readings: </B>When the group gathers the facilitator for the evening leads the Simple Prayer, reads the appropriate Welcome and chooses someone to read the  Condition of Being and passes the Traditions around for a shared reading by the group.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Welcome </B></div> <div> Welcome to the sharing circle of the Fourth Order of Francis and Clare. This is an interfaith sharing circle. Intellectual and doctrinal faith exchanges are encouraged in another environment. Here we gather to focus on the heart and the experience of the presence of the Great Mystery in our lives. Please feel welcome to share from the wisdom and prayer of your faith, and in your own language.</div> <div> The sharing circle is a form of community contemplation honoring the wisdom of our stories and the healing power of communal sharing. The evening leader opens with prayer and a <B>brief</B> personal sharing, relating his experience to the path of wisdom, setting the theme for the evening's sharing.  When finished the leader nods to the person on the left. The group sharing begins and continues once or twice or three times depending on time. In the last round we offer intercessory prayer or wishes of loving kindness, followed by five minutes of silent meditation. In closing we rise and move in silence to form a tight standing circle, allowing the silence to enter us for two or three minutes or longer. Spontaneous toning and prayer are invoked, closing with the song, <I>Tis a Gift to Be Simple</I>, and the Simple Prayer.</div> <bR> <div> The circle is sacred and has its own integrity. Because people share personal experiences all that is heard here is confidential and not to be shared outside the circle. In the circle we do not interrupt someone's sharing. We do not give advice. No one is hurried but all should be considerate to others in their time.</div> <bR> <div> As we go around the circle the person who is sharing has the floor and is listened to attentively, and not interrupted (except in emergencies). When your turn comes you may talk, simply pass, share a prayer, spoken or silent, sing or just sit quietly. All these forms of sharing are honored when we are together. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#gathering_for_sharing" TITLE="Gathering for Sharing of the Living Expe"><U>Top of Page</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>