Definition: “Mutual Invitation” is used to ensure that everyone who wants
to share has the opportunity to speak. The leader or designated person
shares first. After that person has spoken, he/she invites another to share.
After the next person has spoken, that person is given the privilege to invite
another to share. If you are not ready to share, you may “pass for
now” and we will invite you to share later. If you do not want to say anything
at all, you may “pass” and proceed to invite another to share. At the
end of the sharing, time is set aside to respond or ask clarifying questions.
Process:
1. First Reading - Invite someone to read the passage. Take a moment of
silence to capture a word, a phrase or image that stands out from the
passage for you. Using Mutual Invitation, invite each person to share
briefly his/her word, phrase, or image.
2. Second Reading - Invite someone to read the passage a second time.
Take a moment of silence to answer a pre-defined reflection question
(e.g., What does this story say to you about …). Using Mutual Invitation,
invite each person to share briefly his/her answer.
3. Third Reading – Invite someone to read the passage. Take a moment
of silence to answer the question, “What does God invite you to do, be,
or change through this passage?” Using Mutual invitation, invite each
person to share briefly his/her answer.
4. End the session by inviting participants to join hands in a prayer circle.
Invite participants to complete the following sentences: “I thank God
today …” and “I ask God today …” When a participant is done, he/
she signals to the next person by squeezing the hand of the person on
the right. If a participant chooses not to share, he/she can simply pass
by squeezing the hand of the person on the right. When the pulse
comes back to the leader, the leader invites everyone to join in the saying
the Lord’s Prayer.
Shared by Pastor Derek Lang