The Fourth Day
In order to be considered a member of Cursillo you need to attend a Cursillo weekend, which lasts three days. Your Fourth Day is what follows on from those three days, that is the rest of your life. Although the main reason of Cursillo is to help you be more active in your church we do have activities and events to give ongoing support and encouragement.
The first of these are the monthly services or Ultreyas which you can read about on the Ultreyas page. Once a year there is also a National Ultreya. This takes place on the first Saturday in September.
We also encourage people to join, or set up a seed group. These are small goups who meet on a regular basis to chat and encourage each other in their Christian lives. In order to help with this encouragement, and to give the meetings structure, we use a 'Group Reunion Card'. The card includes opening and closing prayers so that the whole meeting is surrounded by prayer. It also has topics or questions for discussion based on the Cursillo tripod of Piety or Spirituality, Study, and Apostolic Action. These three sections are known as the tripod because we feel that all three need to be present in a Christians life, and that an equal emphasis needs to be given to each one. Just as with a tripod if the legs are of different lengths it becomes unstable and falls over, so with our Christian lives if one of these strands are missing, or not given equal emphasis, our Christian lives become unstable· Seed Groups are not only for people who have attended a Cursillo weekend, and in the history of Cursillo they actually pre-date the weekend. Originally the seed groups were seen as a way of introducing people to the ideas behind Cursillo. By inviting people to join the discussion groups the ideas for furthering a Christian life style and help with how to witness could be passed on. That is the seeds could be planted, hence their name.
Group Reunion Card
CHRIST IS COUNTING ON YOU!
...AND I ON HIM!
Anglican Cursillo is a movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share Gods love with everyone.
"Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another."
Hebrews 10:24-25
Start by deciding who is to lead on this occasion.
OPENING PRAYERS
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be recreated.
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Almighty God, who taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
our Father ....
We share, review, plan, and ask the support of the group for our life in Christ.
The person leading takes one section at a time, reading out the appropriate words. Each person present is then invited to respond to that section.
PIETY
"Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5
Prayer and Worship
Share one thing you feel has nourished your union with Christ since we last met.
For example;
Eucharist, Prayer, Other corporate worship, Daily Office, Meditation/Reflection, Reconciliation, Retreat/Quiet Day Spiritual Direction.
A moment close to Christ
Share one moment since we last met when you felt close to Christ.
STUDY
"Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and pleasing to him and is perfect."
Romans 12:2
Christian Formation
Share something you have learnt from what you have read or experienced since we last met which has deepened your understanding of God's ways or your Christian calling.
For example through:
Bible reading, Art, music or nature, A book, Group Study, A sermon, A course or lecture, A play, film or video, A conversation.
Study of Environments
How are you trying to gain more understanding of one of the groups of people amongst whom you live your daily life so as to be more effective in influencing them with gospel values?#
APOSTOLIC ACTION
Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
John 20:21
Transforming the world for Christ
What steps have you taken since we last met in order to transform one of the environments of your daily life to make it more like Christ would have it be? Does it seem like a success? Or a disappointment?
For example:
In home or family life, in your workplace, amongst friends or neighbours, in the wider community.
Making Disciples
How have you planned for or taken an opportunity to bring someone to know Christ, or to know him better?
reviewing your plans
How have you carried out plans you made at our last meeting?
Planning your Apostolic Action
What are the next steps for you to take in your apostolic action?
Working Together
Is there something we can plan to work on together and with others?
CLOSING PRAYERS
"Whatever you do, in word, or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:17
prayer is offered for:
One another, any who are absent, those who need our prayers.
We give you thanks, Almighty God, for all the benefits you have given us: you who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen
© British Anglican Cursillo Council 2003