Session 1

Session 1: The Gift of Difference  

Time: Each session is designed to be 45-60 minutes. 

Supplies: Notebook, pencil/pen, technology to watch the videos

Biblical Text 

Psalm 139 and 1 Corinthians 12

Facilitator’s Notes

The content below should be used for discussion prompts, observations and dialogue after viewing the videos.

Key learnings for this session: 

  • Celebrate the gift of difference.
  • God’s design of humanity is like a mosaic pattern, each person being unique. 
  • We must be intentional about removing the mental barriers of who we think belongs and has superior rights to access resources. We have bias and exclusion about who belongs where and how they belong. 
  • We are not all the same, and God loves us all.

Observations to highlight: 

  • Who is welcome? 
  • Who is excluded? 
  • What determines acceptance?

Opportunities to present: 

How can you…? How can your congregation…? How can your community…?

  •  Celebrate the gift of difference in others.
  •  Be inspired, courageous and more loving.
  •  Not minimize others.
  •  Appreciate diversity.
  •  Love and value the stranger the way you value yourself.

Opening Prayer 

Based on Psalm 139:

I am mindful that you, sovereign God, are creator of all human beings.
For you created my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Help me, Lord, to be mindful of your work and goodness in me and others –
Fearfully and wonderfully made.
Amen!

Warm Up (5 minutes) 

Ask each participant to answer the following question:

What do you hope to learn or experience by participating in this curriculum?

Watch “The Gift of Difference” Video Sermonette by Rev. Michelle Armster. (16 minutes – Link)

Think about it

After watching the sermonette, the facilitator should lead the group through these statements and reflection questions. The facilitator can invite participants to share aloud or give them time for silent reflection and written responses. 

“There is neither difference between Jew nor gentile.” Romans 3:22

Fundamentally, we all are equally valuable but ethnically unique. To understand the difference in culture, you must be aware of ethnicity and especially the prejudices and biases that may exist within culture. To ignore these continues misunderstandings.

Reflection questions:

  1. What did you hear that surprised you?
  2. What did you hear that challenged you? 
  3. How do you want to respond?

Watch Young Adult Video by Laura Pauls-Thomas. (Length: 5 minutes – Link)

Group Discussion Questions (from Introduction)

Facilitators are recommended to select one or two question(s) to discuss and revisit during each week’s session, and/or invite participants to use the same question(s) as part of their personal prayer and devotional time during the week.

Making a Connection

  • Make a list of 3-5 people who are culturally different from you.
  • Identify one or more positive traits or characteristics about people from the list that you can acknowledge and celebrate. 
  • Research the land you are on. Who was there first? (Create a Land Acknowledgement.)

Journal question 

What are your expectations or hopes for connecting with others who are different from you? 

Closing Prayer

There has been a lot of rich content in this first session. The recommendation is for a silent prayer followed by “Amen” at the appropriate time.

Closing: Spoken Word Poem

“The Gift of Our Differences” by Tiara Downer (Link)

Spoken word text: 

What would it be like if we all stood the same?
Looked alike, spoke alike, and answered to the same name?
When God created man, he did it like this:
He created man in his image, all with different gifts
And all of our gifts are embedded like seeds
Using our gifts to serve and meet needs
Differences are needed as we seek to serve the world
To bring justice and love and glory to the Lord
So be proud of your difference
and allow them to see
That you are you and I am me
Unapologetically!