AGAPE MEAL Men s ACTS Retreat The team simply sets the stage by giving the example of how Christianity was shared in the early church. Once Aquila invites the retreatants share, the evening becomes a modern day sharing of Christ in the lives of the retreatants. The Agape team may occasionally have to assist in the initiation of sharing. Don t let it turn into a we thank the team service. Following the Candlelight service, all retreatants and team members NOT involved the Agape preparations will reconvene in the large meeting room for distribution of the ICHTHUS symbols. Agape team members will discreetly depart from the Candlelight before it ends to change into costume and be in position before the rest arrive. One Agape team member (Speaker #1) will enter the large room at the appropriate time and another Agape team member (Speaker #2) will wait for his cue to proceed. Speaker #1: TBD My brothers in Christ, we are now going to take you back to a time in early Christianity for a communal feast and a sharing of how our lives have been since we began to follow Jesus the Christ. This feast is called Agape and we will go to Aquila s house for the celebration. Agape means love, love one another. Not love as we know it in the modern world, but the spiritual love which comes from God as a gift. It is a selfless and unselfish love which seeks the good in all by reaching out not in a passive, but in an active way. (Slight Pause) As followers of Jesus the Christ, when we meet we must do so secretly to guard ourselves from the soldiers who are stationed everywhere. They have orders to arrest and persecute us because of our faith in Jesus the Christ. (Speaker #2 starts to slowly approach) So when we meet, we will know each other as followers of Jesus the Christ when we draw this symbol in the sand. Speaker #1 draws half of the ICHTHUS symbol in the tray of sand. Speaker #2 draws the other half of the ICHTHUS. After drawing the ICHTHUS they briefly embrace each other.) This is the ICHTHUS symbol. 1
Speaker #2: TBD ICHTHUS is a Greek word simply meaning fish. The symbol is used to acknowledge a fellow believer in Christ without words being spoken. Use of this symbol allows us to then discuss our faith without fear of being turned in to the Roman soldiers. (Slight Pause) Notice the brother who wears the ICHTHUS symbol. This is the key to enter Aquila s house. My brothers, receive your own key. (Table leaders will give ICHTHUS symbols to the retreatants at this time.) New brothers, follow me to Aquila s --- and hurry. We don t want to be late. I ve heard that we may get some news about the travels of our brother Paul.) (Table leader s one through will follow Speaker #1 and # 2 to Aquila s house by the designed route. Seating arrangements will be predetermined and retreatants will sit with their table leaders.) WELCOME: Arrival at Aquila s (Music is playing the background. As the guests enter, Aquila greets them individually.) Washing of hands and giving towels: TBD AQUILA: TBD Welcome to my house brothers or similar greeting. ( a bowl of warm water and towels will be present and a ritual hand washing will take place. Retreatants are seated with their table leaders a same table and chair positions they occupied during table discussions. Aquila will have a copy of the seating arrangements so he can acknowledge everyone by name later.) After all are seated, Aquila s SERVANT TBD announces: Aquila asks that you now relax, be silent in your heart and be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. 2
(Pause about 15 seconds) AQUILA: TBD All are welcome to my home. The Lord has blessed me in many ways, and out of gratefulness to Him I am happy to share with you what He has given me. There are others who have brought food and drink to share with their brothers tonight. Would those who can, distribute what they brought, that we might all share in the Lord s blessing. (The food and drinks are distributed to each table. Do not begin eating yet. When the tables are ready, a blessing will be lead by Aquila.) AQUILA and TEAM MEMBERS: (Aquila and team members will raise the bread over their heads as in an offering.) With this bread, I share in Christ s love with you. (IMPORTANT: This is recited by all team members.) (When the blessing is completed, table leaders will break the bread and pass it along to table members. Food and drink will then be consumed.) (Speech during meal) My brothers, (pause until everyone is quiet).for those who have not been with us in this setting of Agape, we have gathered tonight to share not only in this food, but to hear from one another how our lives have been going since we began to follow Jesus the Christ. Tomorrow morning we will gather again to celebrate the Lord s Supper and to share in His Body and Blood. (Slight pause) Some of you may know of Paul who was employed by me as a tent maker. You may also know that he has been traveling far to spread the Good News of Jesus the Christ. We have tonight a 3
special Treat. Some from our gathering have received word from Paul, who has written from his journeys. Last Pause (Background Information: Topics will be from the Letters of Paul. Since those letters predate the Gospels, specific quotes from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John should be avoided.) Apollos: TBD 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 (Paul gives insight into an early Christian community. He talks of many spiritual gifts, but in chapter 13 expresses that Love is greater than all of them combined.) Aquila, my brother, May I speak? When I was with our brother Paul in Corinth, he spoke of many spiritual gifts such as faith, hope, charity, knowledge, and prophecy, but the greatest of all gifts is love. If we share these gifts with others but do not have love, nothing is gained. Pause Aquila: Thank you, Brother Apollos. Love truly is the greatest gift of all. Luke: TBD Romans 8:38-39 (Paul is writing about God s supremacy and that faith in Christ is the source of salvation.) Aquila, my brother, I too have traveled with our brother Paul. In addition to his pleas for us to love one another, he also spoke of God s unconditional love for us. First, God gives us His grace freely so we can overcome every obstacle to our salvation. Second, God s power is so great He overcame death by resurrecting Our Lord Jesus. Through Him we Christians can overcome any affliction. 4
Thank you brother Luke. As some of you know, Sister Priscilla and I were for a time members of the Christian community in Rome. Those words of our brother Paul will be well received. Barnabas: TBD Galatians 5:19-23 (Galatia was in what is now Turkey. Paul is writing to Christians who converted from paganism. He is contrasting pagan works of the flesh with fruits of the Holy Spirit.) Aquila, my brother, I have just come from Cyprus, my homeland. But, I too, have traveled with Brother Paul to Antioch and Galatia. Many pagans in Galatia have become Christians. They have given up the sins of the flesh such as idolatry, sorcery, drinking, orgies, and other immoralities. They are now partaking of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and showing peace, love, joy, kindness and self control. They are a much more generous people. Aquila: Thank you brother Barnabas for sharing those words. Silas: TBD Philippians 2:1-4 (Philippi is in northeastern Greece. Silas was imprisoned there with Paul (Acts 16:2) but released by their jailer. Paul is now writing to the Philippians from another imprisonment, pleading for unity and humility.) My brother Aquila, I have just received a letter from our brother Paul who is in prison again. As many of you know, I was in prison with him in Philippi. If not for the new faith of our jailer who released us, I might not be here with you today. Paul pleads for unity and humility. He asks that we do nothing out of selfishness or vanity. Always humbly regard others as more important than yourself. Thank you brothers. Let us pause now and as we continue to share in these gifts of food, consider some of these thoughts that Paul has passed on to us. 5
(Continue soft music and sharing of food and drink. Pause about 15 seconds and then Aquila will invite testimony in a contemporary vein by the retreatants.) We have heard inspiring and meaningful news of Paul s journeys. Now, I invite anyone who is moved by the Holy Spirit to share with us how the Lord may have touched you this weekend. (If no retreatants rise, pre-assigned team members will stand and give testimony as an example. Team members need to initiate sharing, if needed, and encourage retreatants at their table to share testimony. When all those who wish to give testimony have spoken, Aquila will then ask our Spiritual Director for a few concluding remarks.) TBD as our Spiritual Director please provide us some concluding comments. After the Spiritual Directors comments, Aquila () says: Thank you [NAME]. Let us conclude our Agape feast with The Lord s Prayer. (All hold hands and pray the Our Father.) The peace of the Lord is with you! (And with your spirit!) My brothers, as we depart this space, let us take the time to share the peace of Jesus with one another. (Hugs all around. At all times during the Agape meal, all efforts must be made to refrain from moving around too much. Avoid any embracing until the final dismissal. Remember the focus is on the retreatants.) 6