Home Pentecost Resource Page This article is from Issue 67 of "On The Move," a publication of new learning possibilities for churches, at one time published by The Joint Board of Christian Education of Australia and New Zealand. Reproduced by permission of Uniting Education, PO Box 1245, Collingwood 3066, Australia. May be printed for use in local congregations only. This passage could be approached in various ways. Here we will seek to enter imaginatively into the vision, interpreting it in relation to ourselves and our own times. The aim is to affirm the working of God's Spirit within us in relation to our positive life force, to explore areas of life and death in our life and organisations. The study is designed for maximum participation by members of the group, but the leader has a key role as co-ordinator. The initial activities should help stimulate the level of involvement before moving on into the "Guided Tour". However, as Ezekiel might suggest, even the best study outline is but dry bones until the group members provide the flesh and sinew through becoming receptive to the breath of the Spirit. 1. Introduction Sing: Use one or more songs which refer to the Spirit ä~bf~ath or giver of life, e.g. "Breathe on me, breath of God", "Spirit of God in the clear running water" (Medical Mission Sisters). Relate: Select a partner and sit facing one another. Allow a short time for conversation, then pray silently one another, with eyes open, face to face. Affirm: There is a life force at work within each one of us—sometimes struggling to be given expression. Identify in your partner one way in which you see their life force at work, and share that affirmation with one another: The level at which this can be done will depend on how well people are known. The affirmation may relate to expressions of the immediate moment, e.g. "you have a sparkle in your eyes"; "you have a beautiful smile". Or it may relate to what is already known from past experience: "you are considerate"; "you laugh a lot and show a real sense of joy". 2. A guided tour of Ezekiel 37:1-10 Each person works alone as the leader gives verbal directions. It is important to have an atmosphere which enables participants to give free rein to their imaginations. If people can lie on the floor this may help. Otherwise be sitting as comfortably as possible, with eyes closed and in silence throughout. Feel: Your bones are very important. Without them you be like a jellyfish on the beach, a lump of blubber. Try to "feel" your bones. You can't touch them so you have to feel them from within. Focus on each area your body in turn—fingers, arm bones, toes, feet, leg bones, kneecaps, thigh bones, pelvis, spine, ribs, skull. Visualise: Now imagine that you are in a wide valley or on a vast plain, the scene of a great baffle after which the dead were left to rot. The bones have bleached in the sun and have been scattered about. Walk among them, see the white bones, the skulls, the arms and legs. Feel the horror of this place of death. Read: The leader now reads aloud—Ezekiel 37:1-3. Imagine: Place yourself among those dry bones. Imagine your bones dried out and disconnected, an arm here and a leg there, your skull somewhere else. Read: The leader again reads aloud—Ezekiel 37:4-8. Imagine: Now feel your bones coming together and your esh being restored. Act: Your body is whole, but there is no breath in it; you are not really alive. Stand and move about like a zombie. You have flesh and bones but you cannot speak or relate to other people. As you move about, avoid eye contact or recognition of those about you. After a short while return to your previous position. Read: The leader reads Ezekiel 37:9-10. If possible add some sound effects from a record or tape to simulate the wind blowing.                  Act: Come alive. Get up and move about greeting one another with a sense of joy. Celebrate: Sing together a song of celebration, such as Lord of the dance" and, if at all possible, form a circle and dance while singing. 3. Individual study Read: In silence read again Ezekiel 37:1-10. Reflect: (a) Where is there dryness in my life? (b) Are some parts of my life disconnected and scattered? (c) In what way is verse 8 true for my life? ("...but there was no breath in them.") 4. Group discussion This needs to be in small groups to ensure full opportunity for all to share. Let members get with their previous partners, then team with one or two other pairs, making groups of 4-6. Discuss: How did you respond to the activities of the Guided Tour? Share: In the light of the questions above, how do you see the vision in relation to your own life? Read: Look at Ezekiel 37:11-14 together and note the background material below. Interpret: In verses 11-14 we have an interpretation of t e vision. The questions above imply that the vision might be interpreted in terms of your personal life. What other interpretations might you develop? Doesthe imagery of dry bones and the breath of God's Spirit help your understanding of the church? of your local congregation? of your study group? 5. Summing up Unless your group was too small to sub-divide, allow time to reassemble as a total group to share responses to the passage. It shouldn't be necessary to appoint people as "reporters", but see that there is opportunity for free sharing. Prayer: It would be appropriate to conclude with silence and brief spontaneous prayers led by members of the group. 6. Background Ezekiel lived at a time of severe crisis in the life of his people, affecting both their national life and their faith in God. The once powerful nation of Israel had been reduced to the small remnant nation of Judah. In 597 B.C. the Chaldeans from Babylon conquered Jerusalem and took the leaders of the nation into captivity Ezekiel was among those deported to Babylon. His prophecies at this time consistently speak of doom and destruction. Then in 587 B.C. a futile revolt in Jerusalem brought back the Babylonian army which totally destroyed the city of Jerusalem and took a much larger group into exile. Now that the people's misdirected loyalties and false hopes were swept aside, Ezekiel's preaching moved to a new message of hope: 'And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live..." (Ezekiel 37:14). Thus the emphasis of this passage is on the hope of restoration and the life-giving power of God's Spirit.
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