Every Monday, Jed Lindholm of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Alan Crowley of Good Shepherd in Jericho, Vermont, lead a small group experience of "Lectio Divina," a way of praying that moves from meditative reflection to resting in the presence of God. The prayerful focus is an invitation to listen to and respond to God through God's Word and one another. We believe that God loves us and feeds us through the scriptures, which Martin Luther names "the other manger."
Our Lectio Divina Scripture for the morning is taken from the Gospel for next Sunday, The First Sunday of The Epiphany of Our Lord
Lectio Divina Procedure
1st reading: Read: Listen for the overall sense of the passage. Share a word or phrase that seems to “light up” or makes the passage come alive for you.
2nd reading: Reflect-. What most captures your attention as you listen? Share a message or question from God you are hearing.
3rd reading: Respond- What are you moved to say to God in response to what you are hearing? Share a prayer of intention, thanksgiving, or concern that rises within you.
Silence: Rest in God- Make room to listen to God speaking in your heart beyond words.
Our Lectio Divina Scripture for the morning is taken from the Gospel for next Sunday, The First Synday after Christmas1
Lectio Divina Procedure
1st reading: Read: Listen for the overall sense of the passage. Share a word or phrase that seems to “light up” or makes the passage come alive for you.
2nd reading: Reflect-. What most captures your attention as you listen? Share a message or question from God you are hearing.
3rd reading: Respond- What are you moved to say to God in response to what you are hearing? Share a prayer of intention, thanksgiving, or concern that rises within you.
Silence: Rest in God- Make room to listen to God speaking in your heart beyond words.
Matthew 2: 13-18
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."4 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for The Nativity of the Lord (Proper 1), Year A
Lectio Divina Procedure
1st reading: Read: Listen for the overall sense of the passage. Share a word or phrase that seems to “light up” or makes the passage come alive for you.
2nd reading: Reflect-. What most captures your attention as you listen? Share a message or question from God you are hearing.
3rd reading: Respond- What are you moved to say to God in response to what you are hearing? Share a prayer of intention, thanksgiving, or concern that rises within you.
Silence: Rest in God- Make room to listen to God speaking in your heart beyond words.
Lectio Divina Procedure
1st reading: Read: Listen for the overall sense of the passage. Share a word or phrase that seems to “light up” or makes the passage come alive for you.
2nd reading: Reflect-. What most captures your attention as you listen? Share a message or question from God you are hearing.
3rd reading: Respond- What are you moved to say to God in response to what you are hearing? Share a prayer of intention, thanksgiving, or concern that rises within you.
Silence: Rest in God- Make room to listen to God speaking in your heart beyond words.
1st reading: Read: Listen for the overall sense of the passage. Share a word or phrase that seems to “light up” or makes the passage come alive for you.
2nd reading: Reflect-. What most captures your attention as you listen? Reflect what message or question from God you are hearing that the passages are building for you
3rd reading: Respond- What are you moved to say to God in response to the message or question you are hearing? Share a specific prayer of intention, thanksgiving, or concern that rises within you.
Silence: Rest in God- Quiet "the self" to make room to listen to God speaking in your heart, beyond words.