Sacred Reading, Sacred Listening, April 1, 2024

    Join Zoom Meeting (Lay Minister Dr. John Lindholm hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85459472625?pwd=RWY5b1hJRXRrZi9OMmVMeXhPZU5XQT09

Meeting ID: 854 5947 2625.   Passcode: 684195

Lectio Divina Process:

    1st reading:  Read:  Listen for the overall sense of the passage.  Notice a word or phrase that most captures your attention as you listen, as though the Holy Spirit were flashing a light from the text to your heart, asking you to notice it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, allow your eyes to be opened and your heart to be melted  as God speaks to you. If you choose, simply share the word or phrase with the group.

    2nd reading: Reflect- Listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in you. If you want, share a connection you sense between the passage and this particular moment in your life.

    3rd reading:  Respond-  Listen to your own heart for  something that you want to express to God in response to the meanings and observations you are hearing. If you desire, share a reverent gratitude, petition or lament that you would like God and your siblings gathered with you to hear. After the 3rd Sharing, Share the Silence: Rest in God-  Hold a quiet space to listen to God speaking in your heart,  beyond words.

1 John 1:1-2:2

1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin

Lord's Prayer  (recited together).

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 Closing Prayer

• Light of the world, shine upon us
  and disperse the clouds of our selfishness,
  that we may reflect the power of the resurrection
  in our life together. Amen.

Sacred Reading, Sacred Listening, Monday of Holy Week, March 25, 2024, 8:00am

   Join Zoom Meeting (Lay Minister Dr. John Lindholm hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85459472625?pwd=RWY5b1hJRXRrZi9OMmVMeXhPZU5XQT09

Meeting ID: 854 5947 2625.   Passcode: 684195

Lectio Divina Process:

    1st reading:  Read:  Listen for the overall sense of the passage.  Notice a word or phrase that most captures your attention as you listen, as though the Holy Spirit were flashing a light from the text to your heart, asking you to notice it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, allow your eyes to be opened and your heart to be melted  as God speaks to you. If you choose, simply share the word or phrase with the group.

    2nd reading: Reflect- Listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in you. If you want, share a connection you sense between the passage and this particular moment in your life.

    3rd reading:  Respond-  Listen to your own heart for  something that you want to express to God in response to the meanings and observations you are hearing. If you desire, share a reverent gratitude, petition or lament that you would like God and your siblings gathered with you to hear. After the 3rd Sharing, Share the Silence: Rest in God-  Hold a quiet space to listen to God speaking in your heart,  beyond words

"Mary Anoints Christ’s Feet" Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, was most likely a Coptic monk in the late 17th century in Egypt.

John 12:1-11     1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." 9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

Lord's Prayer  (recited together).

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 Closing Prayer

Christ our God,
your love is poured out in death for our sakes.
Hold us in your embrace
as we wait for Easter's dawn.
Comfort us with the promise that no power on earth, not even death itself,
can separate us from your love;
and strengthen us to wait
until you are revealed to us
in all your risen glory. Amen.

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Sacred Listening, Monday, in the Fifth Week of Lent, March 18, 2024, 8:00am

  Join Zoom Meeting (Lay Minister Dr. Jed Lindholm hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85459472625?pwd=RWY5b1hJRXRrZi9OMmVMeXhPZU5XQT09

Meeting ID: 854 5947 2625.   Passcode: 684195

Lectio Divina Process:

    1st reading:  Read:  Listen for the overall sense of the passage.  Notice a word or phrase that most captures your attention as you listen, as though the Holy Spirit were flashing a light from the text to your heart, asking you to notice it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, allow your eyes to be opened and your heart to be melted  as God speaks to you. If you choose, simply share the word or phrase with the group.

    2nd reading: Reflect- Listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in you. If you want, share a connection you sense between the passage and this particular moment in your life.

    3rd reading:  Respond-  Listen to your own heart for  something that you want to express to God in response to the meanings and observations you are hearing. If you desire, share a reverent gratitude, petition or lament that you would like God and your siblings gathered with you to hear. After the 3rd Sharing, Share the Silence: Rest in God-  Hold a quiet space to listen to God speaking in your heart,  beyond words

"Entry into Jerusalem" Panel from the Maesta Altarpiece of Siena, 1311 Duccio, di Buoninsegna
Mark 11: 1-11

1 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.
3 If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,
5 some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.
9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve

Lord's Prayer  (recited together).

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

 Closing Prayer

• Sovereign God, you have established your rule over the human heart, not by force but by the servant example of Jesus Christ.
• 
  Move us by your Spirit to join the joyful procession
  of those who confess Christ Jesus with their tongues
  and praise him with their lives. Amen.

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Sacred Listening, Monday, in the Fourth Week of Lent, March 11, 2024, 8:00am

 Join Zoom Meeting (Lay Minister Dr. Jed Lindholm hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85459472625?pwd=RWY5b1hJRXRrZi9OMmVMeXhPZU5XQT09

Meeting ID: 854 5947 2625.   Passcode: 684195

Lectio Divina Process:

    1st reading:  Read:  Listen for the overall sense of the passage.  Notice a word or phrase that most captures your attention as you listen, as though the Holy Spirit were flashing a light from the text to your heart, asking you to notice it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, allow your eyes to be opened and your heart to be melted  as God speaks to you. If you choose, simply share the word or phrase with the group.

    2nd reading: Reflect- Listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in you. If you want, share a connection you sense between the passage and this particular moment in your life.

    3rd reading:  Respond-  Listen to your own heart for  something that you want to express to God in response to the meanings and observations you are hearing. If you desire, share a reverent gratitude, petition or lament that you would like God and your siblings gathered with you to hear. After the 3rd Sharing, Share the Silence: Rest in God-  Hold a quiet space to listen to God speaking in your heart,  beyond words.

"Cross with Wheat Chaff", ironwork, Benton Chapel, Vanderbilt University

John 12:20-33
120 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

27 "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say--' Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."

Lord's Prayer  (recited together).

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

 Closing Prayer

• God of suffering and glory,
  in Jesus Christ you reveal the way of life
  through the path of obedience.
  Inscribe your law in our hearts,
  that in life we may not stray from you,
  but may be your people. Amen.

Prayer of Sacred Reading and Sacred Listening, Monday, March 4, 2024, 8:00am

 Join Zoom Meeting (Lay Minister Dr. Jed Lindholm hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85459472625?pwd=RWY5b1hJRXRrZi9OMmVMeXhPZU5XQT09

Meeting ID: 854 5947 2625.   Passcode: 684195

Lectio Divina Process:

    1st reading:  Read:  Listen for the overall sense of the passage.  Notice a word or phrase that most captures your attention as you listen, as though the Holy Spirit were flashing a light from the text to your heart, asking you to notice it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, allow your eyes to be opened and your heart to be melted  as God speaks to you. If you choose, simply share the word or phrase with the group.

    2nd reading: Reflect- Listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in you. If you want, share a connection you sense between the passage and this particular moment in your life.

    3rd reading:  Respond-  Listen to your own heart for  something that you want to express to God in response to the meanings and observations you are hearing. If you desire, share a reverent gratitude, petition or lament that you would like God and your siblings gathered with you to hear. After the 3rd Sharing, Share the Silence: Rest in God-  Hold a quiet space to listen to God speaking in your heart,  beyond words.

Guarani sculpture, St. Miguel Arjanjo Church, St. Miguel, Brazil

John 3:14-21

14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

Lord's Prayer  (recited together).

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

 Closing Prayer

• Steadfast God,
  you reach out to us in mercy
  even when we rebel against your holy call
  and prefer to walk in disobedience
  rather than in the way of your divine truth.
  soften our hearts with the warmth of your love,
  that we may know your Son alive within us,
  redeeming us
  and raising us up into your eternal presence. Amen.