Lectio Divina, Monday, April 29, 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.

John 15:9-17

9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

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

Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son,and to care for those who are our companions,
not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love.
Guide us in the path of discipleship,
so that, as you have blessed us,
we may be a blessing for others,
bringing the promise of the kingdom near
by our words and deeds. Amen.

Monday, April 22, 8:00am Lectio Divina

  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.

John 15:1-8
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples

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

• Creator God and Spirit of Growth, 
  you sent your Son into your vineyard.
  so that we might live our lives in him, with him, and through him.
• May we abide in Christ's risen life
  so that we may bear the fruit of love for one another
  and in this offering, come  to know the fullness of joy. Amen.

Lectio Devina Prayer, Monday, April 15, 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.

John 10:11-18

     11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

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

• Shepherd of all, by laying down your life for your flock
  you reveal your love for all.
  Lead us from the place of death to the place of abundant life,
  that guided by your care for us, we may rightly offer our lives
  in love for you and our neighbors. Amen.

Sacred Reading, Sacred Listening, Monday, April 8, 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.

Luke 24:36b-48

36b While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things

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

• Holy and righteous God,
  you raised Christ from the dead
  and glorified him at your right hand.
  Let the words of scripture,
  fulfilled in Jesus your Son,
  burn within our hearts
  and open our minds to recognize him
  in the breaking of bread. Amen.