Prayer of Sacred Reading and Listening, Monday, May 13, 2024, 8:00am

   Join Zoom Meeting  with lay ministers John Lindholm and Alan Crowley hosting on behalf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden, Massachusetts and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont.  Every Monday morning at 8:00.

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.

Meditation Song for Lectio Divina, shared by music minister John Penoyar, 

"The Road To Emmaus"

Were not our hearts burn -ing as He spoke

Were not His words words we longed to hear

Were not our eyes opened in the breaking of the bread

Were not our hearts burn -ing as He spoke

Our God is here He walks among us

When two or three of us are gathered in his name

Our God is here and he surrounds us

And all creation sings the glory of his name

And we shall rise, as he is risen

And though he promised us we did not understand

Yes we shall as hi is risen

And we will know him when he calls to us by name

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

26 "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:4b "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me;
10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

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

• Empowering God, you gave the church the abiding presence of your Holy Spirit. Look upon your church today and grant that, gathered and directed by your Spirit, we may confess Christ as Lord and combine our diverse gifts with a singular passion to continue his mission in this world,  until we join in your eternal praise. Amen.