Prayer, Attention, Relationship

  • “Exegesis is loving God enough to stop and listen carefully to what God says.” — Eugene Peterson, “Eat This Book”

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Prayer of Sacred Reading, Listening and Seeing, Monday, September 22, 2025, 9:00am

 Zoom Meeting ID. 814 8663 8380


Call to Prayer


Leader    Let Us gather in the welcome of our Triune God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. 


Gathered:  Lord, it is good for us to be here. 


Lighting the Christ candle


Leader       Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.  


Gathered:   The Light no darkness can overcome 


Invitation Song to Lectio Divina, written and gifted by music minister John Penoyar of Hinesburg, Vermont


Were not our hearts burning 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 rise as he is risen

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



Lectio Divina Guidelines


Leader- During the first reading, listen for the overall sense of the passage. Select  a word or phrase that captures your attention, 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 warmed as God speaks to you. 

LeaderDuring the second reading let us listen for the feelings, sensations and connections that God's Word stirs in us. What message might God be speaking into your life now?.

Leader- During the final reading let us attend to our own hearts for a response to God’s love. What response will you carry forth from this encounter with the Living Word into the world? 

Leader Let us now rest in the silence and attend once more to the presence of Christ among us. We hold a quiet space to hear God speaking in our hearts






Title:Bad Rich Man in Hell

Brooklyn Museum
Tissot, James, 1836-1902Tissot, James, 1836-1902Tissot, James, 1836-1902
Luke 16:19-26

19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 
20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'












The Lord’s Prayer in Three Voices


Voice 1 Our Father who art in Heaven
Voice 2 Holy One beyond all names, Eternal Wellspring
Voice 3 O Great Spirit, our Father from above,
Voice 1 Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come
Voice 2 May love rise again in us today 
Voice 3 we honor your name as sacred and holy.
Voice 1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Voice 2 with food for every table, shelter for every person,
Voice 3 Bring your good road to us, where the beauty of your              ways in the spirit-world above is reflected in the earth below.
Voice 1 Give us this day our daily bread
Voice 2 and reverence for every living being.
Voice 3 Provide for us day by day--the elk, the buffalo, and the                     salmon. The corn, the squash, and the wild rice. All the                 things we need for each day.
Voice 1 Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against                 us
Voice 2 Forgive us our failings in love,  and free us from all                         falseness, 
Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrong, in the         same way we release others for the things done wrong to us.
Voice 1 and Lead us not into temptation,
Voice 2 that the light of our souls may shine 
Voice 3    Guide us away from the things that tempt us to stray                         from your good road
Voice 1     but deliver us from evil
Voice 2    and the strength of our spirits endure for earth and all                     its people
Voice 3 and set us free from the evil one and his worthless ways.
Voice 1 For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours                     forever
Voice 2 this day, tonight,  and forever.  
Voice 1     Amen!
Voice 2 Yes, I commit! 
Voice 3 Aho,! May it be so!
Martin Luther This is most certainly true!


Voice 1   Matthew 6: 9-13
Voice 2 (from "Celtic Benediction," by John Phillip Newell)


Closing Prayer 

Merciful God, you invite us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, Through the ministry of your Son Jesus,free us from the grip of the tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.









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