Congregational Prayer
Practices (part 1 of 4)
Sacred Reading
By
Teresa Blythe
Prayer is a communal
practice. Of course we can pray in solitude, and that’s a great
corrective to our loud and busy life. But we need also to prayer with
others. As Jesus reminds us, “when two or more are gathered in my
name, I am with you,” making communal prayer a key part of our life as
Christians.
Many churches excel in a
few styles of prayer, usually reciting the Lord’s Prayer, having the
pastor deliver a pastoral prayer and the traditional “prayers of the
people” or intercessory prayer (where we petition God to intervene on
behalf of another person).
There are, however, many
styles of prayer that congregations can use either in worship, in
small groups or on leadership teams that will help them discern how
God is speaking to their congregation at this time in their life
together. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing with you some forms
of communal prayer that I think are excellent for the spiritual
practice of discernment in a congregation.
The practice this week is
Lectio Divina, also known as sacred reading. It is an ancient practice
that is attributed to the Benedictines, however it probably dates back
to early Jewish practices of reading the Torah meditatively. Many
Protestants enjoy this practice because it involves praying with the
Bible. It starts by reading a short passage of scripture, slowly
savoring each word and image and listening for what God may be saying
to you in the word. The form I will share with you here is designed to
be done in community with each person listening for what God may be
saying to them individually but also going a step further and asking
the question, “What is God saying to our church in this passage?”
Asking that question moves you from individual piety to communal
discernment.
So gather your leadership
team or small group together and try this prayer practice.
Lectio Divina
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Begin by turning your
attention to God’s presence and unfailing love for us. Ask God to be
with the group in the prayer practice. Allow some silence for the
group to settle into prayer. |
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Read a short passage
from the Bible (a poem or other short inspirational reading is also
fine) slowly. The participants are invited to listen for any word,
phrase or image that seems to feel important or which has a lot of
energy—positive or negative—for them. Read the passage more than
once, and allow silence between readings. |
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At the end of the last
reading, invite participants to say aloud their word, phrase or
image. When it feels like everyone who wants to speak out loud has
done so, allow more silence. |
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Invite the participants
to silently ponder what God might be saying to them through the
word, phrase or image. |
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Ask participants to
share what they think God might be saying to them in that word,
phrase or image. (Note: when people are talking about their word,
everyone else quietly listens). |
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Ask participants, “Given
what we have heard each person share, what might God be saying to
our church in this passage?” Allow silence for people to ponder what
they have heard other people saying. After some silence, open the
floor for sharing on that question. |
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Close with a short
spoken or silent prayer of gratitude. |