Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Weekend weather did it to us again! In all my years of ministry we’ve never had to call off church twice in one winter. Oh, well; God’s the ultimate weather man, not I, and unscheduled breaks from the action can actually be a gift for overscheduled people. When ice and snow shut us down, we can rest more deeply and enjoy undistracted time with those who inhabit our homes with us. Tonight as you gather, take some time to share with each other about how you spent last Sunday.
Had we met for Bible study and worship last Sunday, we would have launched into our study of the words of Jesus based on my book, Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night. My plan was to orient you to the plan for both dimensions of the study, the personal one and our group times. We will do that this coming Sunday. For now, let me offer a few suggestions to get you started:
1. My book has 40 chapters, matching the 40 days of Lent. Since today is the first day of Lent, it’s the perfect day to begin reading the book, starting with the Prologue and Chapter One. On this schedule, you’ll complete your reading of the book on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, depending on whether or not you incorporate the chapter “Later” into your final day’s reading.
2. I suggest that you consider a devotional approach to the experience, reading a chapter per day and using it as an opportunity for introspection and prayer. If you’ve already begun reading and have been reading more than a chapter per day, no problem! Still, you might consider going back to Chapter One for a re-read, incorporating the one-chapter-per-day approach into your Lenten experience.
3. Consider using a journal to record responses and prayers that grow out of your reading. Flag words and phrases that strike a responsive chord. Write in the margins of your book, if you’re so inclined.
4. Before each reading, ask God’s Spirit to enliven your reading, prompting you toward awareness and response as God sees fit. One way to do this is to precede each reading with the prayer of Samuel (I Samuel 3:10): “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
5. Pause between chapters and ask: What questions does this chapter raise for me? What thoughts, feelings, or desires does this chapter evoke in me?
6. In your closing prayer, invite God’s ongoing work in your life in light of that day’s reading.
7. Come on Sundays for Sunday School in the Fellowship Hall prepared to engage in conversation about the themes of the book that have arisen during each week’s readings.
I look forward to sharing this experience with you, and I pray that the experience is as spiritually enlivening for you as the original experience was for me. Grace, power, and peace to you!
Weekend weather did it to us again! In all my years of ministry we’ve never had to call off church twice in one winter. Oh, well; God’s the ultimate weather man, not I, and unscheduled breaks from the action can actually be a gift for overscheduled people. When ice and snow shut us down, we can rest more deeply and enjoy undistracted time with those who inhabit our homes with us. Tonight as you gather, take some time to share with each other about how you spent last Sunday.
Had we met for Bible study and worship last Sunday, we would have launched into our study of the words of Jesus based on my book, Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night. My plan was to orient you to the plan for both dimensions of the study, the personal one and our group times. We will do that this coming Sunday. For now, let me offer a few suggestions to get you started:
1. My book has 40 chapters, matching the 40 days of Lent. Since today is the first day of Lent, it’s the perfect day to begin reading the book, starting with the Prologue and Chapter One. On this schedule, you’ll complete your reading of the book on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, depending on whether or not you incorporate the chapter “Later” into your final day’s reading.
2. I suggest that you consider a devotional approach to the experience, reading a chapter per day and using it as an opportunity for introspection and prayer. If you’ve already begun reading and have been reading more than a chapter per day, no problem! Still, you might consider going back to Chapter One for a re-read, incorporating the one-chapter-per-day approach into your Lenten experience.
3. Consider using a journal to record responses and prayers that grow out of your reading. Flag words and phrases that strike a responsive chord. Write in the margins of your book, if you’re so inclined.
4. Before each reading, ask God’s Spirit to enliven your reading, prompting you toward awareness and response as God sees fit. One way to do this is to precede each reading with the prayer of Samuel (I Samuel 3:10): “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
5. Pause between chapters and ask: What questions does this chapter raise for me? What thoughts, feelings, or desires does this chapter evoke in me?
6. In your closing prayer, invite God’s ongoing work in your life in light of that day’s reading.
7. Come on Sundays for Sunday School in the Fellowship Hall prepared to engage in conversation about the themes of the book that have arisen during each week’s readings.
I look forward to sharing this experience with you, and I pray that the experience is as spiritually enlivening for you as the original experience was for me. Grace, power, and peace to you!