Invitation to Tuesday's "Praying the Psalms"
at 11:00 am via Zoom
“Prayer is none other than an expanding of our hearts in the presence of God.” -John Calvin
In these times of crisis, chaos and physical distancing, our ordinary is completely turned upside down and it is challenging to find those regular, daily rhythms of God’s holy Sabbath time and to engage in rituals that are at the core of how our faith is formed in a community. “Praying the Psalms” is an opportunity to listen to God through scripture together. We come together, over Zoom, for 40-45 minutes, for a meditative reading of the Psalm from the previous Sunday’s lectionary texts.
Using a method adapted from lectio divina (a form of sacred reading that invites us to slow down and focus on the text, reading each verse carefully and thoughtfully, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding), we spend time listening to the psalm read slowly, three different times, each time pondering it first in silence and then sharing with one another what we heard, before closing out the time by praying The Lord’s Prayer together and leaving with a benediction.
In these times of crisis, chaos and physical distancing, our ordinary is completely turned upside down and it is challenging to find those regular, daily rhythms of God’s holy Sabbath time and to engage in rituals that are at the core of how our faith is formed in a community. “Praying the Psalms” is an opportunity to listen to God through scripture together. We come together, over Zoom, for 40-45 minutes, for a meditative reading of the Psalm from the previous Sunday’s lectionary texts.
Using a method adapted from lectio divina (a form of sacred reading that invites us to slow down and focus on the text, reading each verse carefully and thoughtfully, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding), we spend time listening to the psalm read slowly, three different times, each time pondering it first in silence and then sharing with one another what we heard, before closing out the time by praying The Lord’s Prayer together and leaving with a benediction.
Invitation to Wednesday Bible Study
with Rev. Shannon Smythe, 10:00 am via Zoom
God's word is alive. God will always have something new to say to us. This LISTEN UP! Bible Study on the second half of John (11:45-21:19) is not simply focused on learning information about the Bible. It is hearing God speak. This study will encourage you to listen: listen to the Bible, listen to your own questions and responses, and listen to the honest sharing among participants in the study group. Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe that in that mix of biblical text, personal engagement, and honest speaking and listening, God's word may be heard, speaking words of challenge and words of comfort.
Are you seeking comfort for an aching soul? Are you struggling with our broken world? Are you yearning for a way to interpret your life and the events of today through the lens of love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption? All of this (and more) can be found in the Gospel of John. John offers a challenge to our lives that can be provocative, unsettling, and richly rewarding … but what else could we hope for in our encounters with stories of the Divine? In this study, dig deep into the Gospel as you ask: “What am I seeking? What are we searching for? And when we find it, what will we do?”
This study is part 2 of the study of the Gospel of John (11:45-21:19) but can be picked up easily even if you missed the part 1 study. Pastor Shannon will facilitate the group and we will meet on Zoom weekly on Wednesdays at 10am for 10 weeks, beginning on October 7th and finishing on December 16th (no class Thanksgiving week). Please contact the church office to purchase the study book and to get the Zoom link. The study entails about 30-60 minutes a week of homework for participants.
Are you seeking comfort for an aching soul? Are you struggling with our broken world? Are you yearning for a way to interpret your life and the events of today through the lens of love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption? All of this (and more) can be found in the Gospel of John. John offers a challenge to our lives that can be provocative, unsettling, and richly rewarding … but what else could we hope for in our encounters with stories of the Divine? In this study, dig deep into the Gospel as you ask: “What am I seeking? What are we searching for? And when we find it, what will we do?”
This study is part 2 of the study of the Gospel of John (11:45-21:19) but can be picked up easily even if you missed the part 1 study. Pastor Shannon will facilitate the group and we will meet on Zoom weekly on Wednesdays at 10am for 10 weeks, beginning on October 7th and finishing on December 16th (no class Thanksgiving week). Please contact the church office to purchase the study book and to get the Zoom link. The study entails about 30-60 minutes a week of homework for participants.
