Recently, some of the synod staff have started to meet on a weekly basis - for about an hour or so - to read and meditate on scripture together. The key word here for me is "
together." If I were to do this alone, I would never come away with the insights that others share. My colleagues open my eyes to new things (it seems that we do that for each other) - and this reminds me just how alive the Bible really is! There's a reason we call it the living bible - and not the dead bible!
By reading
together - with others - we attempt to interpret the Bible faithfully and through the Lutheran lens. We hold each other accountable, I guess you could say. I know this accountability factor doesn't exist when I read the bible alone.
One of the gifts that I receive from this gatherings is the sense of refreshment and renewal I experience. These gatherings are powerful and empowering.
Our process is simple. It's heavily based on the African Bible study. First we start by finding three volunteers to read scripture. Then here's what we do:
1. Someone lights a candle while another person reads the prayer for the day (from the Celebrate). Another way to do this is to have a prayer that you can say together as a group.
2. One of us volunteers to read the bible passage (so far we have been using the gospel text for the coming Sunday). While the person reads the passage, we pay attention to a word or phrase that stands out for us when we listen. The reader reads the passage again (after some silence). After a minute or two of additional silence, the reader rings a bell.
3. We each take turns sharing (without additional comment) the word or phrase that stands out for us. That's all.
4. Another one of us volunteers to read the bible passage again. During this reading, we listen for the answer to this question: "How is my life touched by this passage?"
5. After the reading, there is - again - another minute or so of silence. The reader rings the bell to signal the end of the silence. We each take time to share our response to the question.
6. A third person reads the scripture through once. During this reading, we listen for the answer to these questions: "Is there an invitation here?" and "Do I sense that this passage is inviting me to do or be something?"
7. There is about another minute of silence after this reading. Again the reader breaks the silence when so moved, by ringing the bell. We share our responses.
8. We close our time together by praying for whatever is on our mind. In addition, we pray for the person who sits to our right (or left). I think, for some of us, it was awkward at first to do this, but I am glad we have stuck with this. What an amazing thing to have the privilege to pray for another person - and to experience hearing another's prayers for me. When we first gather, we try to purposely sit in different seats each week so that we get to pray for someone new :-)
The next step for me is to find other opportunities to use this meditation. I am eager to use it with my family - and maybe even with a group of folks in my congregation. I like it because it doesn't require a concordance or bible study guides. All it requires is community. A listening community.
I'm already looking forward to when we gather together next week!
