Continuing our journey through the Season of Lent

After missing a snow day Feb. 7 and rescheduling the Gospel Parallels conversation to Feb. 14, we met on Feb. 21 to introduce the practice of Lectio Divina. I've found a wonderful article online by Fr. Luke Dysinger that describes the practice for individuals and groups (like ours), as well as a way to integrate the practice into our daily life.

We introduced this practice of prayerful scripture reading on Feb. 21, but you can experience this part of the class again on Wednesday evening, Feb. 24, at 8 pm in the sanctuary, following the Lenten Prayer service that begins at 7 pm. Please plan to join us for some welcome spiritual refreshment and peace.

Here's an outline of what we've covered so far:
1. Jan. 17 - The Daily Office (prayers of the hours or praying scripture) - we discussed the difference between what you learned about the Bible as a child and what you have learned about the Bible as an adult (passive vs. engaged).
2. Jan. 24 - Psalm 19 and Praying with the Body - we discussed what it means to call the Bible "God's Word". Introduced the "dropped ski" analogy and the difference between appreciating and appropriating the message of scripture. We also discussed the tension between the explicit and implicit word (creation vs. law).
3. Jan. 31 - Following the "Here I Am, Lord" topical thread or chain - discussed Karen Armstrong' assertion that the Bible is a commentary or interpretation of events (rather than a bare reporting of those events). Focused on Gen. 22 (the sacrifice of Isaac) and how we must go to the edge in order to truly know about ourselves.
4. Feb. 14 (skipped Feb. 7 due to snow) - Gospel Parallels of Mark 2:23-28 - we (1) compared the parallel accounts and (2) discussed the interpretive methods used by the pharisees, Jesus, and the Gospel writers. We discussed integrating the Bible story into our life story as a way of doing theology. We also discussed the tension between freedom in Christ and the requirements of the Law.
 5. Feb. 21 and 24 (Wednesday evening) - Lectio Divina using Jeremiah 29:10-14 - reading from the TNIV, RSV, and TNK versions and listening for a word that resonates with our lives. This way of inspirational reading (or hearing) contrasts sharply with the more scholarly and pedantic technique we used in comparing the Gospel parallels.

Here is the plan for the remainder of the class sessions:
6. Feb. 28 and March 3 (Wednesday evening) - a whirlwind tour of the "seminal stories" of the Bible. These stories are the primary narratives that provide the structure and foundation of the Biblical narrative.
7. Mar. 7 and 10 (Wednesday evening) - Dennis Dewey and the art of Biblical storytelling - let's experience together how scripture might have been originally transmitted among the Israelites and early Christians.
8. Mar. 14 and 17 (Wednesday evening) - using the Bible as it's own interpretive commentary on Genesis 19 (destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah) - we'll examine the ways scripture references and interprets Genesis 19, as well as the interpretive power of translation.
9. Mar. 21 and 24 (Wednesday evening) - experiencing scripture liturgically - we'll join for a celebration of communion as we gather around the story of passover, the letters of Paul, and the Gospel accounts of the last supper.