Sunday Worship
We have selected a variety of excellent experiences for you - all designed to guide you in reflect on your Sunday worship experience. We have developed our offerings to make it easy for you to find a program or activity or resource that best addresses how you want to learn and grow. You can select from a variety of large group, small group, and on-your-own activities - some are in-person, some online formats, and some have in-person and online components.
The learning activities are organized into three types of experiences. We also offer programs that are for all adults.
The learning activities are organized into three types of experiences. We also offer programs that are for all adults.
- For adults who are just getting started or need a refresher: We have activities that introduce you to prayer and spiritual practices. Look for the activities with introducing or developing in the title.
- For adults who are growing: We have activities that help you become more confident in your practice of prayer and growing in your spiritual life. Look for activities with growing in the title.
- For adults who want to go deeper: We have activities that will deepen your knowledge and practice of prayer and the spiritual life. Look for activities with going deeper in the title.
Experience #1. Weekly Reflection on the Sunday Scripture Readings
Take time each week to reflect on the meaning of the Sunday Gospel reading for your life.
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Reflect on the Sunday Gospel Reading
We are using Lectio Divina as a contemplative way of reflecting on the Gospel reading. Lectio Divina dates back to the early centuries of the Christian Church and was established as a monastic practice by Benedict in the 6th century. It is a way of praying the Scriptures that leads us deeper into God’s word. We slow down. We read a short passage more than once. We chew it over slowly and carefully. We savor it. Scripture begins to speak to us in a new way. It speaks to us personally, and aids that union we have with God through Christ.
We use the Lectio Divina experience to guide you into a prayer reflection on the Sunday Gospel in the Lectionary and imagine how you will live the passage in your daily life. |
Download the Weekly Lectio Divina Guide to the Sunday Gospel
Go to catholic.bible/lectio-divina-in-english/ Choose How You Want to Participate
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Watch the Introduction to Lectio Divina by Fr. James Martin, SJ
Experience #2. Study the Sunday Lectionary Readings
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Chapter, Version, and Season (Podcast)
yalebiblestudy.org/podcast/?mc_cid=ce0c3e1c6b&mc_eid=e08fba56ea Each week, professors from different disciplines at Yale Divinity School chat about biblical texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. They bring their own interests to the table and hopefully spark new insights into the scripture appointed for each Sunday. The Center for Continuing Education at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Bible Study are present Chapter, Verse, and Season for communities, clergy, and laypeople. Encountering the Word - Year A, B, and C (Video) media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-presents/ Jeff Cavins has produced a 5-6 minute video reflection for the Sunday readings of each cycle: A, B, and C. The Sunday Website at St. Louis University https://liturgy.slu.edu Resources for every Sunday in the Catholic lectionary that includes praying toward Sunday, the spirituality of the readings, and getting to know the readings. Taking Faith Home ($) https://milestonesministry.org/taking-faith-home Taking Faith Home is an annual resource (digital download or CD) that provides a page of activities for each week during the church year. It is based on the Revised Common Lectionary and incorporates caring conversations, devotions, service, rituals and traditions, a weekly prayer, Bible verse, mealtime prayer, and blessing. It also offers a suggested daily Bible readings and hymn for the week. The Text This Week http://www.textweek.com Lectionary, Scripture study, worship links, and resources for every Sunday of the year for the Catholic, Revised Common, and Narrative lectionaries. Working Preacher http://www.workingpreacher.org Scripture commentary on each of the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary. |
Experience #3. Daily Devotions from the Lectionary
Select of these online opportunities for daily Bible reflection
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Daily Devotions
www.livingfaith.com Devotions based on the daily readings from the Catholic lectionary. Daily Discipleship and Daily Faith Practices (ELCA) https://www.elca.org/Resources/Bible-Studies Daily Discipleship and Daily Faith Practices are downloadable Bible studies based on the lectionary used at Sunday worship (Revised Common Lectionary). Daily Discipleship is based on the Gospel and Daily Faith Practices is based on the second reading. Both are available for each liturgical year. Faith at Home https://www.dofaithathome.org Faith @ Home helps you and your household grow in faith as you spend time throughout the week reflecting on God’s Word. Based on the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, the devotions invite you to engage in the discipleship practice of Reading, Reflecting, and Responding to scripture in the context of community. Offerings include Adult and Small Child, Adult and Elementary, Adult and Youth, and Adult and Adults, so you can have conversations with everyone, no matter what stage of life. Grow Christians—A Community of Disciples Practicing Faith at Home https://www.growchristians.org Grow Christians from Forward Movement is a website to find inspiration for faith at home, describing itself as “striving to create an online community of discipleship focused on the practical details of life at home.” It includes reflections, stories, images, and recipes, celebrating the presence of God through the Christian year. USCCB Daily Bible Readings, Audio, and Video bible.usccb.org Daily Bible readings, podcast audio, videos, and prayers provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Word on Fire Daily Reflections dailycatholicgospel.com Word on Fire: Daily Reflections is a daily email each morning with a link for reading the day's Gospel passage from the Catholic lectionary, followed by a short reflection on the passage from Bishop Robert Barron. |
Experience #4. Develop the Practice of Sabbath
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Sabbath - Christian Practices www.lifelongfaith.com/practices.html Lifelong Faith's Christian Practices project has produced faith forming activities - for age groups and for families - with a teaching plan for Keeping Sabbath. All activities are included on separate MS Word document so that you can create handouts for sessions, a booklet, online playlists and activities, social media posts, etc. Each Activity can be done in 20 minutes (approximately). Sabbath - Faith Practices Project https://www.crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject/sabbath A variety of resources on Sabbath from the Christian Reformed Church. Sabbath - Essential Practices https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/essential-practices-sabbath Essential Practices for Sabbath introduces the doctrine of Sabbath and explains why it matters. It also looks at Sabbath in scripture and in action. |
