I'm not above begging . . .

Dear Friends in Christ -

When it comes to something I really believe in, I'm not above begging. So I'm begging. I'm begging you to call Nancy today and sign up to write a Lenten Meditation for our parish booklet.

I know you're busy. For some of you, writing is not your "thing." Others of you would secretly like to try it, but you're afraid you won't do a good job.

Please set those things aside for a minute, call Nancy in the parish office (929-1722) and sign up to write a meditation. She'll give you a verse to write about; the guidelines are below. In these uncertain, stressful times, this is the best gift you can give to yourself and to the people you love at St. Paul's this Lent.

I wasn't going to beg . . . but I was moved to do so as I prepared for this morning's Eucharist. I was thinking about something I heard last week at Clergy Conference. The speaker, Diana Butler Bass, said, "Vibrant congregations are the places where God's people gather in the Spirit to intentionally become . . . a Community of Practice."

My hope is that you will help all of us practice our faith by practicing yours through writing a meditation to share.

THANK YOU for all the ways you support St. Paul's - and for responding to this plea.
Faithfully,
Janet+

Writing a Personal Reflection on Scripture . . .
1. Ask God to guide you and bring your thoughts together
2. Read the Scripture passage through a couple of times
3. Jot down what sticks out to you
a. Identify why that particular thing sticks out to you
b. If you have a question about details in the text, research it briefly
4. Reflect quietly on one or more of these questions:
a. How does this connect with your life?
b. How has God blessed you in a way related to this?
c. How do you struggle with what’s said in this passage?
d. What’s the most beautiful thing that you’ve experienced related to this passage?
5. Jot down your answer to ONE of these questions
6. Form your answer into a short, two or three paragraph sharing
a. Include enough details to give people a glimpse of the setting
b. Focus on ONE point
7. Step back from what you’ve written and ask,
a. Does it focus on what God does (or what I did)?
b. Does it show what God teaches (or what I think people ought to know)?
8. Ask a friend to read it
a. Can he/she see something of God’s goodness or beauty or power in it? If so, then you’re done!