This summer LCOC with Bethlehem Lutheran Church and St. Nicholas Lutheran Church offered a 3-session series on Sacred Rhythms. One of the practices we explored is praying the scriptures – sometimes we call this Lectio Divina and sometimes we frame it as dwelling in the Word. Either way, this practice is important as it anchors us in God’s love, it shines a light on the path that God wants for us to walk, and it sends us forth to proclaim God’s message of love.
This month, I invite you to reflect on Psalm 117. For some Bible trivia, this is the shortest Psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. I invite you to start and end your day dwelling in this Psalm. Some ways to do this include reading it out loud, writing it out by hand, and/or drawing, painting, or crafting what God is speaking to you through this Psalm. Some questions to consider include:
· What word of phrase jumps out for you?
· What questions does this passage raise?
· How might the Holy Spirit be nudging you/LCOC to respond to this text?
Here is Psalm 117 from both the NRSV and The Message:
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord! (NRSV)
1-2 Praise God, everybody!
Applaud God, all people!
His love has taken over our lives;
God’s faithful ways are eternal.
Hallelujah! (The Message)
As you read through this newsletter, you will see that we have much for which to Praise God. It is because of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness and YOUR prayers, participation, support, and new ideas that make it possible for LCOC to be a beacon of light and hope in this community.
Mark your calendars, invite your friends and neighbors, and be a part of God’s mission through the ministry at LCOC!
Pastor Darcy
