Worshipping God &
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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. 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 - a time set apart to rest from work
Follow this guided experience to develop your own understanding & practice of Sabbath.
What does Sabbath mean to you?
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What's your idea of a great “day off”…
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“A Sabbath Story” by Terry Pluto (from Faith and You)
I plead guilty.
I know that one day a week is supposed to be a day of rest, a day of worship, a day of getting closer to God and family. I know all of that is a
great idea. I know I should do it.
I don’t.
I get to church nearly every Sunday, “home and road,” as we say in the sports business, which means whether I’m at home or traveling. But I
often leave church to hustle to a game. That’s true at least twenty times a year, and there are only fifty-two Sundays.
I bet I write my newspaper column at least thirty Sundays each year. For sportswriters, the weekend usually is the heart of the workweek. It
would be super if the work I did on Sundays was service to others. Sometimes that’s the case when I speak in prison, at a church, or at the
city’s mission. Or it can be when I take an elderly person to a service. But most often on Sundays I’m working at my job.
I know that one of the Ten Commandments is to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
I know that Moses said in Exodus 16:23, “The Lord has commanded that tomorrow is a holy day of rest, dedicated to him.”
I know that some faiths have lots of rules about what you can and can’t do on the Sabbath.
I know that Jesus went to the synagogue regularly.
I know that I need a Sabbath rest. I know that I seldom take it.
I can give all the excuses. We live in a 24/7 world where nearly every business is open every day. Some are open every day and night. Sunday
“blue laws” and other restrictions on trade and activities have gone the way of the hula hoop and the black-and-white TV. There are times
when most of us simply must work on the Sabbath to keep our jobs.
I’m not talking about the exceptions when we simply must work. I’m talking about how I regularly break the rule about resting on the Sabbath.
Guess when I’m writing this article? You got it—Sunday night!
What’s your Sabbath story?
What does a typical Sabbath day (or Sunday) look like for you?
I plead guilty.
I know that one day a week is supposed to be a day of rest, a day of worship, a day of getting closer to God and family. I know all of that is a
great idea. I know I should do it.
I don’t.
I get to church nearly every Sunday, “home and road,” as we say in the sports business, which means whether I’m at home or traveling. But I
often leave church to hustle to a game. That’s true at least twenty times a year, and there are only fifty-two Sundays.
I bet I write my newspaper column at least thirty Sundays each year. For sportswriters, the weekend usually is the heart of the workweek. It
would be super if the work I did on Sundays was service to others. Sometimes that’s the case when I speak in prison, at a church, or at the
city’s mission. Or it can be when I take an elderly person to a service. But most often on Sundays I’m working at my job.
I know that one of the Ten Commandments is to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
I know that Moses said in Exodus 16:23, “The Lord has commanded that tomorrow is a holy day of rest, dedicated to him.”
I know that some faiths have lots of rules about what you can and can’t do on the Sabbath.
I know that Jesus went to the synagogue regularly.
I know that I need a Sabbath rest. I know that I seldom take it.
I can give all the excuses. We live in a 24/7 world where nearly every business is open every day. Some are open every day and night. Sunday
“blue laws” and other restrictions on trade and activities have gone the way of the hula hoop and the black-and-white TV. There are times
when most of us simply must work on the Sabbath to keep our jobs.
I’m not talking about the exceptions when we simply must work. I’m talking about how I regularly break the rule about resting on the Sabbath.
Guess when I’m writing this article? You got it—Sunday night!
What’s your Sabbath story?
What does a typical Sabbath day (or Sunday) look like for you?
What is Sabbath?
Watch the video and read the article about the importance of Sabbath today.
What is the tradition of Sabbath?
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To learn more about the tradition of Sabbath read these short one-two page articles:
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How Can I Keep the Sabbath?
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To develop a Sabbath practice read these short one-two page articles:
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