Psalm 124
THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 16:13-20
THE SECOND LESSON Romans 12:1-13
MEDITATION "Why We are Different"
Worship Notes
We conclude our Summer of Spirit with our final worship integrating the practice of lectio divina into our worship. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to read (Lectio), study (Meditatio), pray (Oratio) and listen (Contemplatio) to a bible text. The systematization of spiritual reading into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book titled "The Monk's Ladder" wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation.
The central text for our worship is taken from the 12th chapter of Romans where Paul describes the distinctive marks of what it means to follow Christ. The Call to Worship incorporates three of these verses where Paul exhorts Christians to be genuine, loyal, and passionate. The Prayer of Confession comes from the Book of Common Prayer (PCUSA) and reminds us of how we often conform to the values of the world rather than be transformed by the Spirit of God. The Affirmation of Faith is a portion of the Brief Statement of Faith of the PCUSA detailing how it is God's Spirit that gives us the courage to be different in a world characterized by conformity. In the silent prayer following the prayers of the people, we encourage you to reflect on the ways you may be transformed in serving the world and the church.
