VICE MODERATOR FOR STUDIES & SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Christel Hilgarth, sabine44@earthlink.net, 740-354-4609
Dear Sisters,
During the leading of a
workshop “Devoted to Devotion” at the Summer Gathering of PW in the Presbytery
of Scioto Valley at the Granville Presbyterian Church on August 25, 2007, some
of you asked me if I would make my notes available to you. They follow on this
page. I am in service to you and also available to you as guest speaker to lead
a workshop or retreat or I can help you with resources. I can be reached at
sabine44@earthlink.net (please put PW
in the subject line) or by phone 740-354-4609. Share with others and me if you
have good devotional material or website for devotional materials. I would like
to hear from you. And by all means share this information with your circles and
church.
Shalom,
Christel
Devoted to Devotion
Workshop Notes By Christel S.
Hilgarth
What Is Devotion?
Devotion is an act of private worship, a religious exercise
or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation.
What Is Devoted to
Devotion?
·
When a person
is devoted she spends her time, energy, dedication and loyalty to the devotions
and the person is absolutely devoted to the devotions and the devotions are the
prime importance in the person’s life.
·
The
inspirational is not only the Biblical message, but is also the individual
words.
·
Personal
devotion can lead to inspiration, which can lead to writing devotions.
Inspirational is the outcome of one’s devotional through which the message that
is delivered or written; what was divinely inspired.
The Devotional Life
·
A devotional
life brings us closer to God by the daily setting aside of time and space for
devotions.
·
Wisdom Distilled from the Daily-Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today
by Joan Chittister is an example of how to live a devotional life.
·
John Calvin
envisioned that every Christian would lead a monastic life at home. He did not
believe that holiness was only for a select few, those who lead a monastic
life. He felt holiness is attainable for every Christian.
Writing a Devotion
·
We can write
our own rule for our life and make our life a devotional life.
·
Every thing we
do can be devotion. We can devote our life to devotions in how we approach life
and our attitude to life, God, others, and service.
·
We can invite
God into everything we do.
·
A balanced life
is communal worship, devotions, Sabbath keeping, and reaching out to others.
A Place For Devotions and
Posture for Devotions
·
After you have
selected your devotional material.
·
Light a candle.
·
Prayer: Breathe
in deeply and out. Quietly focusing on your breathing is a way to settle down
into a deep meditation. Pray: Lord, bring your calm spirit over me/us.
·
Breathe in
deeply and breathe in God’s unconditional love.
·
Breathe out
slowly and fill the space around you with God’s love.
Read and Reflect on What You Have Read and Journal
·
We are taught
to read for information. When we read for information-we draw and summarize the
text.
·
Do not read for
information. Read for formation. Allow the text to speak to you.
Read slowly.
How does the text speak to
you?
Become aware of your
feelings.
Ask your self: “How is the
text relating to my life?”
How does what I read
challenge me?
What must I change?
·
Pay attention
to the words that you read.
Do they make bring you
discomfort?
Do you find yourself arguing
theology? Why?
Do they highlight cultural
differences?
Do they make me fearful?
·
Practice
lectio
divina on daily basis.
Journal. Engage in
spiritual writing just let your thoughts and pen flow-don’t worry about spelling
and grammar. The insights you gain are inspirations. After you are finished,
thank God for being in your devotional time.
Other ideas:
Resources
Too deep for words - Rediscovering Lectio
Divina with 500 Scripture Texts for Prayer by Thelma Hall, R.C., Paulis
Press, ISBN: 0-8091-2959-0.
Lectio Divina - Renewing the Ancient Practice
of Praying the Scripture, by M. Basil Pennington, OCSO, Crossroad, ISBN:
0-8245-1736-9
More resources on Devotionals
Write Your Own Devotional
(Refer to Book: Harvest of
Righteousness)
Foundation for writing
devotionals is your devotional life.
·
You have
developed a personal relationship with God through personal devotions.
·
You practice
holy reading.
·
You keep a
journal, and you spend time with God-contemplative time, quiet time.
·
Contemplate.
Carry the insights you have gained with you, and you will find that you have
gained a greater understanding of the text, song, hymn, or spiritual book.
·
Let your
writing sit for a day and read it again.
·
Draw out from
your journal.
·
Begin to write
your devotions from the insights arrived though journaling and reflecting.
·
You could have
a prayer
·
You could have
a poem
·
You could have
a realization from a pain of the past that God was there with you all along,
·
Whatever it is:
-Write openly, be genuine
write from your heart.
-Connect your experience to
God share how God has worked in your life.
-God works through others,
through the Bible text and situations in life.
How to Lead Devotions
·
Light a candle.
·
You might have
some contemplative music to set the mood (Taize is good.).
·
Prayer.
·
Help the group
to center using a meditation technique.
·
Read scripture,
a song, a hymn, or from a book written by a spiritual writer slowly.
·
Share your
reflection (devotional-inspiration) with the group.
·
End with a
prayer. It can be a unison prayer.
