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Dwelling in the Word

Dwelling in the Word

Dwelling in the Word

At the 2019 Synod Assembly of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod, participants shared ideas and concerns about life together in our synod based on Bishop Roth’s sabbatical report to the C/SIS. Based on those conversations, the Synod Council is strongly encouraging congregations to join Synod Council and synod committees in a spiritually nourishing practice called “Dwelling in the Word.”

Beginning in June 2020, all synod meetings began with a time of Dwelling in the Word. Congregations are also urged to engage in Dwelling in the Word at their council meetings, committee meetings, Bible studies, and/or any other gatherings. At Synod Assembly in 2021, we shared stories about how we have seen the practice of Dwelling in the Word forming and transforming individuals, congregations, and the C/SIS. We will continue this practice and share how we heard God calling, inviting, and moving among us and how that impacts our life together as a synod.

https://youtu.be/Ph_y2Q29WnM

Video: Introduction to Dwelling in the Word

Pastor Amy Ziettlow explains how to lead a Dwelling in the Word session and the spiritual benefits this practice can provide.

https://youtu.be/ooHnw87Hvtg

Video: A Reflection on this Spiritual Practice

Synod Councilmember Dorene Klages provides a video reflection on her experience practicing Dwelling in the word.

https://youtu.be/SmmLu9y53AU

Video: A
Sample Dwelling Session

A group from St. John's Lutheran Church, Springfield has provided a recorded example of what Dwelling in the Word may look like.

Dwelling in the Word: A Leader's Guide

Above, please find a brief guide to help those who lead a Dwelling in the Word session.

Leading Dwelling in the Word:
January 6 through February 21

Use this resource to lead a group through Dwelling in the Word. Follow below to lead a session now, including the current Scripture reading, or download the complete guide and selected readings for the entire year.

Preparing for the Gathering
This practice is meant to be flexible, for use with smaller or larger groups; you are free to adapt the amount of time for sharing, as well as whether to spend time with partners or small groups or only sharing with the whole group. Dwelling in the Word can be done in person or through video conference. The “Acting” section would be more applicable to council and committee meetings than a Bible study or quilting group.

Depending on your group, you may want to provide a handout or use a “screen share” with the Scripture passage and/or the reflection questions. It is helpful for everyone to hear and/or read along with the same translation. Typically, the same text is read twice by two different readers. A variation is to read a second translation.

If you are Dwelling in the Word on Zoom, make sure the host has enabled the share screen and breakout rooms options in settings.

Prepare to Listen
The leader provides a brief introduction to the practice of Dwelling in the Word – more if the practice is new to any member in the group; less if it is a developed practice. For example:

“Dwelling in the Word is a time of prayerful and communal reflection on a passage of Scripture. We will hear God’s Word read twice, allowing for silence between the readings. Are there two volunteers who would be our readers? I will let you know when to read. As we listen to the text, consider these questions; feel free to write down any reflections if you’d like.

  • What captures my attention?
  • What questions do I have? What do I wonder?
  • Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?

After we hear God’s Word, you will have a few minutes to share our responses [with a partner]. These can be simply words or phrases that stand out for you, with or without explanation.”

Listening
The leader opens with a prayer asking God to open our hearts and speak to us.
Ask participants to reflect on these questions while the first reader to reads the text slowly.

  • What captures my attention?
  • What questions do I have? What do I wonder?
  • Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?

Galatians 5:13-25

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7     who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Genesis 32:22-31

22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Matthew 4:12-23

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
    light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Matthew 21:1-11

21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.”[a] 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble and mounted on a donkey,
        and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

John 14:1-7

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Allow for silence.

Invite the second reader to read the text again.

Allow for silence.

Reflecting
The leader instructs people to pair up and share responses – words or phrases, with or without explanation. “Listen carefully to your partner; after sharing with each other, you will be sharing some of your partner’s responses with the whole group (or a table group).” (On Zoom, host selects break out rooms and the amount of time desired (4 or 5 minutes); the number of rooms is your participants divided by two. The host will be able to join any room after activating the rooms. At the end of the allotted time, participants will return to the full group.)

After a few minutes, remind people to switch to let the other person share if they haven’t already.

After a few more minutes, have people gather with their partner at a table of 6-8, or in the large group. With their partner’s permission, let people share what their partner heard and wondered.

After a few more minutes, if not already gathered as the whole group, bring everyone together, ask for any other sharing. After hearing responses, ask “Where might God’s Spirit be nudging us?” (There may or may not be much response but allow time for people to process the question after everything they’ve heard.) The leader does not have to answer questions or respond directly to what is shared.

Acting
The leader invites participants to keep the Scripture in mind throughout the meeting and encourages participants to share reflections from the text throughout the time together. What does the text say in the midst of the meeting/gathering and making decisions?

You may decide to end your time together by reading the text one more time and invite reflections on how the passage influenced discussion and/or planning.

Close with a prayer, asking God to continue speaking to the group through the Scripture.

Bring the Scripture text to the group in the same manner at the next meeting or gathering.

Why Dwelling in the Word?

Dwelling in the Word opens us to the Spirit’s movement and direction in our lives.

Spending an extended time living with dwelling in a text (over weeks or months) deepens our involvement with God’s story and stirs our imagination about how God may be present in our own story.

Dwelling in the Word invites us into intentional listening.

We listen to Scripture twice, with two readers if possible and with one translation. Different voices offer different tones and inflections. While reading two translations or paraphrases can open us to differences in translation, those differences may also distract us from going deeper with a word or phrase and reflecting on why that has caught our attention. Consider using a second translation or paraphrase at the next session of dwelling.

We listen better to one another when we speak what someone else has said: Having people pair up in twos or threes to respond to the first two dwelling questions and then share the other’s person response in the larger group helps us pay closer attention to what someone else has said, but our own reflections may sound different when we hear them in someone else’s voice.

We listen more fully when all voices are heard. By reporting out what was heard in the pairs, every voice gets a hearing; the large group may more easily identify themes or directions that relate the passage to our own current story and context.

SHARE YOUR STORIES AND REFLECTIONS!

We'd love to hear about your experiences in dwelling in God's word. Please submit your reflections using the online form below so that they might be shared throughout the synod and further benefit Christ's Church!

Fields marked with * are required.

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