At Home Practices for Spiritual Practices for the Advent Season by Kathleen Long Bostrom
Each session of this Advent study includes ideas to use at home. It is recommended to pick one to focus on each week. Here are the suggested practices:
Each session of this Advent study includes ideas to use at home. It is recommended to pick one to focus on each week. Here are the suggested practices:
- November 27th: Breath prayer and lectio divina
- Use the breath prayer method each day. Be prepared next week to tell the group how you used breath prayers and how they worked for you. Some use breath prayers while waiting for a job interview, standing in line at the grocery store, and even sitting in a traffic jam (although it’s a good idea to keep your eyes open when driving!).
- Practice the lectio divina at home using the Scripture lesson from Isaiah 40:1–3 or another favorite passage.
- Choose a line from Isaiah 40:1–3 and commit it to memory.
- December 4th: Names of God and Jesus and Centering prayer
- Read Matthew 1:1–17 (the genealogy of Jesus). Investigate the stories behind several of the names in the genealogy.
- Create your own short genealogy.
- Choose a line from today’s Scripture lesson and commit it to memory. Use the verse to practice lectio divina.
- Select a name for Jesus from the O Antiphons (see last week's reading) and use this for the focus of centering prayer.
- During class, you have copied the word “Emmanuel” on small note cards. (If you did not have time during class to do this, do it as soon as you can afterward.) Place the cards where you will find them during the week (car, bathroom mirror, drawer, pocket, wallet), reminding you to engage in a centering prayer. Use the name “Emmanuel” as your sacred word, or choose another if you prefer. Just seeing the word “Emmanuel” will remind you that God is with us, at all times, in all places. Remembering that might put you in a better
frame of mind when you’re having a down day or give you cause to say “thanks” when you’re having a good one
- December 11th: Reader's theatre and meditation on Scripture; Doodling prayer
- Take some time to look for various artistic renderings of the Annunciation. What details capture your attention? Here is a link to online images of the Annunciation from the Vanderbilt Divinity Library's collection.
- Choose a line from today’s Scripture focus and commit it to memory.
- Practice using the doodle prayer in various settings: for morning or evening prayer, while you are listening to the news or waiting for someone, even during the sermon in worship!
- Take some time to look for various artistic renderings of the Annunciation. What details capture your attention? Here is a link to online images of the Annunciation from the Vanderbilt Divinity Library's collection.