Ways to incorporate bible reflection into your weekly practices

Today's post continues discussions around adding a new weekly spiritual practice this fall. The below draws on a blog post from earlier this year on ways to study the coming Sunday's church readings.

Based on RenewalWorks data collected from over 390 Episcopal churches, embedding the bible into the life of the church is one of five best practices in spiritually vital churches.  It is also an area Episcopal respondent’s express an interest in learning more about.

Previous RenewalWorks participant churches report deeper spiritual engagement when parishioners can spend time digesting the coming Sunday’s readings. This is both a way to develop daily spiritual practices, to use scripture as a reflection tool, and to communicate with God.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Below are two examples of churches who created resources for parishioners to examine and contemplate the coming Sunday readings.

Rev Peter Walsh, Rector of St Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, CT, began recording a weekly podcast called "Rev'd Up for Sunday"  (available on Tuesdays) which provides a clergy discussion around one Sunday reading. Since its introduction, its popularity and production has grown beyond the parish of St. Mark’s.  Listeners get an intimate view of how the St. Mark’s priests, Fr. Peter, Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, and Fr. John Kennedy gear up for Sunday through a sometimes irreverent, often witty 30-minute-long conversation that is always filled with love for our Lord.

Fr. Peter had this to say on the growth of Rev’d Up for Sunday as a spiritual practice,

“…coming out of the pandemic we were asking the question of what did our people need? Jesus and the bible, the quick answer. Instantly, the pod idea. We started the next day with no idea how to do it. Now it is a central piece of our life together. It has radically changed the preaching, as now we all spend a lot of time studying the bible and the life of Christ…More and more people in the parish are engaged with it, and it so fun for us to hear from people around the U.S. and from out of the country.” 

The pod has definitely impacted the sermons at St. Mark’s. We invite you to go back the following week and view their sermon (available on the website) which provides further interpretation of the passage previewed the prior week.  This is substantive way to dig deep into a study of a scripture reading.

After completing RenewalWorks, Rev. Jane Schmoetzer at All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Richland WA began providing a weekly email with a reflection on one of the coming Sunday readings.  Fast forward a few years and parishioners have now stepped forward to take responsibility for delivering the reflection. It is titled, the "Wednesday Word". 

On the growth of the Wednesday Word at All Saint’s, Rev Jane remarks,

“I never fail to be drawn in by these brief meditations.  It feels like spending a few moments in conversation with a faithful friend. Every time, the writer asks a question or offers an insight that stirs my own contemplation.  Often, they see something I may have missed or offer inspiration in a way I do not expect.  

It’s also a reminder of the importance not only of reading scripture but doing so in community.  Reading the Bible on our own is an important practice; however, sharing the “variety of gifts” that God places in our hearts and minds is absolutely key to a fuller understanding of the Holy Spirit’s presence and leading.”

Does your church offers another way to prepare for Sunday or for prereading the weekly Sunday readings?  We love the opportunity to share good ideas and resources among our churches.  Please share any ideas or examples you use here.