In the interest of offering people the opportunity, during the Lenten season, to deepen their relationship with God, First United Methodist Church will be offering a six-week, lunchtime contemplative prayer group. This group, which will meet Wednesdays from noon to 12:45, will explore the contemplative practice known as Lectio Divina. It is free of charge and open to the entire community.

Lectio Divina is Latin for Sacred Reading. Lectio Divina, which has been used for over 1500 years, is a contemplative form of praying with sacred texts where we can encounter God in a profoundly intimate and direct way. Through repeated hearing of scripture, interspersed with periods of silence, we open ourselves up to hearing God’s direction in our lives. Lectio Divina assumes that God speaks to us intimately in the unique circumstances of our lives, responding in new ways to each moment. Through the process of Lectio Divina we are opening ourselves up to this experience.

While based on scripture, Lectio Divina is not Bible study. The purpose is not to gain knowledge or information about the Bible or God, but instead to develop our relationship with God. Through this relationship we ask for the grace to have our heart changed by what we have heard and to live out that change in concrete ways.

The group will be led by First United Methodist Church’s Visitation Pastor, Jenny Caughman. “Contemplative prayer has been a very important part of my life for many years” says Caughman. “It is one of the places where I feel very closely connected to God, and nourished by the experience of God’s loving presence.”

The first session will take place on Wednesday, February 29^th, in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church (1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike). Registration is not required. If you would like more information please contact Jenny Caughman at 483-4357 or jcaughman@fumcor.org.