Catholic Church Serving West Seattle Washington
OUR
LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH
RSVP: Ritual, Scripture, Verse, and Prayer
An Invitation to Pray with the
Scriptures
Guidelines and suggested Format
RSVP offers a simple prayer and sharing format
outlined below. This can be done with
others or alone.
These are suggestions
only, and should be amended to fit the group and the time allowed.
Obviously if children are present, a candle may not be
what is passed as part of the sharing.
Anyone can lead. Leadership can rotate and should not
be seen as someone who “knows” more than others. The leader simply initiates the prayer for
all.
RITUAL: Begin by lighting a candle.
The candle is symbolic of the light of Christ. When we gather, Jesus himself is among us,
because he said: “Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there
among them.” (Matt 18:20).
Take a quiet moment to let go of the demands of the
day, and begin to focus your heart on prayer.
SCRIPTURE:
The scripture is read slowly three times by the leader
with periods of silence between readings.
This is an ancient form of prayer known as Lectio Divina,
or sacred reading.
The
first reading merely gives the
hearer a chance to hear the words.
The listener, in prayer, asks: What
do these words say?
The
second reading is for deeper
understanding.
The listener, in prayer, asks: What
is God saying to me?
The
third reading is to discern action.
The listener, in prayer
asks: Is there an action God is calling me to take?
Between each reading, allow for some moments of silence
- so there can be time for reflection.
Reflecting and sharing the VERSE of scripture that relates
to our life:
Sharing our reflection gives voice to our prayer and
not only helps us articulate our faith, but helps others as well. The questions offered are suggestions only;
if they speak to you, welcome them, if not, share your own reflections. It is not necessary to answer every
question. They are intended to assist the
reflection process only, not to assume answers or make comparisons.
Steps for sharing: 1. The first person to share takes
the candle and holds it in their hands.
2.
Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. It is always acceptable to
“pass.”
3.
Listen with prayerful respect to others, and make no comments nor ask
questions as others are sharing.
4.
When the
person sharing is finished, they will place the candle back in the center of
the table so the next person may take it as they share.
PRAYER:
The group may ask all to pray in intercession or in thanksgiving
for experiences or events that are happening in our lives:
. . . . . We pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Closing Prayer: Our Father
Sharing our faith and the joys and struggles that we encounter in life is one way we can strengthen our bonds of community. Praying with RSVP is one way of building trust and closer relationships with our fellow parishioners. By reflecting on the gospels and sharing how we deal with the world, we enrich our Christian lives. In order to make RSVP a comfortable experience for everyone, there are a few suggested guidelines that should be observed. These include:
