As promised, here is the recipe for the Bread that was prepared at our service on Sunday, 15 March 2009.
500 g Bread Flour
2 tsp Salt
3 tsp Sugar
10 g Instant Yeast
500 ml Luke Warm Water
Method:
Mix the Flour and the Salt together in a large mixing bowl.
Mix the Sugar, Instant Yeast and Water together in a bowl.
Add the liquid mixture to a well that has been made in the dry mixture.
Mix well (adding more flour to dry the mixture out) and then knead for 10 minutes.
Leave the kneaded dough covered with a dish-towel in a warm dry place for 20 minutes to rise.
Flatten the dough. Shape it into a loaf. Place the shaped dough into a loaf tin and leave to prove for another 20 minutes.
Bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes at 220 degrees C.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool until eaten.
Enjoy!
Spiritual Reading
“Read with a vulnerable heart. Expect to be blessed in the reading. Read as one awake, one waiting for the beloved. Read with Reverence.” (Macrina
Wiederkehr)
There are different ways to read. It sort of depends upon what we are reading. We read a love letter or a letter from a best friend differently than we read textbooks or magazines or newspapers. When reading scripture, there is a way of reading that most closely resemble a very special letter. It is called in Latin “Lectio
Divina”, which literally means “spiritual reading”. It is a four-fold method developed in the sixth Century by Saint Benedict. This ancient practice has found its way into both Protestant and Roman Catholic practices. During the time of the Reformation, a derivative of Lectio was common among the great reformers like John Calvin. In the presence of the early Puritans, Reformed adaptations of the Lectio were also common.
The four parts of the ancient pratice of spiritual reading are lectio, meditatio, oratio and contemplatio. Here’s a brief description of each part:
Lectio
This literally means “reading”. It involves a kind of reading that is careful, reflective, and allows what is read to sink in. In reading the scripture, read the passage(s) as if for the first time and in a very personal way, believing that God speaks in the very reading of his word. Seek the words and pjrases that may have particular meaning and significance right now. It may be helpful to note that the word lectio is the root of the words lection and lectionary. The lectionary is what we call our daily and weekly reading of the scripture.
Meditatio
This is translated as “meditation” and has to do with pondering what has been read for its deeper significance. Sit with the words and consider them. Allow the words to move from your mouth and your mind into your heart where they can take on more profound meaning. In the early church, meditation involved a practice of repeating the words until they were formed in the heart. You might want to repeat the words that seemed to have the most significance and move those words to a place of deeper awareness.
Oratio
Now you respond to the meditation. Oratio has to do with spoken words. After the scripture is formed in our heart in meditation, oratio is the verbal expression or prayer that flows from your heart. Perhaps some emotion has been touched: anger, pain, gratitude or whatever. You speak it. Perhaps the scriptural meditation has led you to self-examination or an awareness or understanding. In oratio you tell or write this to God.
Contemplatio
Finally, you rest. “Contemplation” is that time of silence after speaking or writing. Here you wait and listen and become receptive to whatever God may want to do with you. In contemplatio, there is no agenda or expectation. There is a time to simply “be” with God.
Some suggestions for lectio
divina
Use the following suggestions, if you wish, to help guide your reading:
Lectio
- Read the passage slowly, pausing between phrases and sentences.
- Read the passage aloud or whisper it to help yourself … really hear the words.
- Let the words linger in your mind, allowing their meanings to sink in.
- If a word or phrase seems especially important, stay with it, turning it over in your mind or heart.
Meditatio
- Once you hear words or phrases important for you, explore their significance for your life.
- Consider how God is catching your attention with these words or phrases.
- If the passage is a story, consider how you fit into the story, and how the story connects with your life experience.
- Reflect on what God might be saying to you with this passage.
Oratio
- Let your prayer emerge from your encounter with the text.
- Consider how the words move you to pray for yourself, others and the world.
- Express as fully as you can what comes from your heart.
Contemplatio
- Now the work is done. Take time to rest in God’s presence.
- Release all your thoughts and feelings to God.
- Enjoy the moment and the experience of spiritual reading.
- This is the “Amen” of reading. So be it!
