The 2024 Diocesan Bible passage will be Luke 1: 46-55. This Gospel passage was suggested by Lis Sparrow, Vicar of St John's Bridgwater, one of our Magnificat Parishes.
We hope to explore the passage in a variety of ways during the course of 2024. One of these ways will be by using the practice of Dwelling in the Word. Below is a short video from Portishead reflecting on their experience of using the practice; a bit more information about Dwelling in the Word; and some leaflets to download if you want to use the passage locally.
You are warmly invited to join in Dwelling in the Word with others from across the diocese, using the Luke 1 passage, on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7.30-8.15pm. Register here to receive the Zoom link. This is a very gentle practice whether the only necessary thing to bring with you is a desire to listen to God and other people.
Rob Eastwood Dewing and Simon Stevens from Portishead reflect on the experience of Dwelling in the Word in their benefice.
Dwelling has some elements that are like Lectio Divina but also some things that are distinctive and can have a powerful effect:
- Dwelling in the Word is done in groups rather than individually.
- We remain with the same Bible passage for a year. This can seem odd at first, but builds a rich relationship with each other and the particular passage.
- Listening to each other and to God is built into the process. First, we listen in pairs to what has struck the other person in the passage. Then we share with others what we have heard them say, rather than our own insights. This listening sounds easy but many people find it remarkably hard at first and it is a great way of practising listening really attentively to each other.
- Each person reflects on where their attention is drawn in the passage. In Dwelling in the Word we don’t defer to expertise, which has an important part to play in our life together but not in this particular practice.
Who to contact
If you would like to know more, give a suggestion for the 2025 passage or share your own reflections on Dwelling, then please get in touch with Julia Hill. Dwelling in the Word is one of the spiritual practices that comes from Partnership for Missional Church.
Downloads
Diocesan Bible Passage 2024 - Luke 1: 46-55
Dwelling in the Word leaflet for Luke 1: 46-55
Dwelling in the Word - Romans 12.6-16a
Dwelling in the Word - Philippians 4. 4-13
Dwelling in the Word - Colossians 3.12-17 (NRSV)
Dwelling in the Word - Colossians 3.12-17 (The message)
Dwelling in the Word - the Woman at the Well