Spiritual Practices

Unlike any other book, the Bible is “living and active” and there are a variety of ways that exist to study, read, meditate on, and be shaped by its' truths. We do not want merely to know the principles it contains: we want to connect with the Person it proclaims. One of the methods we have found to be extremely helpful in connecting us with the Person it proclaims is called Lectio Divina.

Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading.” It represents an early practice of reading the scriptures that is intended to achieve communion with God, as well as providing special spiritual insights. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, reflect, listen and, finally, pray from God’s Word. The key is formational reading and listening, not informational Bible study.

 I would like to try this practice. Download scripture instructions.

You can also use an online tool called Examen. EXAMEN.me is a simple-to-use web site that fosters your personal interaction with God. This modern approach to ancient devotional practices guides you to examen your life as you meditate on scripture, pray, and journal all of your reflections. No matter where you are in your pilgrimage with Christ, EXAMEN.me will help you interact with God.

Where is God at work in your life lately? Have you sensed His presence, or not? If not, we would like to invite you to take some time and specifically concentrate on the experiences and encounters you have had from the past 24 hours of your life. One of the ways we have found to be extremely helpful in doing this is through a practice called the Prayer of Examen.

The sole purpose of this practice is to help you increase your awareness of and sensitivity to God's presence in your life, not to finish or accomplish a task.

 I would like to try this practice. Download meditation instructions.

The demands of daily life make it difficult for most if not all of us to hear God's voice and receive His guidance and direction for our lives. Even Jesus needed time specifically set aside to connect with His Father and so do we. One of the ways we have found to be extremely helpful in quieting the noise of our lives is called centering prayer. Centering prayer is a practice which is designed to clear the mind of excess noise in order to focus on the indwelling presence of God.

 I would like to try this practice. Download solitude instructions.

Jesus was very deliberate when it came to teaching his disciples how to pray. And down through the centuries, many sincere followers of Christ have devoted their lives to prayer. This long tradition of prayer has produced many different and meaningful answers to the question of how we should pray. One of the ways we have found to be meaningful is called praying the Daily Office.

The Daily Office is a set rhythm of reading the Scriptures, singing, and prayer. It originally developed when early Christians continued the Jewish practice of reciting prayers and songs at certain hours. The purpose of the Daily Office is simply to spend time in the presence of God, nothing more.

These prayers are divided into 3 different time periods throughout each day: Morning prayers, which are to occur between 6am and 9am; midday prayers for praying between 11am and 2pm; and evening prayers which fall between 5pm and 8pm, and help us gently close the day.

You might choose to participate in only certain parts of the Daily Office rather than its entirety. This is something that is entirely up to you.

 I would like to try this practice. Download scripture instructions.

At Grace, we want to be lifelong learners. We understand that the pace of life leaves most of us with excuses as to why we don't have more time to read and think and grow. But if we are not growing, we are dying. To that end, we have created a library of resources that we hope will encourage you to continue your personal growth and spiritual formation. As for the rules and regulations for checking out any of our books - You may borrow as many volumes as you can reasonably expect to read over a two-week period. As this is a shared community resource, please be mindful that others may require the same book.

In the SIGN-OUT LOG please print: the Date, your Name and, if you’re not listed in the GCC directory, your contact info (address, phone# e-mail).

Kindly place returned books in the designated basket. Please do not re-shelf the books yourself.

Remember: Open no book unless you are willing to be faithful to whatever call, God Most High may issue from its pages.

 Check Catalogue Availability
Username: gracescriptorium
dreadmachine

Note: Currently 60% of our cataloging is complete. Any books on Church History, Jewish, Celtic, and Monastic studies are stored off site, but available by request.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

The bible does not say that we are God's appliance; it says we are his masterpiece. Whereas appliances get mass produced, masterpieces get handcrafted. God purposefully designed each and every one of us. Therefore, his plan for shaping us will not look like his plan for shaping anyone else. It is unique and specific.

We are introducing an innovative new online resource called Monvee, which is designed to help each and every person find a customized way to grow spiritually. It involves taking a 10 – 15 minute assessment that will help us to better understand our temperament, learning style, spiritual pathway, as well as our personality and spiritual inhibitors. If you are interested in taking the assessment, please click on the link below and use the following ID# C5180031.

 I want to take the Monvee Assesment.
ID# C5180031

After taking the assessment, a personalized plan will be generated to help you live more fully in the flow of God's Spirit, with recommendations for what to do with your mind, your relationships, your time, and your experiences in order to help you grow closer to God and more mature in your faith.