Lenten Quiet Day at St. Christopher

Does a “quiet day” to counteract the stress and confusion of our modern life appeal to you? It certainly did at St. Christopher’s in West Vancouver. Under the leadership of the Venerable Jeannette Stigger a small group gathered for what was actually for most, an unknown way of praying, open to participation in what ever would produce personal peace.

 After a brief introduction, a basket of small stones was passed, and the members were asked to choose a stone that described “what each brought to the workshop this morning.” After some contemplation each person place the stone on the central low table around a lit candle, and in turn stated what the stone represented. Then the form of the Lectio Divina was described in four groups:

                        Listen              lectio

                        Meditate          meditatio

                        Pray                 oratio              

                        Contemplate    contemplatio  

The opening prayer set the mood for the quiet morning:

“Merciful God, we have set aside this time to listen to you:  Be with us.

De-clutter our hearts from unmindful activity, negativity, and harsh judgements.

Give us grace to listen: That, as you know our weakness, so we may know your

power to save, Through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Amen.

The group said Psalm 42: 1-7 together, then sang the hymn “Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our strivings cease”. The Venerable Jeannette Stigger asked the group to project backwards, to breathe deeply and to provide a space to let God speak. She read Luke 10: 38-41, the story about Mary and Martha when Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to him, and Martha busied herself with housekeeping chores. Through a guided meditation the group was asked to put themselves in the women’s home, and to open their hearts to hear whatever God was saying.

After the break, a Gregorian chant brought the group back to a longer more traditional form of Lectio. A reading from John 13 concerning the foot washing was accompanied by a symbolic jug and towel placed upon the small table.

Following the Lectio, there was time for both written and verbal reflection. All in all, the workshop became a cherished time of silence and insight, and a refreshing preliminary to Holy Week.