Encounter Prayer - Episode 02 - Seven Steps Scripture Sharing

In this Episode we explore a type of Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of the bible) called Seven Steps Scripture Sharing. We are led through this wonderful and insightful type of prayer by Sophie Rimac and Sean Jinks who are members of the Seven Steps Scripture Sharing group in Leicester. Sean works as a translator and Sophie runs her families business.

If you would like to contact Sophie and Sean about joining their group or seek their help in starting your own please email: adult.formation@dioceseofnottingham.uk.

The Seven Steps are:

1. Invite. Remembering that the Risen Lord is present with the group, somebody present invites Jesus in a prayer and welcomes him.
2. Read. Everybody opens their Bibles to the arranged place and somebody present, reads to the group.
3. View with wonder. The group picks out words or short phrases, reads them aloud prayerfully and repeats them three times, silence being preserved after each repetition. The texts are then reread aloud by somebody present from a different version of the texts.
4. Listen. Silence is maintained for five minutes, to allow God to speak to the group.
5. Share. The group members now share, without discussion, which word has touched them personally. The group may decide together which word may be chosen as their Word of Life for the coming week.
6. Plan for action. The group discusses what task they may be called to do in their neighbourhood, or parish.
7. Pray. Anybody present who would like to, may pray spontaneously. The group ends with a prayer or a hymn known to all.