In the Coracle

Reading Plans and Prayer Rhythm Help

January 2, 2008 // Tags: Celtic, contemplative, Prayer

Often around the first of the year, zealous Christians put together their Bible Reading Plans for the year. I usually do it, and then about February, I crap out and quit (strangely, this often coincides with the time I need to read a few chapters of Leviticus a day). Or I get to the point that I quit reading to be changed, and I’m only reading to check off a box and move onto my next project. That never feels good, so I sidetrack off into bumpy trails that are more fun.

If you’re looking for a reading plan, Discipleship Journal has a few that you can download, and they are here.

This year, I want to follow the model of the early Celtic monks, and focus primarily on the Gospels and the Psalms for my personal lectio divina. I’ve found a nice little resource that gives me smallish, digestible chunks of these two areas, and I hope to use this as my main reading guide. It comes from the book Celtic Prayers from Iona by J. Philip Newell.

In addition to this, I’m using one of several daily prayer books that help me with an organized rhythm of prayer.

The one I pack around with me in my work bag is Prayer Rhythms for Busy People: A Pocket Companion, by Ray Simpson. (This is apparently unavailable in the US on Amazon; I can highly recommend that you go get a copy from Ray by visiting the Community of Aidan and Hilda on Lindisfarne island).

The advantage of this book is that it’s small; it’s the same size as my small Moleskine notebook and not a lot bigger than a stack index cards - and it writes out the Scripture references that you’re praying (so no need to go look them up, which is a non-starter for me often). It has themes for each of seven days (e.g. Wednesday is about ‘The Renewing, Sending Spirit’, and has patterns for prayer four times per day (morning, midday, evening, night). Oh, and it’s designed for use by a single person. Many of the good Celtic models are designed for use by a community - with some call and response, or echoes - and that’s awkward when I’m doing it by myself.

I can’t say that I’m praying from it 4x/day, 7d/week. But I’m moving slowly there, I think.

Finally, when I’m in need of a mental break, a quiet moment, and I’m at a computer that’s on the Web, I use Sacred Space by the Irish Jesuits. It’s designed to be a slow, meditative breather that takes 10 minutes.

Bookmark and Share

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Possibly related posts:

Introduction

Welcome! I'm Pat Loughery, and I'll be your host here. Feel free comment on what you see here. I am a lay missionary to North Bend on the east side of Seattle, a husband, dad to 2 kids, a software test manager for Equiom, Inc.,, a software consulting company. I'm also a failed and (quite possibly future) church planter and a Doctor of Ministry student with Bakke Graduate University, and usually on this blog we discuss Christian spirituality (especially of the Celtic, post-Evangelical, post-Charismatic and neo-monastic flavors), photography, motorcycles, and other oddball things.

About the Coracle

I'm trying to live a deep and relational Christian life. As I study Christian spirituality, I find the Celtic stream helpful, challenging and liveable. One of the images from early Celtic Christianity is their sea transport - the coracle.

The ancient Celts traveled in coracles - handmade, wooden framed and hide-covered boats, to journey where the trinitarian God led them. Though the transportation was simple, the journey was profound. This image is an illustration of the way I experience God's guidance - an invitation to travel with him on his paths, not mine; at his pace, not mine.

Twittered...

[Blog] Poll: How do you like daily links?: How do you like the daily links posts? .. http://tinyurl.com/6d438c 7 mins ago
finished a bottle aand a half of good red wine, talking with a friend who's a 'failing church planter'. Great chat. 31 mins ago
[Blog] Post-Vacation: Around the House Originally uploaded by PatL I’m in a post-vacation, post-.. http://tinyurl.com/5nfpuc 3 hrs ago
[Blog] Presentation: “Learning from the New Monastics”: The folks at Safespace community in the UK hav.. http://tinyurl.com/6euhya 4 hrs ago
More updates...

Posting tweet...

“It’s almost like you’re writing a book one post at a time” - Kedge

Reading Plans and Prayer Rhythm Help