For June 2026
Scripture:
O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense,
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips;
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
–Psalm 141:1-3, Book of Common Prayer
Questions:
- How can you imagine your prayers being a gift to God or a sacrifice made to God, whether you are praying individually or in worship?
- When do you most often need God’s help in guarding or guiding what you say?
Dear Friends,
Communal prayer is foundational to the Church’s mission in Scripture, serving as a catalyst for unity, divine guidance, empowerment by the Holy Spirit, and effective evangelism. We pray communally throughout our shared liturgies, including a distinct collect for each week. I would ask that we take a further step in praying together as a means of discernment. We will be offering a short scripture each month, and I ask you to use lectio divina with your congregation as a means of hearing God’s guidance, using the questions provided.
I would ask you to do the following:
- Do a brief period of lectio divina on the selected scripture at each of your vestry meetings,
- Encourage others to do the same at other appropriate meetings,
- Invite your congregation to incorporate the practice into their personal devotions,
- Pray for discernment about what comes out of these sessions, and
- Share with me what you think God might be saying, to the congregation and/or to the Diocese.
I know you all have a lot on your plates, and I am grateful for your faithfulness. My own prayer is that this collective prayerful discernment will be a sip of cool water, not just “one more thing,” and that it will point us forward in our shared ministry. I look forward to whatever God reveals!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
–1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NRSV
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Ketlen A. Solak, D.Min.
IX Bishop of Pittsburgh
Click here for more information about Lectio Divina in a group setting.
Also see Lectio Divina: A Beginner’s Guide.