Lectio Divina: A Friendly Exploration of Quaker Writings

Lectio divina, latin for “divine reading,” is a way of slowly reading and contemplating a brief text. The intention is that the meaning of the text penetrates us deeply; we really feel it.

Participants will use this creative process to explore spiritual writings with the intention to increase insight, resonance, and absorption. This exploration of lectio divina will include listening, responding, discussing, contemplating, and worship sharing. The individual contemplation times can be used for journaling, drawing, or another creative practice.

We will use one brief reading each week. Sources will be from historical and modern Friends of diverse backgrounds and ages. Older texts, such as the first reading from Margaret Fell, will be read in their original form and in modern language, as well.

Participants will leave this workshop with the tools to practice lectio divina in their individual and communal contexts.

Registration is welcome for the full series, or (coming soon!) individual sessions.

Schedule:

Lectio Divina #1: Sep 2, 2021, 07:30pm. Margaret Fell, 1614-1702, on living in the divine flow
Click here to register for Session 1 only.
Lectio Divina #2: Sep 9, 2021, 07:30pm. Anne Hosking, 1984, on everyday prayer
Click here to register for Session 2 only.
Lectio Divina #3: Sep 16, 2021, 07:30pm.Young Adult Friends (age 18-35), 2005, “Advices”
Click here to register for Session 3 only.
Lectio Divina #4: Sep 23, 2021, 07:30pm. Sheila Bovell, 1988, on being angry at God
Click here to register for Session 4 only.
Lectio Divina #5: Sep 30, 2021, 07:30pm. Marcelle Martin, 2020, on divine love
Click here to register for Session 5 only.
Lectio Divina #6: Oct 7, 2021, 07:30pm. John Woolman, 1720-1772, on the business of our lives
Click here to register for Session 6 only.

Leader(s)

Barbara “Shulamith” Clearbridge is a member of Middlebury Friends Meeting in Vermont. She moved to Secane, Pennsylvania in late April of 2021 and currently attends Swarthmore Monthly Meeting. Shulamith has taught workshops and classes all her life on a variety of subjects. She has taught privately, for organizations (such as the National Association of University Women and the Alzheimer’s Association), institutions (such as libraries and hospitals), and continuing education programs. She has also led workshops, Quaker Meetings for Healing, and adult education programs for monthly and quarterly Meetings in Vermont, for New England Yearly Meeting, and for Meetings in the Seattle and Chicago areas. In addition, she has led programs on spirituality and Quakerism for church groups and interfaith groups. Shulamith has an M.Div, for which her book, Finding God: Prayers & Spiritual Practices from Many Traditions, was her thesis. Shulamith is an interfaith spiritual director.

Financial aid may be available. If you are seeking funds to participate in this program, click to review and complete our Financial Assistance Application and a Pendle Hill staff member will follow-up with you shortly (please do NOT register online). Thank you for your interest.

Travel directions to Pendle Hill.