You are invited to “Word Working”! This invitation to you is not for you to work on the Word but rather to allow the Word of God to work on you…to work on your parish…on our Diocese.

“Word Working” is a style of scripture reflection, a method of scriptural prayer, a distinctive way of engaging God’s Word so as to be shaped by that Word for God’s work both within and beyond our Church.

“Word Working” draws from ancient “Lectio Divina”, traditional “Collatio”, and contemporary “Scripture Sharing” to give us in the Diocese of Dodge City a shared way of entering into prayer and engaging the Scriptures in order to be nourished for service in the world.

“Word Working” uses “respectful communication guidelines” and “mutual invitation” as ways to help ensure an open place in groups and in our hearts for the Word to work.

“Word Working” may be used as prayer/scripture reflection for parish pastoral council meetings, prayer time at other parish meetings and with parish groups, an integral part of educational and formational sessions for adults and youth, and for small groups. Parish Pastoral Councils are encouraged to make use of “Word Working” not only as their opening prayer but equally important as their first agenda item: What is God’s Word saying to us about how and in what direction we should be leading our Parish?

• Simple Instructions
• Communication Guidelines

For each Sunday, a scripture passage (usually the Gospel) is presented with the three Word Working reflection questions.  The first and third questions are always the same.  The second question is the one that changes.  A suggested “second question” is offered here.  If you are doing Word Working with a Pastoral Council or some other parish or ministry group, the second question could be “What does this passage say to our Parish?”  “Where do we see this in our Parish?”  “How does this passage direct our plans and decisions?”

 We suggest that you pray with the Gospel passage one week ahead. For example, for the week of January 8–13, study the text for January 14. This way, the participants will go to church on Sunday having already listened and reflected on the Gospel for that Sunday.

For the lectionary readings with reflections for every day of the year, visit
www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

For the lectionary readings, visit
www.usccb.org/nab/