In a Sunday bulletin, there was an article dedicated to reasons that make studying scripture an important aspect to maintaining our relationship with our Divine Friend. The article mentions the ancient practice of praying the scriptures known today as lectio divina. In September 2009 Queen of All Saints began offering Little Rock Scripture Study to support parishioners that wish to walk the path of building a livelier relationship with our Divine Friend through the practice of lectio divina.

Little Rock Scripture Study is a parish-based program that leads people to a greater understanding of the Bible, an awareness of God’s living presence in sacred scripture, and an appreciation of how the Bible can be applied to daily life. Through personal study, small-group discussion, lecture, and prayer, the program provides a solid balance of scholarship, reflection, and application.

The Little Rock Scripture Study program has been in existence for over three decades. It has been used in many parishes around the country. The experience of the study of scripture has impacted the participant’s personal life and the parish’s community life.

When monitoring the impact on the participants’ personal life the participants say that they have:

• Fuller understanding of the Bible
• Richer appreciation of the faith tradition
• Stronger understanding of the connections between faith and life
• Deeper, more personal relationship with God

On a parish level the Little Rock Scripture Study program has been observed to:

• Increase lay leadership and ministry within the parish
• Create a stronger sense of family faith and prayer
• Open the parish to wider social concern and respond with a desire to serve
• Generate a fuller experience of Christian community

Daily Personal Study
Participants spend twenty minutes each day prayerfully reading and reflecting on an assigned section of the Scriptures. They use a Bible and Study Set (Commentary and Study Guide). The Commentary for each course gives solid scholarship, which leads to deeper understanding. The Study Guide directs the reflection with daily questions and space for written responses. (Do not think of the Study Guide as a school assignment but as a guide to be used to help reflection.). Daily personal study forms the foundation for each week’s small-group sharing.

Weekly Small-Group Sharing
Participants gather weekly in groups of eight to twelve to pray together and share the fruits of their daily personal study. With the guidance of a trained facilitator, an atmosphere of openness and trust is established in which God’s Word and its application to daily life can be discussed.

Wrap-Up Lecture
A fifteen- to twenty-minute lecture follows the small-group discussion to develop and clarify the themes of the lesson. Video lectures from the Little Rock Scripture Study developers will be used in our sessions.

Prayer
Prayer is the most essential of the elements. In addition to daily personal prayer, participants use a simple, effective method of shared prayer in the small group. A source of unity, support, and guidance, prayer is the key to the success of the program at every stage.

Little Rock Scripture Study at Queen of All Saints
Queen of All Saints will continue Little Rock Scripture Study with the The Gospel According to Luke. Marked by the compassion of Jesus, the Gospel stories of Luke demonstrate the universal nature of Jesus’ mission. Luke’s focus on God’s faithfulness will encourage you to trust.

The Gospel According to Luke Study will be offered on Monday mornings from 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. and Tuesday evenings from 7:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The morning sessions will begin on Monday December 7th. The evening sessions will begin on Tuesday December 8th. (Since Dec. 8th is the Immaculate Conception, if the 7:30 P.M. mass is the only one you can attend come over to Benedict Center after mass.) All sessions will be held in the second floor of the Benedict Center (6275 N. Ionia Ave. Chicago, IL.). To enable adequate discussion on Luke’s Gospel, there will be 23 sessions.

The Gospel According to Luke cost twenty ($20.00) dollars to cover the cost of the materials used. Each participant will receive a study set consisting of a study guide and a commentary. Each participant should also have a bible. The recommended bibles are New American Bible (the latest version has a copyright for the Psalms of 1991), The New Jerusalem Bible or New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. If you are thinking of purchasing a bible insure the new bible has footnotes and cross-references, which will help in your study of the bible.

How To Enroll
To enroll please provide us with your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address along with a check made out to Queen of All Saints Basilica for twenty ($20.00) dollars Friday November 20th. Mail or drop off the application and check, in an envelope addressed to:

In addition to the above information, please indicate which time you will attend:

___ Monday mornings: 9:30 – 10:00 A.M. beginning December 7, 2009
___ Tuesday evenings: 7:30 – 9:00 P.M. beginning December 8, 2009

During the first class a list of all the participants will be passed out. Please check the following if apply to you.

_____ DO NOT include my Telephone number on the student participant list.
_____ DO NOT include my E-Mail address on the student participant list.

For More Information
Please contact Mike Monnelly by e-mail at Mike.Monnelly@QASParish.Org.

Optional Printable Enrollment Form
A printable enrollment form may be obtained by clicking on the following PDF link.