Psalm 119 Lectio Divina Meditation

Written By:
Sam Hargreaves
Bible Refs:

View this online at http://prezi.com/nslwizrwxzsh/

This 'Lectio Divina' style meditiation was used at Youthwork the Conference.  It makes use of a cool online presentation builder called Prezi (go to www.prezi.com to see other people's or create your own, for free!)  You place words, images and video on a canvas, and then scroll around the screen, zooming in on preset areas.  The creative possibilities for liturgy, bible readings, notices, (songwords?) are pretty much endless! 

Lectio Divina is an ancient art of Bible meditation (see wikipedia for a fuller explaination).  This guided meditiation takes you through reading and hearing the passage a number of times, then reflecting on the parts which jump out to you.  The Youthwork DJ Steve Leach played a track by Jon Hopkins over the top (hear it on You Tube), but you could use another piece of music or none.  We had two people doing off-stage voice over, one doing the instructions and the other reading the selected passages from Psalm 119 (see the pdf for a full script).

To use yourself - download the zip file (make sure you download Mac or WIndows as appropriate - explains the issue below...) from the downloads box above.  Unzip the folder, but keep everything in the file.  If you don't have it already, you may need to download Flash Player to view your file.  Once you've done that, open the unzipped folder, and click on the icon marked 'prezi'.  You can drag it over onto an extended desktop if you want, and full-screen the show using the icon on the bottom right.  Use the arrows on the screen, or tab and backspace to advance through or back in the presentation.  Go to prezi.com for fuller instructions.  Better still, make your own and email us the link!

 

Sam co-leads engageworship.org with his wife Sara. He completed the LST degree in Theology, Music and Worship, and now teaches in the department two days per week. He also co-leads RESOUNDworship.org, the free worship song website, and has led musical and creative worship at events like Spring Harvest, New Wine North and the Baptist Assembly alternative stream. Their book 'How would Jesus lead worship' was published by BRF in 2009.

Comments / Responses

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Previous Comments:

James Faragher
23 Nov 2009 10:44
I thought this worked really well at the conference - so much that I downloaded it myself! I think there are a number of bugs in the desktop version, causing it to crash very frequently.
Thanks for all your hard work at the weekend.
Sam Hargreaves
23 Nov 2009 14:37
James - thanks! But sorry it isn't working for you. I'll have a look and try to upload a bug-free version.
Sam Hargreaves
01 Dec 2009 09:10
James - I've gotten around to working out that there is a Mac and PC version. I'm assuming you used a PC? Could you try the new one posted above and see if that works better?
Emily Durston
28 Dec 2009 05:20
this is awesome! im showing it to my youth group at our next lock-in and im so excited to see how it goes over!!!
Steve Rouse
10 Mar 2011 13:56
Is this no longer available for download - I can't see it in the download box?

Steve (Balham Baptist)
Sam Hargreaves
10 Mar 2011 15:47
Sorry Steve - took this down because there was a problem, and forgot to put it back up, but its there now. Enjoy!
Lisa Holland
23 May 2011 23:02
Loved it so much, I have made my own! It only took me most of the day....
The link to it is http://prezi.com/ax_zzzubqo0p/ladies-retreat-day/
It is for our Ladies Retreat Day - constructive criticism welcomed!!
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What program do you use to make motion graphics like this?
Amy
Blessed be intro liturgy
Sam taught us this at Spring Harvest and I used it this morning at church. It seemed to touch people...
Andrew
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July 2012
LST Summer School 2012
17th - 20th Jul 2012

FINALIST: 2011 Christian New Media Awards
Creative, engaging Bible readings
Themes: Bible
Bible Refs: 2 Tim 3:16, John 16:13
I loved being responsible for the scripture readings each night last week in the Big Top, Spring Harvest Skegness.  For each one we looked to appropriately engage people with the...