As we enter this new academic year, many students studying from a distance and even those near still distancing, how do we gather together to worship? Cooperate worship remains a high value to the NPTS community and so we lean in. Lean in to new ideas and new ways (some actually quite old) to provide weekly opportunities for the NPTS community to be community that worships together.
Gather: We will meet both virtually and in person.
Join us from wherever you are! On Thursdays at 11am, we will gather virtually for 30-45 mins. We will have monthly themes and use different methods to explore those themes over the weeks, details below.
Tuesdays at 9am, the campus community is invited to gather (6 feet apart with masks) around Lina for a 15 minute prayer time. These times will be led by different members of the community each week, so sign up to lead!
Theme: “One Bread, One Body”
This fall we will use the theme “one bread, one body” to guide our time together. We will draw from various scripture texts including but not limited to:
1 Cor. 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
And Colossians 3:15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Each month we will dig deeper and use portions of “one bread, one body” to create a monthly theme. Then use different methods each week to explore and grow together.
Rhythm
Week 1: Explore the text for that month. There may be a brief teaching/devotional as well as response (or “presponse”). There will be opportunity for folks to share in the chat function how they respond to the text that day.
Week 2: Small groups break out to explore the monthly theme (with a guided question) and pray together a la conventicles.
Week 3: We explore the theme through artistic expression (storytelling, visual art, poetry, spoken word, music or another art form). Watch for an invitation with monthly themes and choose a week to share.
Week 4: Small groups gather again with guiding questions to respond and bring the monthly theme to a close.
August: Setting the Scene
Aug 27– Our first Chapel of the year! Introduction to monthly themes and method- exposition of text Lectio divina as “p’response”