Prayerful Listening

A practice of communal attentiveness for the Season of Noticing

Purpose of the Practice

Prayerful Listening and Shared Silence trains a community to notice what is present—in Scripture, in themselves, in one another, and in the room—without rushing to interpret, evaluate, or fix. This practice is intentionally incomplete. It forms attentiveness rather than clarity, patience rather than conclusions, and shared awareness rather than individual insight.

This practice is designed to be used many times during a Season of Noticing. Familiarity is a strength. Over time, the community learns how to listen together.

How to Measure Success of This Practice

the community’s reflex to explain is tempered
individuals do not function as experts
God is encountered rather than discussed

How This Practice Differs from Lectio Divina

This practice may resemble lectio divina in form, but its purpose is different. Lectio divina invites individuals to reflect, interpret, and respond to what God is saying through Scripture. Prayerful Listening and Shared Silence intentionally stops short of interpretation or response. In a Season of Noticing, the goal is not insight or application, but attentiveness—learning to listen together to Scripture, to ourselves, and to one another without rushing toward meaning. By holding silence and limiting reflection, this practice trains a community to remain present to what is already emerging, trusting that understanding and direction will come later.

Preparation (Before the Gathering)

Scripture Selection

Choose a short Scripture that invites attentiveness rather than explanation. Texts that are poetic, narrative, or unresolved work best. Avoid passages that demand immediate moral interpretation or action.

Translations

Prepare the Scripture in two or three translations. Multiple translations help slow familiarity and surface fresh noticing. The goal is not comparison, but attentiveness.

Physical Format

Print the Scripture with generous spacing or display it simply. Avoid study notes, headings, or commentary. Let the text stand on its own.

Space

Arrange seating to support shared silence. Reduce visual and auditory distractions as much as possible. Silence is easier when the space itself feels intentional.

Tips for Leaders

If silence feels long or uncomfortable: Do not rush to fill it. Name briefly that silence often feels awkward at first and that this is normal.

If participants begin interpreting or explaining: Gently redirect by saying, “Let’s stay with noticing rather than explaining.”

If people want to discuss or respond to one another: Thank them for their attentiveness and remind the group that discussion will come later, in a different setting.

If the practice feels flat or unproductive: Resist fixing it. Flatness is also something to notice. Trust the slow work of attention.

This practice is not meant to produce clarity, decisions, or action. If it feels unfinished, it is doing its work. Over time, repeated use of this practice helps a community develop the capacity to listen—before it discerns, organizes, or acts.

This practice can be adapted for children or intergenerational settings.

Orienting the Group

Before beginning, the leader offers a brief orientation such as:

We are not here to analyze the text, apply it, or explain it.

Today we are practicing listening rather than discussion.

Our work is simply to notice—what we notice in Scripture, in ourselves, in one another, and in the room.

Silence is part of the practice, not something to fix.

This framing should be calm, confident, and brief.

The Practice (15-20 minutes)

1. Opening Prayer

To help the room settle into silence, it is helpful to begin with a prayer. Lead in a way that is natural to you. If not, the following prayer can be used:

Almighty God, as the scriptures testify, you spoke to your people long ago through the prophets by your Spirit; and in these last days, you have spoken to us through your Son, Jesus Christ.

So now, O Lord, we ask that you would speak to us in, through, and as Christ.

Speak in our silence.

Speak when words fail us.

Speak when we are unsettled, unsure, or afraid.

Speak when we are tempted to rush ahead, and speak when we are tempted to turn away.

Open our hearts to hear not only what comforts us, but what forms us.

Shape us by your living Word, that we might listen with humility, respond with faithfulness, and live with courage.

We offer ourselves to you, trusting that your voice brings life, your truth brings freedom, and your love makes all things new.

Through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

Amen.

2. Reading, Silence, Prayer Cycle

When appropriate, you may invite another leader to facilitate a cycle.

Read the scripture
Allow a few minutes of silence
Offer a prayer that nurtures attentiveness

The prayer in each cycle can be as simple as:

Lord, in a world that is filled with distractions, help us be attentive to you, your ministry, and one another. Amen.

Gracious God, in your mercy, grant us the gift to be still and know that you are God. Amen.

Faithful Lord, as Jesus says, let us have ears to listen. Amen.

3. Reflections of Noticing

The following may be offered as a time of silent noticing. After a time of silent noticing, participants may be asked to share what they have noticed with the group.

The following prompts can be used for both applications:

“A word or phrase I noticed was…”
“Something I become aware of in myself was…”
“Something I noticed in the room was…”
“I noticed a feeling of…”
“I noticed a sense of…”

No responses, affirmations, or follow-up questions are offered. Silence follows each sharing.

4. Closing Prayer

When appropriate, close your time with prayer, such as:

Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

Help us remain attentive to what you are already doing among us. Amen.

A Final Pastoral Word

Prayerful Listening requires courage and restraint. Communities often want to move quickly toward explanation or action, especially when discomfort is named. This practice teaches a different faithfulness: staying with reality long enough to see it clearly.

When practiced regularly, this discipline builds trust, deepens honesty, and prepares the ground for wiser discernment in the seasons that follow.

With this being said, leaders should be equipped to function on a “what is the next step” principle. Next steps could be as simple as planning the next activity within a season.

At an appropriate time, facilitators should regularly debrief with groups and individuals.