Sunday Readings Scripture Doodle- Year Two

Two years ago, I decided to challenge myself to spend more time with the Sunday Mass readings, praying and reflecting over God's Word.  Back at the beginning, I wrote: "Scripture doodling. That's what I'm calling it anyways.  It helps me focus, helps me memorize, and helps me treasure God's Word.  I often spend time doodling on Sundays using the Sunday Readings from Mass.  Today, as I sat down to pray, I realized that the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new Liturgical Year, is a great time for, well, a new year's resolution.  So I've decided to be a little more intentional about this idea.  I broke out an unused journal, labeled the top of each page with all the coming Sundays this year, and started today.  My goal is to spend time meditating on the Readings for each Sunday for the rest of the year and doodle a selected verse every week.  I'll be documenting the journey each Sunday on Instagram using the hashtag #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodle.  Come follow along, and jump in if you like!"

You can see the wrap up post from this time last year with some of my favorite Scripture Doodles from 2015-2016 here.  I have kept up with my "Liturgical New Year Resolution" by posting them on Instagram each week, which gives me both accountability and community.  

I have found that after over a hundred Sundays, this practice has become part of my routine- which is exactly what I was hoping.  I am more likely to read the Readings ahead of Mass, always read them again after, and I am looking and listening for key ideas, verses, and words that stand out to me.

I am internalizing and memorizing more Scripture, and also challenging my art/creativity to letter the verse a little differently each week.  Probably most importantly, this resolution forces me to use part of my Sunday in quiet and prayer and rest, which is easy for me to push aside on one of my busiest days of the week.

I thought I'd share a some of my favorite doodles from this past year with you.  You can see the whole collection (and some guests, too!) using the Instagram hashtag here.

I'd love to have you join my on this endeavor to draw nearer to God through Scripture.  Feel free to chose your own verse each week, write it down, letter and decorate it, type it, whatever works for you.  If you want to share it on social media, use #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodle so we can all be praying together.

I'm often asked about my favorite supplies, so here are a few recommendations: (Amazon Affiliate links-  That means that if you click through and purchase something, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.)
-These notebooks
-These pens
-This pen
-These pens for color
-These pencils
-This eraser

Click here to read last year's post:

New {Liturgical} Year Resolutions

I don't always set New Year's Resolutions-do you?  I do however like to start something new with the Seasons of Advent and Lent- times that the Church invites us to reset, slow down, and go deeper in our faith.

Advent is my favorite Liturgical Season.  I think its the waiting, the hope, the fulfilled promises.  Last year on the first Sunday of Advent, I decided to formalize something I had been doing in prayer and study already.  I wrote:
"Scripture doodling. That's what I'm calling it anyways.  It helps me focus, helps me memorize, and helps me treasure God's Word.  I often spend time doodling on Sundays using the Sunday Readings from Mass.  Today, as I sat down to pray, I realized that the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new Liturgical Year, is a great time for, well, a new year's resolution.  So I've decided to be a little more intentional about this idea.  I broke out an unused journal, labeled the top of each page with all the coming Sundays this year, and started today.  My goal is to spend time meditating on the Readings for each Sunday for the rest of the year and doodle a selected verse every week.  I'll be documenting the journey each Sunday on Instagram using the hashtag #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodle.  Come follow along, and jump in if you like!"

And I did it!  Each Sunday, I handlettered a verse from one of the Sunday Mass Readings.  The hardest part was often the choosing- there is so much rich text that deciding which verse to use was tough!

It made me slow down and read the Readings both before and after Sunday.  It also helped me ensure that I took time in Scripture each Sunday, which is a busy day for a church employee.

I usually left the notebook open to that page all week, letting myself dwell on that Scripture and memorize a lot of them.  I'm a visual learner, so the images and lettering helped the words stick in my head.

 I also kept a running list of prayer intentions and praises on the back of that week's Scripture doodle.  It was a reminder to pray, and now it remains as a reminder of God's provision.

My notebook traveled all over with me (literally, across the country) and was frequently thrown in my purse or bag.  It survived well, and will stay on my prayer table as something I treasure.  If you're interested, I used a ruled 5 x 8.5 soft cover moleskine (affiliate link).  It had enough pages for each Sunday as long as I used both sides of the heavy coverpages in the front and the back.
(And after some readers asked, a few of my favorite pens include these, these, and these.) (affiliate links)

I saw this as an artistic activity to help me stretch and learn new lettering styles.  But it certainly isn't reserved for the "artistic."  There is something about writing that helps our brain process and remember text. If you want to join in, your own handwriting and favorite pens are enough to doodle and reflect on the verses you choose.

I'm so glad that I made this New Liturgical Year Resolution, and I am ready with a fresh notebook to begin again this Sunday.  I'd love to have you join me!  Sit down, doodle, pray, and reflect on the beauty of the Sunday Mass Readings.  Then snap a photo and tag me or #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodle so I can follow along with your journey!

I just posted a few of my favorites in the photos above.  Here's a montage of all 52 Scripture Doodles.  You can see them all up close on my Instagram account or by searching #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodles. Do you see a favorite?

Lovely Coloring Pages

Who doesn't enjoy a lovely coloring page?  I've got a few pretty pages to share with you today.  The first was made for a fabulous conference I attended last weekend and the other two are cleaned up doodles you may have seen on Instagram earlier this year.

You can click on any of the images to download & print each page.

First up, Mary's Fiat from Luke 1:38:
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word."

"There is nothing we can desire or want that we do not find in God." St. Catherine of Siena:

"The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day." ~St. Gianna Molla

P.S. You might also like all the Quote Coloring pages under the Teaching with Fulton Sheen tab, too!


And while you're here, take the time to go enter the Beautiful giveaway- seven lovely items that would be perfect for you or a gift for a friend.  The giveaway closes at midnight on Friday, so just a few more days to enter!