Wonder Practice Card Deck

WONDER PRACTICE DECK Practices for noticing and perceiving God’s presence and joining in the unfolding promise and possibility of God’s Kingdom.

Welcome to the Wonder Practice Deck Wonder is our year-long spiritual practice at Princeton United Methodist Church: learning, by God’s grace, to perceive as Christ does and participate in God’s unfolding Kingdom.

This expanding deck offers practices for wonder throughout the worship year and long beyond it.

HABIT

INVITATION

FOUNDATION

Simple practices to weave into everyday life

Practices that invite focused time, attention, or response

Core spiritual practices to learn and return to

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Wonder Practice Deck

Make It Your Own These practices arrive in the rhythm of our worship year.

They are time-keyed, but not time-bound.

Return to a practice whenever the Spirit draws your attention. Keep the deck together, or take it apart.

Move a card to the front, tuck it into your Bible or journal, or carry it with you for a while.

Practice in silence, or respond in writing. Use the cards on your own, with a spiritual friend or small group, or around the family table.

There is no “right” way through this deck. Let the practices become companions as you develop a posture of wonder: noticing, perceiving, imagining, and participating with God.

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Wonder Practice Deck

Acknowledgments The Wonder Practice Deck was conceived and developed

by Rev. Jenny Smith Walz and designed and written collaboratively with Rev. Christina Lelache. Editorial and developmental assistance by ChatGPT, OpenAI.

Wonder Practice Deck © 2026 Princeton United Methodist Church.

All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Additional credits, sources, and acknowledgments as the deck grows: princetonumc.org/wonder.

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Wonder Practice Deck

Eyes to See

Cultivating Practices of Wonder and Holy Imagination September – October 2026 Cards 01–04

Eyes to See These practices invite you into a year-long apprenticeship in Christ-like perception.

As we slow down, look again, imagine more, and walk together, wonder and holy imagination help us perceive ourselves, our neighbors, creation, and God’s unfolding Kingdom as Christ does.

01 Slow Down 02 Look Again 03 Imagine More 04 Walk Together

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Wonder Practice Deck | Cards 01–04

FOUNDATION

The Examen Prayerfully review your day, noticing God’s presence and invitation.

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Wonder Practice Deck | F01

The Examen

1

Centering Take a few slow breaths.

Become present to God.

2

Giving Thanks Review your day. What are you grateful for?

3

Noticing Review your day again. Where did you feel most alive? Where did you feel drained or disconnected?

4

Responding What might God be inviting you to notice?

Share with God, listening for God’s invitation.

5

Resting Entrust your day to God’s love and grace as you look toward tomorrow.

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Wonder Practice Deck | F01

FOUNDATION

Lectio Divina Pray the Scriptures.

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Wonder Practice Deck | F02

Lectio Divina

1

Centering Take a few slow breaths.

Become present to God and this moment.

2

Reading Read the passage slowly, listening to it as a whole.

3

Reflecting Read it again. Notice a word or phrase that stands out. What images, feelings, or memories arise?

4

Responding Read it again. Respond through prayer, journaling, art, or silence. What might God be offering you through this word?

5

Resting Read the passage a final time. Then let go of words and rest in God’s love.

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Wonder Practice Deck | F02

HABIT

Slow Down Notice God’s presence in ordinary places.

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Wonder Practice Deck | 01

Scripture What are you looking for? . . .

Come and see.

– John 1:35–51 (NRSVue)

Practice Slow yourself down for a few moments.

Take a breath. Slow down your body.

Slow down your mind.

Take a look around as if for the first time.

What do you notice? What do you perceive?

Be in a posture of loving attention.

Attend to God’s loving presence here.

Let love flow through you in this time & place.

Reflection What did you notice that you wouldn’t have if you hadn’t slowed down?

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Wonder Practice Deck | 01

HABIT

Look Again See with the eyes, heart, and mind of Jesus.

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Wonder Practice Deck | 02

Scripture Jesus looked up.

– Luke 19:1–10

Practice Take another look at a person or situation.

Ask God to help you see with the eyes, mind, and heart of Jesus.

What do you perceive when you look again?

What is wondrous here? What is holy?

Where is pain? Where is fear? Where is love?

What is different now than it was before?

Reflection What does Jesus notice that others miss?

What does Jesus teach us about seeing?

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Wonder Practice Deck | 02

HABIT

Imagine More Envision the Kingdom of God that is already breaking in.

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Wonder Practice Deck | 03

Scripture Rejoice with me, for I have found. . . .

– Luke 15:1–10 (NRSVue)

Practice God is inviting you to play for a moment.

Notice this time and place as it is.

What is God already doing here?

What possibility is already emerging?

Let God shape and stretch your imagination.

What could be that you can’t yet see?

What future might God be inviting you to imagine?

Reflection What is found when we imagine with God? How will you rejoice in response?

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Wonder Practice Deck | 03

INVITATION

Walk Together Participate in God’s wondrous unfolding Kingdom.

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Wonder Practice Deck | 04

Scripture They left everything and followed him.

– Luke 5:1–11 (NRSVue)

Practice You’ve received an invitation from Jesus: Come and follow me.

Have a conversation with Jesus about what · this invitation means in this season of your life. Where might God already be at work? · Then have a conversation with someone you trust. Share what you are hearing. Where might you join together? · Take one step toward participating in God’s unfolding Kingdom.

Reflection What becomes possible when you listen and respond to Jesus together?

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Wonder Practice Deck | 04