Earlier today I read an interview with a new professor at the divinity school at Duke University, and he remarked that “While the church must remain a sanctuary, it can also become a stage, a place where gifts and talents are called forth. It can also be a stoop, a place where people from the community come, sit around, where people can come simply to be together. The church can also be a schoolhouse, a place where people come for deeply transformative educational experiences.” There are many aspects to church life, and a healthy church explores several aspects, as we do fellowship in our picnic tonight.
In September, I’d like to lean into the educational aspect. I know that several of you participate in the two Bible studies we have at McKnight, but I want us to take a little time to look at the kinds of personal daily encounters you’re having. If you already have a daily Bible reading, just keep going. If you have set your Bible aside for a while, this will be a good opportunity to pick it back up. You can Google a daily reading program, or try one of the plans on https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/?version=NIV. Don’t stress too much about which one—just read. If you want to go along with where we are right now in the lectionary (which I use to select passages for Sundays), you might want to start with Matthew—we’ll be there for a while longer in church.
In celebration of our reading individually-together, we’ll change our bulletin tear-off so that you can write what you’ve read that week—and maybe any reminders or insights or questions that struck you. You can put that into the offering plate each week and we’ll find a way to celebrate that together—maybe a bulletin board? You won’t be putting your names on your papers—it’s simply a way to observe and celebrate simple daily discipleship.
I look forward to reading with you, and to hearing your thoughts! I’ll see you in church—
Becky
Prayer
Holy and loving God,
We thank you for the gift of Scripture,
For the ways you teach us through the words that we have been given.
In your holy book we find so many ways to encounter you,
Whether history or poetry or praise.
Thank you for giving us so many stories
about how people have heard from you
have encountered you
have learned about you.
Thank you also
that that we can still find you
in the words written there
and in our daily lives.
Thank you for the questions that propel us to you.
Thank you for the knowledge that we are part of a long history,
a history of your people,
always seeking, finding, wandering, and coming back.
And thank you most of all
that you are always seeking us,
even if we don’t always pay attention.
Thank you for that grace.
Bless us as we read together, and help us to know you more deeply. Amen.