How are you promoting Book of Faith?

[Chad King]

I have heard of a congregation that did something very creative (and very practical) to increase awareness of Book of Faith in a local context.

The pastor has been blogging using the church website to educate the congregation about the initiative. He shared some ideas (small groups, a monthly worship focus, having a newsletter feature, etc.) about how the congregation could possibly increase biblical literacy and fluency. After sharing those ideas, the pastor requested that the congregation respond to those ideas and share some of their own. This seemed to me to be a great way to promote the initiative on a local level and to engage the membership in Book of Faith.

So what are some of the things you are doing to promote Book of Faith in your local context?

[Greg Kaufmann]

Karen Matthias-Long, the resource center director for our partner synod Northeast Penn, sent me this wonderful idea. We are already planning to adapt it and use it in our synod (Northwest Synod of WI) during the year and the synod assembly. This is one piece of a friendly challenge that Karen and I (both resource center directors) made with each other to see which synod could come up with the most creative ideas for living into the Book of Faith. Looks like Karen is in the lead. Enjoy and adapt!

Here is the idea from Karen:

"Something TOTALLY spontaneous came my way yesterday. A young pastor came to the synod office with a 9th grade confirmation student on a “Book of Faith Road trip.” They had the Book of Faith logo on a 8 inch x 11 inch sign on the front dash of their car. They each wore homemade “Book of Faith” logo name badges with the words “Road trip” below the logo. They looked for people in the office to interview and video tape. (the pastor, by the way, has been working on developing a Book of Faith webpage for our synod and a blog). They hope to post the video of these interviews on our synod’s Book of Faith video blog. They began their adventure two days ago at our synod’s camp, Bear Creek, and interviewed counselors and campers. Yesterday, when they stopped by here, the asked me for suggestions of people to interview. So, I dropped everything and helped make contacts – and after dinner, I drove them to my local contacts. Today, they are driving to the seminary to talk with students and professors. They only ask three questions, so this doesn’t take too long. The first two questions change daily. Yesterday, for instance, they asked me: Why do you think it is important to read the Bible? What do you do to help people open their Bibles? The third question is to share your favorite Bible passage, underline it in a Bible they are carrying with them, and share why it’s your favorite. What I witnessed was powerful stuff! People were eager to share their favorite Bible passage (although, some found it hard, at first, to identify THE favorite!) The Bible will be at our Worship and Spirituality team display table and next year’s assembly. My thoughts are – once this is posted on the blog – to encourage congregational members to interview one another in a similar way! People are eager to share and listen to stories, it seems to me."

What creative ideas is your synod coming up with?
Greg

[Carol Ann Webb]

I love the idea of asking people to share their favorite Bible verse. It's a fascinating and non-threatening way to talk about the Bible and could be used as a conversation starter at coffee hour! And the visual record in the Bible of people's favorite passages is intriguing.

Greg Kaufmann said:

Karen Matthias-Long, the resource center director for our partner synod Northeast Penn, sent me this wonderful idea. We are already planning to adapt it and use it in our synod (Northwest Synod of WI) during the year and the synod assembly. This is one piece of a friendly challenge that Karen and I (both resource center directors) made with each other to see which synod could come up with the most creative ideas for living into the Book of Faith. Looks like Karen is in the lead. Enjoy and adapt!

Here is the idea from Karen:

"Something TOTALLY spontaneous came my way yesterday. A young pastor came to the synod office with a 9th grade confirmation student on a “Book of Faith Road trip.” They had the Book of Faith logo on a 8 inch x 11 inch sign on the front dash of their car. They each wore homemade “Book of Faith” logo name badges with the words “Road trip” below the logo. They looked for people in the office to interview and video tape. (the pastor, by the way, has been working on developing a Book of Faith webpage for our synod and a blog). They hope to post the video of these interviews on our synod’s Book of Faith video blog. They began their adventure two days ago at our synod’s camp, Bear Creek, and interviewed counselors and campers. Yesterday, when they stopped by here, the asked me for suggestions of people to interview. So, I dropped everything and helped make contacts – and after dinner, I drove them to my local contacts. Today, they are driving to the seminary to talk with students and professors. They only ask three questions, so this doesn’t take too long. The first two questions change daily. Yesterday, for instance, they asked me: Why do you think it is important to read the Bible? What do you do to help people open their Bibles? The third question is to share your favorite Bible passage, underline it in a Bible they are carrying with them, and share why it’s your favorite. What I witnessed was powerful stuff! People were eager to share their favorite Bible passage (although, some found it hard, at first, to identify THE favorite!) The Bible will be at our Worship and Spirituality team display table and next year’s assembly. My thoughts are – once this is posted on the blog – to encourage congregational members to interview one another in a similar way! People are eager to share and listen to stories, it seems to me."

What creative ideas is your synod coming up with?
Greg

[Dave Mareske]

I am not sure where to put this, but my synod produced some cliff notes for the group evaluation that is available at www.bookoffaith.org. We felt that some of the questions did not apply to all groups. The file is available on my page.

[J. David Bersagel]

This is Bible month in our congregation. Last Sunday our 6th graders got a study Bible for confirmation from their parents. This weekend our 4 year olds will get a children's Bible Storybook from parents. We're helping 3rd graders and parents learn about the Bible and the parents will present the Bibles they're working with to the 3rd graders in two weeks.

This weekend, in our worship one of the pastors will tell the God's story from the Bible to the whole congregation. Usually he does this in the 3rd grade workshop but this year it will be for the whole congregation.

[Amy Thoren]

I did almost this exact thing (listed off a bunch of ideas and then encouraged people to think of more) in my sermon on Sunday - and we did a bible giveaway. We bought 40 bibles and put em in a prominent location with good signage. We had 19 left after Sunday worship - and they continue to disappear. We may decide to restock when they're all gone.

Some of the ideas I listed off in the sermon are ones I've had and ones that have gone around the circuit in recent weeks:

* a lenten devotional written by our church members sharing their experiences with Scripture

* informal small groups that pop up and meet in homes to read different books of the bible - like a 'bible book club'

* keeping a bible sitting 'open' in the home at all times - reminding us to read it

* never give a child a new bible - have the bible go to mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, to be marked up with favorite texts, confirmation texts, anything that family member wants the child to check out and read

* starting every meeting/gathering at church with Scripture

* attending the Opening the BoF and Rediscovering the BoF courses that we are offering starting this week

* joining the BoF ning site!

* thinking of your own ideas and sharing them with church staff and others - running with them.

I also did the 'children's message' within the main sermon (so, directed toward the whole congregation) and it was all about the role of Scripture in worship and the way it feeds us.

And we put together a huge BoF kick-off in between services with song and powerpoint. It was for everyone - and it was really packed with people of every age.

Great fun! Some of our people are really pumped up.

[Greg Kaufmann]

Chad,
Here is an idea that we tried out in one of our 7 pastoral conferences. We intend to duplicate it across our other 6 conferences. All who attended were asked to share at least one way they were living into being a Book of Faith congregation. Here is that list.
peace and joy,
Greg

Book of Faith Brainstorming

Bible Story Sunday – once/month focus on one story in worship – Charlie Plaster - Concordia, Superior
Kathy Chesley has a one hour program called “Dusting Off the Bible” she can lead for you – a primer/refresher
Audio New Testament – provide to members for use in car/at home – Pat Ondarko – Saron
Read the Bible in a Year – publish guide in newsletter/bulletins – Patrick Ziems – Zion
Taking Faith Home – bulletin insert from Youth & Family Institute “Home is Church First” – Darryl Kyle – Trinity
No Scripture in Bulletin - Bibles in Pews – give page number - Greg Gullicksrud – Peace
Power of memorized scripture presented by lectors – Todd Iverson, Synod Office
Bible Recommendations – Hands-On Bible, The Adventure Bible, Concordia Self-Study Bible
Remind Folks – Bible is not just another book
Have people turn to the index first – don’t assume know where to find books of Bible – Patrick Ziems
E-mail ideas: Daily Devo from Luther Sem, and/or Scripture of the Week with a couple sentences and questions
Provide folks a List of Good Websites (see Fall Ministry Retreat)
Little Visits with God – 10 minutes at breakfast/dinner – Kathy Chesley, LSS
Verna Dozier Bible Study Method - read multiple transalations, brainstorm questions, categorize questions: informational, significance, meaningful, then tackle categories in that order– Greg Gullicksrud

[Chad King]

Wow - these are all fantastic ideas. If anyone does capture any of these moments on video and want to share them (and have permission from the "video-ees"), post them to this site - I think we would all love to see them and it would spur some more ideas.

What a powerful way to share the power of scripture!

[Verle Reinicke]

Verle Reinicke, Faith Lutheran, Bismarck, ND
On Rally Sunday, Sep. 7, we did a kick off service. Here are some of the liturgical pieces I wrote for that service. The Biblical citations are NRSV. I don't know if that requires copyright stuff or not. Do whatever you wish with it.

Rally Sunday
Faith Lutheran Church
September 7, 2008

BIBLE ADVENTURE, THROUGH THESE DOORS

Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

L: In the name of the God who creates, redeems and sustains.
C: Amen

L: Almighty and holy one, you have formed us and breathed into us the breath of life. You know us better than we know ourselves. You know us so deeply and profoundly that there is nothing about us that is hidden from you. You know us inside and out. Cleanse our hearts and purify our thoughts as we come before you humbly and seek to honor your holy name through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
C: Amen

L: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. However, upon confession of our sins, God has promised to forgive us all our sins and clean us for righteousness and justice.

(Silence)

L: God of all mercy,
C: we confess before you that we have sinned in a most grievous way: we have turned our backs on you; we have cared too much about ourselves and not enough about our neighbors; we have not been attentive to your word to us. It is not only that we have allow dust to gather on your holy book; more importantly, we have become dusty ourselves with it. We have neglected its reading and our study of it. We have become woefully rusty in knowing how to speak your distinctive word in our world. We let the words and phrases of this world speak and pass for your word. Forgive our neglect and inattentiveness to your word and to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

L: Hear this, and hear this well, remember that you are forgiven and redeemed from all your sins because of the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are forgiven our lack of taking the Bible in hand to let it speak to us and we to it. Instead, we are freed of our past so that we can take hold of a new future in which we will, with the Spirit’s help and guiding, immerse ourselves in scripture anew and find ourselves blessed richly for it.
C: Amen

Prayer of the Day

L: O God,
C: you have given on the printed pages of the Bible a witness of your work and continued presence among us. Help us to find new life and meaning for our confused and complex lives in your word as we dedicate ourselves once more to finding our way in and through the gift of your scriptures. Help us to become once again learners and disciples of your word; through Jesus Christ, who is our Lord. Amen

Litany

L: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
C: who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
L: Faith comes from what is heard,
C: and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
L: Do you understand what you are reading?
C: How can I, unless someone guides me?
L: Train children in the right way,
C: and when old, they will not stray.
L: She shall read in it all the days of her life,
C: so that she may learn to fear the LORD.
L: He had set his heart to study the law of the LORD,
C: and to teach the statues and ordinances in the hearing of the people.
L: We do not proclaim ourselves;
C: we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.
L: Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk
C: so that by it you may grow into salvation.
L: Let us then pursue what makes for peace,
C: and for mutual upbuilding.


Prayers

L: Let us pray for the church catholic whom God has called in the waters of baptism through Christ Jesus and for all people in need.

L: Glorious God, we offer you our praise and thanksgiving and honor your name in all the earth, which is your due. Open our hearts to your word that we might live lives of praise, thanksgiving and honor that your saving grace might flow freely into the world through us. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.

L: We ask your attention to and presence with those who are being installed as education leaders in our community of Faith for this year. Imbue each of them, teachers, assistants, discussion leaders and others, with your word that they may speak and demonstrate it faithfully to those whom they teach and lead in discussion. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.

L: Let your Holy Spirit move among all of us these next years as we engage in the Book of Faith project. Help us all to grow again in our use of the gift of the Bible you have placed in our hands. Free us of our fears and misgivings about this most precious book that it may no longer be strange to us but rather a familiar friend who comforts, challenges and prods us to converse together in the ways, strange and surprising, in which you speak to us through it. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.

[Jessica Short]

I know other people have talked about this, so I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I've started an interim at a church, and we haven't even had a discussion about the Book of Faith. But we are going to begin that conversation by putting Bibles out for anyone to take in a place where everyone can bring extras (if they have any). It's a great first step to make sure everyone has a Bible before we start making a plan.