Book of Faith Success Stories

[Chad King]

Well, the Book of Faith initiative is in full swing, and the site is now over a year old (if you can you believe it)!

So... do you have any special or meaningful stories to share from this past year about how you have seen biblical literacy increase in your own congregation or synod?

[Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp]

Here's our success story. Peter Mayer and I are the authors of God's Standard or Gold Standard? Studies in Proverbs. It's a three session series. We presented the Bible study on Friday August 21st at the CWA.
You can check it out by going to www.elca.org and click on video, go to friday, bible study
The focus verse for session one is

The text is from Proverbs 22:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common:
the LORD is the maker of them all.

Peter has written a song which summarizes the text.
You can download it and two other songs for FREE
by going to

www.petermayer.com/bookoffaith
here is MORE THAN SILVER OR GOLD
We walk as one
Oh Lord our maker
Both rich and poor
Oh Lord our maker
Through sun and shadow
Oh Lord our maker
Who names us and claims us
More than silver or gold

We lend we borrow
Lord lift us higher
Through joy and sorrow
Lord lift us higher
Today tomorrow
Lord lift us higher
You name us and claim us
More than silver or gold

Draw us together
Oh Lord our new song
To serve each other
Oh Lord our new song
In your care forever
Oh Lord our new song
Who names us and claims us
More than silver or gold
Who names us and claims us
More than silver or gold

I have decided to do a "blitz" around this series-
On Sunday night we have a study at Sarah's house
On Monday am we have a study at church
On Monday night we have a study at Julie's house
On Tuesday am we have a study at church
On Saturday am we have a men's group studying the series @ church

On Sunday night, Brenda a member of the group, brought her ipod and ipod speakers. She joyfully shared the song with us. It was GREAT!

We just started this schedule on the past Sunday. Folks are excited to Open Scripture and
join the conversation. Please pray for our groups as we continue our journey.
God's peace,
Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

[Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp]

Here's how we have it scheduled at BLC for our "blitz" around God's Standard or Gold Standard? Studies in Proverbs

http://www.bethany-denver2.org/category/faith-formation-posts/adult...

check it out,
rtg

[Bobbie Steinhauer]

Some interesting ways that it has impacted our congregation is that we use the phrase Bible Literacy now. Generally in the context that we are not, but awareness is good.

We've delved into topics that might have otherwise not been covered, Women, Revelation, Amos. Lay people are running and developing Bible studies. The discussions are wonderful.

I'm excited about the new avenues that will present themselves this year.

[Marty Pauschke]

I have been reading through a book of the Bible as a sermon series. In the Spring, I did a series on 1 John. The worshipers had Bibles that they used during my message to follow what I would read. Whatever wasn't covered in my message was to be read during the week. During the summer I did a "travelogue" on the book of Acts. Currently, I'm going through the book of Habakkuk. The people have enjoyed opening their Bibles during the sermon and want to do more of this.

[bruce metcalf]

last wednesday evening we had a fun night for our confirmation students. My wife and myself were put in charge of planning and seeing as we have only been teaching 3 years ,first 3rd and 4th grade sunday school and then 4th and 5th grade and this year 6th grade confirmation we only really knew our own class ,,so we wanted to do something that would get all the kids to work together as a team !! We chose to do a story board,,that is to put a story on paper with pictures!! Our small classes still had enough for 3 teams. We chose for a theme the Bible from creation to Jesus!! and put one subject on each end of a 8ft.long pieces of paper( I got end rolls from our local news paper for a couple of $'s each) and as a team they told the story !!I had first seen this at our N/w synod of wis. lay school and had adapted it to our sunday school program and now to confirmation all with great success!! The teams were encouraged to use their Bibles to verify timelines etc. and I directed which book to look into when asked !! All teams told their stories to our Pastor when finished and were all asking when they could do this again !! We hear that our youth don't want to read the Bible ,but if it presented right and they are allowed to ask question and get them answered they find the Bible a fasinating book !! I posted some pictures fron the event !!We even had a parent who joined in the fun !!
bruce

[Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp]

hi everyone, my colleague Pastor Ruth Ann Loughry preached a rockn sermon as we presented 39 second graders with their Spark Bibles.
Check out my blog post to read her sermon
http://bookoffaith.ning.com/profiles/blogs/2nd-grace-bible-sunday-s...

check out my page to see some photos form the day.