Message from Pastor Stanton for Aug. 2020

What can faith formation look like during a pandemic when we can’t gather for in-person conversations, studies, worship or prayer? The current moment is no different from any other chapter of our lives: either we’re growing in our faith or other priorities and interests are taking the place of our relationship with God. This is a time to get creative with how we use our time to stretch our faith in ways we haven’t before. That’s why Pastor Karyn and I and our whole staff have created a bunch of new ways to engage with God and each other amidst COVID time.

“Each time Bible Readers starts a new book, we will invite everyone to join us! ”

In June, a bunch of people from First Lutheran and beyond started reading the Bible together: 5 days a week, with weekends to catch up or take a break. Each day, I assign a few chapters from the Old Testament and some more from the New. It’s about 15 minutes worth of reading; maybe another 15 minutes if you want to journal or reflect at all. The goal for those who started ‘on the ground floor’ is to read the whole Bible over the course of a year. BUT…

If you didn’t get in right away, it’s not too late! Each time “Bible Readers” starts a new book, we will invite the whole congregation again to join us. Maybe you will join us just for the book of Matthew (which starts July 29 and will finish September 15). Or maybe you’ve always wanted to read Ecclesiastes straight through (February 12-15). The whole reading schedule is available through our website and a Google calendar is there, too, if you’d like to add it to your
e-calendar.

What can faith formation look like while we are apart? Maybe it looks like picking up your Bible for 15-30 minutes a day. And don’t forget, I accompany the process with a daily post for Bible Readers on Facebook and Youtube.
Join us!