OREGON
Book of Faith Initiative Oregon Synod
A Message from the Synod Book of Faith Advocate:
Were not are hearts burning…On January 16th and 17th we held a Book of Faith Event in Portland and Eugene. A total of 80 people attended both events with presenter Diane Jacobson of Luther Seminary.
Diane introduced us to Book of Faith initiative and the ways Lutherans understand scripture. Scripture was brought alive in new ways for attendees as we looked at the Luke 24:13-35, the Journey to Emmaus. This is one of my favorite bible stories and I love the the image of our hearts burning as he opens scripture to us. I hope for the attendees that their hearts burned as scripture was opened in new ways, I know mine was and continues to be as I continue to sit with this story.
This is what the Book of Faith initiative is all about….getting into and spending time with scripture, wrestling with it in new ways, hearing it in ways you haven’t heard it before. Part of the beauty of scripture is it’s depth and breath, it's familiarity and yet it's newness. Diane shared something from a article she had recently read in which the writer who is hispanic commented on the word "stranger" in this text and related the word stranger to alien or immigrant. Listen to Marty Haugen's song "On the Journey to Emmaus" and find meaning that also speaks to the word stranger - at least it did for me.
ResourcesBook of Faith Lenten Journey Marks of the Christian by David Miller is just out from Augsburg. This resource is a forty-day journey exploring Romans 12. In this chapter of Romans, Paul calls us to new life in Christ and identifies marks of the Christian life. This resource can be used individually, with a spiritual partner, in small group settings or with the whole congregation.
Enter the Bible - A new source from Luther Seminary. This is a great new resource for people teaching or facilitating a Bible Study or just for one's individual interest. It is easy to use and you can keep notes etc. Click on the Enter the Bible section on the right hand column to enter.
Looking for resources for those new to Bible Study, for an new members class, or for confirmation class. "Making Sense of Scripture", Big Questions About the Book of Faith, by David J. Lose, Professor at Luther Seminar has written this great book for those with lots of questions about the Bible - chapters include "Where did the Bible come from?" "Is the Bible true" and "How is the Bible the Word of God?". With a good facilitator this book can be used very effectively.
