Hi COTC! 

There is an opportunity to at the church building tonight for a time of prayer and worship. Much like back in June this will be a time of song, communal prayer, and listening together for the Holy Spirit’s leading and voice. As I’ve prayed and prepared for this night the theme of “the love of God” has come to consistently to mind. We’ll praise God for his love, pray for ourselves and the church to grow in His love, and ask for that love in Christ to be made known to our neighbors and city. I hope you can join us tonight at 7pm. Bring a Bible and notebook if you can. 

The sermon this past Sunday included an exhortation around reading the Bible as the “word of the Lord," as a means of encounter with Jesus, the word of God. There are plenty of resources for engaging with the Bible, and I’m sure you’re familiar with some of them. In the past we’ve recommended the Dwell app, as well as Robert M’Cheyne’s Bible reading plan, among others. The Book of Common Prayer has its own schedule of readings (lectionary) for daily prayer and meditation too. I use it and it has been meaningful for me to know that I’m reading the Bible in sync with other Christians around the nation and globe.

Sometimes reading plans can be a bit intimidating, and we all have the experience of starting something and then falling behind and getting discouraged. Don’t give up! God desires to meet with you through His Word and to speak life and grace into your existence. That desire persists through all our starting and stopping, and our failures. Take and read! 

You might also be interested in more ‘meta’ resources related to the Bible and engaging Jesus. This recent book on how not to read the Bible looks promising. I’m looking forward to checking it out. The author was featured on this podcast. How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth is an older book, but a classic and a trove of helpful information on engaging Scripture. I remember reading it as young adult and being so encouraged in my Bible reading. If you’re interested in the ideas behind the notion that we can encounter God in Scripture you might check out this one. It concludes with stories of St. Augustine, St Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Francis of Assisi and the ways they encountered Jesus in the words of Scripture. 

Whatever resources or background information might be helpful to you, be encouraged to meet God through Scripture. As we do so, we can be confident of His desire to meet us in love, and to guide us into life and truth. 

Grace and peace, 

Peter+ 

Ps. Thanks to everyone who contributed clothes for Harris ES. Please join us in praying for those to bless those who need them, and for Harris more generally as they begin the school year. Relatedly, this Sunday we’ll have a time of prayer for all students, teachers, administrators and professors as a another year kicks off.