When I was little my favorite TV show was Reading Rainbow, the PBS show dedicated to children’s books. I loved the theme song (I’d be happy to sing it for you), the host, the featured books, and how each episode promised new adventures waiting for me at my local library.
The host, LeVar Burton, would always end his review of a book by saying, “but you don’t have to take my word for it.” I took this as a personal challenge to read the book and decide for myself whether I agreed with his assessment of the book. There is nothing quite like being able to read a story for yourself to see what images leap into your imagination, noticing what feelings the story conjures up inside of you, and hearing the voices of the characters come alive in your head.
This fall at Prince of Peace we will begin using the Narrative Lectionary as a way of going deeper into God’s story in a chronological way. We will be centering ourselves in God’s story during worship and educational opportunities, but I will also be using the biblical stories during home visits to further the conversation.
For instance, together we will read the story of the call of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-9) and together notice where we are in God’s story; because God’s story is our story. The biblical story is something we live into, not just hear about on Sunday mornings.
As God’s children we are all invited to share what we see, hear, and feel. When we take the time to dive deeper as a community, we get to hear different perspectives, notice different images, and experience different feelings, knowing that there is a place for us in God’s story because everyone of us matters. God’s story has the power to shape our life together for good…but you don’t have to take my word for it.
In Peace, Pastor Ruth