82 Ways to Engage the Book of Faith in Your Congregation

Pastor Breen Marie Sipes (Zion, Kratzerville) is on a mission…to help people “learn to love the people in the Bible as our best friends” so that “God’s story guides our daily life story”.  She has helped to make engaging with Scripture a regular part of the worship and community life of her congregation, both as a pastor and as a “Book of Faith Advocate” of the Upper Susquehanna Synod.  “My belief is that the Book of Faith’s main thrust is to get the Bible into as many parts of our life together as possible,” Sipes says. “With this in mind, I have taken a ‘throw it all at the wall and see what sticks’ philosophy.”

The Book of Faith Initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America represents our church’s commitment to encourage all members of our congregations, from children to adults, to dig deeper into our book of faith, the Bible.  Resources available at www.bookoffaith.org offer congregations and individuals ideas for engaging the Bible in our daily lives.

Pastor Sipes has compiled her own list of ways her congregation has tried to help bring the words of Scripture more readily to worshippers’ minds and lips.  To download her list of 48 tried and true ways (plus 34 ways they haven’t yet had the chance to try out!), click on this link.

Sipes welcomes the chance to talk with other leaders about her passion for the Book of Faith.  To contact her, or another member of the synod’s LEARN Team, see their page on this website.

Sipes also points to this place on the Book of Faith website where one can order BOF bookmarks (free for the cost of shipping) or download a PDF file of the same.  The bookmarks include appropriate questions for four different approaches to reading the Bible.