ELCA  "BOOK OF FAITH"  INITIATIVE

"Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible." Should that surprise you, that Lutherans read the Bible? It shouldn’t; but our praxis of engaging the Scripture in our lives should be a constant, daily necessity no matter what your faith tradition is.

Together, as a church family, we at Vangen have a calling as a people of God. And part of our calling is to know, hear, share, and be rooted in Scripture. The Word of God creates and nurtures faith through the work of the Holy Spirit and points us to Christ, the incarnate Word and the center of our faith.

But, what would it mean to really live Biblically? How might our life be the same? How might our life be different if we did as the Bible tells us to do in terms of our giving, forgiving others, and having Biblical priorities?

The Bible tells stories of people living their faith over the centuries, and invites us into a relationship with God, which makes demands on our lives, but promises us a life in Christ, and forms us as a people of faith.

To help us in this effort of a life of faith, an ELCA initiative, "Book of Faith," invites us to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Bible. (Vision Statement)

One Sunday a month, under the umbrella of the ELCA “Book of Faith” Initiative, we focus on a favorite Bible story during worship to get the meaning of it across in a new way. Worshipers are asked to give the pastor a Scripture passage of their choosing for him to use as the basis of his Sunday message.

This year (beginning in Sept) adult Sunday school is reflecting on the New Testament book of Acts (Luke's second volume to his gospel).

In a "One Room School" setting, children in Sunday School hear Bible stories by a cadre of teachers (a "cloud of witnesses"). And this year, Confirmation is on the Bible.

Also, a monthly "Bible Byte" is featured in our newsletter.

If you want to deepen your faith and deepen your life of being rooted in Scripture, then come to Vangen, and engage yourself with us in "living into (your) call as a person renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word of God!"

There are also Internet web site links on this web site to individually further your understanding of Scripture.