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Women United in Faith invites women to join them for their next study starting on September 29. They will be looking at the book of Ephesians, which “explores how Paul instructed the people of Ephesus to practice the skills of a God-fashioned life.” If you’ve never been in a bible study before, don’t let that keep you from trying this one; many participants are just beginners. Bring a friend and come when you can.

The Ephesians study will use the Life Changes bible study series and the study guide in the Serenditpity Study Bible (this Bible is not a requirement; bring your own Bible, as different versions can give us different insight). The group meets at Zion from 6:30-8pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

The mission of Women United in Faith is to strengthen our faith and provide a safe, comfortable and confidential environment where women can share their hurts, struggles, joys, and heartfelt emotions, while maintaining respect for each other. Contact Cheryl Mager (682.3777) or Judy Weis (682.7014) for more details about Women United in Faith or their study on Ephesians.

The ‘Men Seeking Wisdom’ Bible Study will not be meeting during July and August, but will resume September 3, 2009. If you would like to join this group that meets at 8am on Thursdays at Zion, please call Sam Monson at 763.553.0326.

A David and Goliath Story for Everyday People
Women United in Faith invites you to Bible Study on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month starting January 13, 2009 at Zion from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. The study for 2009 will be based on Max Lucado‘s book Facing your Giants. Like David we can face our giants. Bills we can‘t pay, habits we can‘t break, failures we can‘t forget, and a future we can‘t face.

This group uses the study guide in the Serendipity Study Bible. This Bible is not a requirement; bring your own Bible, as different versions can give us different insight. If you‘ve never been in a bible study before, don‘t let that keep you from coming. Many participants are just beginners. Bring a friend and come when you can. Contact Cheryl Mageror Judy Weis for more details.

If you are following the blue Gospel of Mark Advent reading guide that was distributed at Zion, you have already joined the Book of Faith initiative.

What is Book of Faith?

Book of Faith is an initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This program invites the whole church 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, empowered, and sent by the Word.

History of Book of Faith:

The 2007 Churchwide Assembly called upon “members, congregations, synods, churchwide ministries, and institutions and agencies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to engage in a five-year collaborative initiative-identified as Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible-with the goal of raising to a new level this church’s individual and collective engagement with the Bible and its teaching, yielding greater biblical fluency and a more profound appreciation of Lutheran principles and approaches for the use of Scripture.”

The ELCA then formulated the Book of Faith: Open Scripture, Join the Conversation initiative, inviting everyone to join the conversation, to make a commitment, and to become part of the effort. A five-year collaborative initiative, it began in 2008 and leads up to the ELCA’s 25th anniversary in 2012 and to the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017.

In the Minneapolis Area Synod

The Minneapolis Area Synod task force on Book of Faith has been working hard to aid congregations to help people access the Scriptures so that lives can be inspired and we can grasp the great gift of grace provided for us in the person of Jesus. The MAS task force chair is Pastor Mark Wegener, Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield.

Join the Online Network

Be a part of the Book of Faith conversation by joining the online network. At this site, you can meet other Lutherans excited about Book of Faith, learn what they’re doing, share what you’re doing, and keep up to date with the Minneapolis Area Synod plans. Make your own Book of Faith page, join the Minneapolis Area Synod group, and meet others from across our synod and the wider church.

Resources

Unlike other programs, Book of Faith does not rest on a specific course or resource. Rather, it aims simply to make folks feel more at home with and comfortable using the Bible and it language that expresses our faith. There are many ways to do this. New ideas emerge all the time – and the social networking site is the place to share them! What’s your idea?

Besides the interactive online network, there are a wide variety of other Book of Faith resources available online at  www.bookoffaith.org,  and www.augsburgfortress.org.

Daily Discipleship is a free, online, downloadable, lectionary Bible study from the ELCA based on the gospel lesson used at Sunday worship. Each weekly session is designed for “Daily Discipleship Groups” of two-seven people who gather to prepare for upcoming Sunday worship (or to reflect on the previous week’s reading) by discussing the assigned gospel lesson’s implications for daily living. It can be easily adapted for personal devotions or used for sermon preparation.

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The Adult Education committee invites you to join the Opening the Book of Faith initiative. A four step Bible study method will be used to help us deepen our faith and understanding. The four steps include specific passages devotionally, exploring them historically, literally and in light of Lutheran theology.

“The Book of Faith initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America invites the whole church 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 Word.”

If you are interesting in summertime learning, join Pastor Becky on Saturday mornings at 9:30 as we begin in the book of Galatians. Our first day will be June 7 beginning with Galatians 1. There is no need to sign up.

Bring a bag lunch and join pastor Hahn Sunday March 30 and April 6 at 11:45 as he leads a discussion on C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian. Call or email the office to sign up office (at) zionbuffalo.org

Marilyn Hahn will be leading a five-week study on the Angels of the Bible. This study will be 9:30 Sunday mornings beginning March 30 in the library. Call or email the office to sign up office (at) zionbuffalo.org

You know your Goliath. You recognize his walk, the thunder of his voice. He taunts you with bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, habits you can’t break, failures you can’t forget, and a future you can’t face. But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest.

Focus on Giants – you stumble. Focus on God – your giants stumble.

Join Pastor Sogge on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 beginning April 2 as we discuss Max Lucado’s book Facing Your Giants. Sign up online (link fixed 2/28) or at the information desk. Books are available in bookstores or you can order one through the church office by March 20 for $16.

Pastor Becky’s Monday morning Bible study is now meeting at the Friendship Center at Lake Ridge Care Center. Bible study starts at 9:30 and new faces are welcome. The Hymns of Lent Bible study is part of a larger series called ‘Hymns of Faith’ that the group has been studying. Contact Pastor Becky for more information.

Join Pastor Becky Wednesdays at 6:00 for an exploration of Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey.

The book study will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning January 2 from 6:00-7:00p.m. Please sign-up on line or at the information desk. Books and study guides will be available for $14.

In his most powerful book since What’s So Amazing about Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew, Yancey probes the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect—the very heartbeat—of your relationship with God: prayer. In theory, prayer is the essential human act, a priceless point of contact between you and the God of the universe. In practice however, prayer is often frustrating, confusing, and fraught with mystery. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? explores the mysterious intersection where you and God meet and relate. Writing as a fellow pilgrim, Yancey explores the questions surrounding prayer that you may wonder about but not know how to express. Above all, Yancey shows you how to pray to a God who sees what lies ahead of you, knows what lies within you, and who invites you into an eternal partnership with Him—through prayer.

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Update 12/31: The study will be for the 5 weeks of January