Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church
Friday, September 10, 2010
We are a church that is spiritually alive, radically inclusive and justice oriented.

Pastor's Corner

 
Pastor's Corner
By Rev. Denise Neuschwander
From "The Bell Ringer"  September 1, 2010

 

 
 
 

Dear Friends,
 
Over the last two years I have been engaged with a program through the General Board of Church and Society called the Burning Bush.   The intent of this program was to design a disciple making program of the individual church.  Of the five or so congregations represented from other areas of the United States, we all came to one vital conclusion: WE NEED TO KNOW THE BIBLE!  There is an epidemic of bible illiteracy in our Christian churches.  Some believe they aren't able to learn about the bible, there is just to much to absorb.  Others don't want their peers to know how little they know about the bible so they don't attend classes to keep their bible illiteracy secret.  What each of the representatives from these congregations agreed upon is that every church needs to provide opportunities for learning and that discipleship is dependent upon continual learning.
 
Because I believe in the need for bible study, I will be offering two opportunities for bible study beginning September 16.  On Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m., you will have an opportunity to begin an in depth study of the gospels.  The curriculum I am using is divided into 54 planned sessions over two years.  There will be twelve sessions in the fall, with a break for Christmas and New Years, seven weeks in the winter and eight weeks in the spring.  You will get the most out of the course by attending each week, however it is set up that you can start anytime and if you miss a week you won't be lost when you return.
 
There is a book that is suggested titled Synopsis of the Four Gospels which can be ordered from the American Bible Society for a discounted price of $24.99 when using the code SFS50 on the order.  We will place an order after the first class date and would ask that you pay at that time so it works out in our budget better!  You may order the book on your own prior to the class.  After the first class you will need to order the book on your own.  HOWEVER, you do not have to order the book in order to attend the class.
 
I am hoping to have both classes full of people who are seeking to learn more about our faith and more importantly, about Jesus!
 
Blessings,
Pastor Denise