National Bible Week

November 23, 2008

Many people may not know that since 1940 National Bible Week has been officially celebrated in November. This year, it runs from November 23 through November 30, during the Thanksgiving Day holiday. What better time to begin a family tradition of reading the Bible and giving thanks for the freedom to openly read the word of God.

From its beginning, National Bible Week has been a time for government leaders to unite and promote a single message—pick up the Bible and let its words speak to you, whatever your status in life might be. Every US President since Franklin Roosevelt has issued a National Bible Week message. State governors have also used the occasion to issue their own official proclamations regarding this little known special week. In 2004, Texas Governor Rick Perry said in part in his proclamation, “Today from homes and places of worship, the Bible’s influence continues as a strong diving force. Beyond its unquestionable spiritual significance, the Bible casts a wide net of profound influence on diverse aspects of our society, ranging from music and history to art and literature.”

Stories have always been a primary way for people to impart wisdom and information from one generation to the next. The Bible is full of stories, a fact that has helped earn it the nickname, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” It is still one of the top-selling books of all times and has been translated in to many languages so that it can be read around the world.

The stories in the Bible are so powerful they appear everywhere and are constantly being retold in many ways. In the past 50 years, Bible stories have been retold in:

The Passion of the Christ
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Ten Commandments
Ben Hur
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

This is just a partial list of some popular and successful retellings of Bible stories. If you were to add titles and stories that had Biblical themes, allusions, and backdrops, the list would be even longer.

Since it is so easy to get basic Bible stories in such entertaining ways, why should anyone need or want to read the Bible? In a world where every message is full of hidden agendas and efforts to sway people toward thinking or believing in a certain way, there is nothing like going to the original source to truly understand what makes the Bible such an amazing book. The Bible also speaks to each person individually, and those who read it regularly will tell you that with each reading they find new insights.

Sharing the Bible with others can also enrich your understanding of what God is saying to us. All Saints provides many opportunities to experience the Bible with others. Our church office staff will be happy to find the perfect setting for you, or you can go to our Web site, www.allsaintsanglican.net, and search the many links and resources listed there.

This Thanksgiving as you gather with family and friends, why not make a reading from the Bible part of your celebration. It might be the start of a wonderful new family tradition!

Posted by All Saints | Filed Under Community