Hello Holston Conference Friends,
We join Bishop Wallace-Padgett in the second year of the Read Together initiative. This initiative challenges us to read through the Bible in one year plus the Revised Common Lectionary readings. It is our hope and prayer individuals and congregations across the annual conference will grow in our discipleship as we read the Bible together and be transformed into kainos, newness in Christ.
The entire 2023 Reading Plan is available for download. Beginning January 1, you will receive a daily email with links to the day’s readings using the Common English Bible {CEB} translation. Monday through Friday the readings will include 3-5 chapters from the Old Testament and New Testament. On Saturday and Sunday, you will receive one email inviting you to read from year A of the Revised Common Lectionary. We will also include throughout the week the scripture texts for holy days that are included in the Revised Common Lectionary.
In addition, we will provide monthly bookmarks with each day’s readings on one side and the Revised Common Lectionary readings on the other side. These bookmarks can be printed on card stock paper and made available to persons in your congregation.
There is a Facebook page at Facebook.com/holstonconferenceumc where you are invited to share your thoughts, insights, and discussions from the day’s reading. We are also collaborating with North Alabama Annual Conference to provide a weekly podcast at https://umcna.podbean.com/ featuring meditations by North Alabama and Holston clergy and laity as they reflect on the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. If you would like to post a daily reflection or be a podcaster one of the weeks in 2023, please feel free to contact Susan Groseclose at susangroseclose@holston.org.
If you are not already a subscriber and would like to receive the daily Read Together please be sure to click here and subscribe. Additional resource will be available on Holston.org.
I wish to personally express my appreciation to Tim Jones, Madasun Loy, and Millie Meese for their wisdom, insights, and work as we live into this Read Together initiative.
I am looking forward to joining each of you in our Read Together initiative. I am excited to see what God is going to do across our connection as we intentionally spend time reading the Bible together.
Blessings,
Reverend Susan Groseclose
Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship
Holston Conference, United Methodist Church
