What? Where? So What? Now What?

        These are the questions we’ll all tackle together starting with the first Sunday of Sunday School, September 25th.  They are the basis of a new curriculum centered around preaching the Revised Common Lectionary and designed for all ages from young children through adults.
     Huh?  That’s what your probably saying right now.  What’s a Revised Common Lectionary?  Well it’s selected group of scripture, (Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and Gospel) that follow a the church year.  The scripture passages have been chosen by biblical scholars and pastors from various denominations and assembled into our present set of prescribed lessons.  Each passage is inter-related so that there is a common theme for each Sunday.
     The beauty of the RCL is that many, many churches use these same scriptures every Sunday.  It would not be unusual for you to discuss with your neighbor, who attends a church of a different denomination, the meaning of the same scripture that they just heard from their pastor.  It makes for great conversation.
     This new curriculum expands that same beauty to our entire church.  What I preach about on Sunday will be what all of you learn about in Sunday School or an adult class.  Together we’ll discover the:
 
· What—meanings and definitions of the contained in each scripture passage.
· Where—where is God in these passages, what is He trying to say to us.
· So What—how does this passage relate to me/how do I relate to this passage.
· Now What—how do I put into practice what I’ve just learned.
 
     One of the best ways we teach is to seize those “teachable moments”.  Those times when a lesson can be taught or a concept reinforced based on what’s happening at any given moment.  These are the best opportunities to “make the point” or have that “ah ha” moment.
     Feasting on the word is designed to help create those teachable moments by all of us working on the same concept or lesson at the same time.  What we teach or learn in class is repeated and/or expanded upon in our worship.
     So here’s the what.  A new curriculum for our entire church from young to old to explore the scripture together “on the same page”.
     The where is everywhere in this congregation, in Sunday School, in adult studies, and in worship.  We’ll find God in all those places.
     The so what is how we’ll all learn about what God has in mind for us.  Of course as individuals we’ll all take away something a bit different, but the point is we’ll all learn about God and with that new knowledge grow to love him, and each other even more.
     Finally the now what is how we’ll work together to put our new found knowledge in action to “love each other as He loves us”.  (paraphrased from my favorite verse John 13:34).  We’ll find new ways of being Christ to our church family and to the larger community.
     I encourage you to get involved with this new program and you can do that in a number of ways.
 
· Volunteer to teach the children who are eager to know about God.
· Join one of the adult groups, either the Sunday morning class, the Thursday evening class or the young adult class.
· Start a new group with your friends, (I would be delighted to help with 1 or two more groups who can meet on a regular basis).
· Study the lectionary readings each week before Sunday and come prepared to worship the Lord and learn about the What, Where, So What and Now What.  (you can find the lectionary reading in each month’s newsletter or online at www.PCUSA.org.)
   
     We’re very excited to offer this new way of learning and worshipping to all of you and pray that it will expand your faith life in ways you never thought possible.  Combining learning with worship is the goal of the curriculum along with the sure fact that the more you know about God the easier it is to love Him and follow Him.  That my friends is where the joy in life really is!
 
Peace to all,
Patrick