With its long, cold nights, winter is the perfect season to curl up with a good book.
Forty members of Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ (1 Hovey St.) in Oxford Village are doing just that with the original good book.
On Jan. 1, they began reading a little bit of the Bible each day as part of ‘Year of the Bible,? a year-long project that encourages participants to ‘read it, study it, pray it, live it.? The goal is to read the entire book, from cover to cover, by the end of the year.
Addison Township resident Patsy Hartz, a church member and volunteer, proposed the endeavor and is spearheading it.
She hopes it will ‘bring everyone closer to God? and give them a clearer understanding of the history of Christianity and the difference between the old and new covenants.
Participants are spending anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per day reading a mix of either the Old and New Testaments or the Old Testament and Psalms. As their guide, they’re using ‘The Year of the Bible: A Comprehensive, Congregation-wide Program for Bible Reading? by James E. Davison.
How long it takes them each day ‘depends on what version of the Bible you’re using,? Hartz said. ‘Everybody’s reading whatever version they want.?
For those reading ‘The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language,? created by Eugene H. Peterson and published in 2002, she estimated it probably takes about 10 minutes. This version is a paraphrase-style translation, which tries to take the content and tone of the original language and convert it into contemporary English, according to ‘Pocket Guide to the Bible.?
For folks reading the King James Bible, published in 1611 by the Church of England, Hartz believes it’s ‘for sure, 20 minutes? because the language is like reading Shakespeare.
‘The language is older,? she said. ‘It’s just harder for us (living in modern times) to understand it.?
The King James Bible is a formal equivalence-style translation, which means it tries to follow the original document word for word, staying as close to the same grammatical order as appears in the original language, according to ‘Pocket Guide to the Bible.? This type of interpretation is considered harder to read, but more accurate.
Participants in Immanuel’s ‘Year of the Bible? are reading privately on their own time. ‘It’s not like we’re all getting together,? Hartz said.
However, there is a regular talk about the previous week’s readings during Immanuel’s 11 a.m. Sunday service and the church’s Bible study group, which meets twice a month, is focusing on the readings as well, according to Hartz.
This will be the second year in a row that Hartz is reading the entire Bible.
‘I practiced it last year to see if it was possible,? she said. ‘And this year, I’m doing it again with everybody.?
Hartz is reading ‘The Message? version this year.
‘It’s a huge relief to know the universe is based in love,? she said. ‘The Creator of the universe is perfect love. That’s what makes the New Testament so comforting.?
Hartz stressed that everyone is welcome to participate in this Bible-reading program, not just members of Immanuel.
‘Anybody in the whole world could do it,? she said.
Immanuel Congregational was founded in February 1878 and construction of the sanctuary, fellowship room and kitchen was completed in 1879. It’s the oldest church structure in Oxford Village.
Immanuel became affiliated with the United Church of Christ in 1957.
Today, it’s led by Pastor Liz Wilson. The church has 58 members, of which 30 to 40 are considered ‘active,? according to Hartz.
For more information about the ‘Year of the Bible? program or Immanuel church, please visit www.icucc.org or call (248) 628-1610.