Starting the week of Sept 25, Salem’s participation in the “Covenant Community Bible Study” will begin. At this time, two groups and time slots have been created:  Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Community Room at SCC and Thursday afternoons at 1:00 pm in the Elms Library located on the first floor of the Elms building at Briarwood Retirement Community. These meetings will run for eight weeks concurrently.

CBE is an 8-week, 40 day experience in which we will immerse ourselves in the reading of the entire New Testament. The reading, while challenging, should take about a half hour each day for five days a week. The program also offers a downloadable audio version of the New Testament if one is more comfortable listening to the scripture being read or has diminished eye sight making reading difficult.

In the first sessions (Sept 28 and 29), participants will receive their bibles (if they haven’t already received one) and a bookmark with the reading schedule. We will introduce the program, the many tools available to participants (eBook and audio versions, abridged audio New Testament for kids, downloadable guides, daily emails with videos to prepare one for each day’s reading…)

The program functions more as a book club than a traditional bible study.  Directive guides will provide a few conversation starters to help participants reflect on each week’s reading. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and share what inspired, surprised, or even puzzled them about the text.

This will be an “experience” we will share together. As we start, we pray that each of us as well as the church and denomination as a whole will be blessed in unique and powerful ways as we step out in this adventure.  Pray that the Spirit will continue to inspire us in all of our reading and conversation. Please join the reading team and see what God has in store for you!