The Forest for the Tress
There’s an old saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” I never quite understood what this meant when I was a kid, but it dawned on me in early adulthood that I was frequently getting bogged down in the details (of a piece of music in particular), that I’d end up missing the meaning and significance of the bigger picture, or the larger artistic message. Perhaps I’m not alone in this struggle.
When it comes to the Bible, it’s oh-so-easy to spiritually miss the forest (God’s main message) for the trees (the oddities and intricacies of the thousands of stories and passages in Scripture). Rest assured, our pastors and Elders are well aware of this spiritual pitfall and are purposefully leading our congregation to a fresh, wide angle view of God’s mighty forest.
This spring, ECRC’s Elders made a decision to have our Sunday morning worship services follow a plan (called The Narrative Lectionary) that will take us from the start of the Bible in Genesis to the final pages of the New Testament and the Holy-Spirit-Filled Church. It’s going to take a little while for the whole story to unfold: from Sunday, September 7 all the way until the end of May. The Elders believe that the following three benefits will accrue for our community this year. What’s in italics below are direct quotes from Elders’ meetings:
- Utilizing the Narrative Lectionary can lead to an increase in biblical literacy, since the lectionary will introduce more unique materials, not just the “big story” passages. This can produce a clear bigger picture for members, which could be especially useful for new members with less previous biblical education and background, and for the youth. Our goal is NOT to produce Bible scholars, but to encourage a better understanding of the salvation story.
- The Narrative Lectionary is an opportunity for new creative teams and ideas. Since most Scripture readings are longer than we are accustomed to, it could be beneficial to create a team of skilled readers and drama participants. This, in turn, can lead to more opportunities for involvement, increased engagement, and a new way to present the Gospel.
- Having Scripture readings laid out for the year would enable staff to participate in advance planning and would lead to greater coordination across all departments. For example, Children’s Worship and the Youth program could potentially also dive into the Narrative Lectionary Scriptures, following the same story arc for all ages. This could be an excellent way to encourage family discussions and deepen our youngest congregants’ understanding of the Bible and the salvation story.
It’s one thing to have a private, personal view of the forest. It’s quite another to see it in the company of friends, family, and traveling companions. Lord willing, this will be a banner year for our congregation to hear what God is saying like never before. I trust that it will help us to:
- Take the next step in passionate worship of God (UP)
- Take the next step in building connection, community and friendship (IN)
- Take the next step in bold service and sharing the Jesus story(OUT)
May it be so!
Pastor Gregg