GroshLink

Opening of Bruce Kuhn's "One man recitation of the gospel of Luke," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNSTtILNygg.

What's your experience of Bible reading in your local assembly, various public settings, in your house?

On Friday, December 23, I received "the call." I was invited to do a Bible/Scripture reading which provided the overarching narrative for Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church's Christmas Eve Service, comprised of a creative mix of drama and worship. What an opportunity! Question: what hymns/songs would you place in the various sections (keep in mind various children choirs were singing).

• Mary & Joseph
  • Luke 1:26-38
  • Luke 2:4-7
• The Shepherds, 
  • Luke 2:8-20
• The Magi
  • Matthew 2:1-12
• God
  • Isaiah 9:2,6
  • Isaiah 11:2-5 
  • Isaiah 9:7

As I thought about the great opportunity, I was also struck by the great responsibility to read the Word in such a setting. Inspired by this consideration, I performed a quick on-line search regarding "Bible" reading. I found these two posts of value.

• http://www.4-14.org.uk/how-the-bible-ought-to-be-read-in-church -- Post/comments.
• http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=342 -- As I skimmed it over, the post appeared to be a good resource for the worship director in prepping "readers." . . . "Why Me?" ;)

No, I didn't do all the preparation discussed by these pieces, but they complimented some of my thoughts stirred by memories of Bruce Kuhn's One Man Show of The Gospel of Luke (below pictures of Kuhn as Tolstoy and in a drama training in 'da Burgh a few years ago when we hosted him for a campus outreach at Pitt and CMU). By God's grace, the evening offered a unique opportunity to bless the many in attendence including my family, my parents, Theresa's parents, and wife's sister (along w/one of her three boys) -- who provided plenty of care for Lily who enjoyed the whole service. To God be the glory!

PS. Maybe it's time to invite Bruce Kuhn for an outreach series in South Central PA . . .