From Florida-It may be a struggle and incomprehensible to some at times, but South Florida Episcopalians have committed to reading every word of the Bible this year, from the Old Testament to the New Testament to the Psalms.
Parishioners say they are ready for the challenge from their bishop, who asked every church and congregant to make their way through the holy books in 2013. It's part of the national Bible Challenge, sponsored by the Pennsylvania-based Center for Biblical Studies, which says hearing the Scriptures on Sundays is insufficient for developing a good understanding of the Bible's deeper meanings and relevance today.
The center is urging parish groups and anyone who wants to participate to read the Bible in sequence, with daily readings done independently and in group meetings once a week.
"It's a real commitment, the schedule is quite Herculean," said the Rev. Mary Ellen Cassini, of St. Mark the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale. "But it's worth wrestling with. We want it to be a time for people to feel comfortable asking questions and finding out how the Bible speaks to us."
Despite frequent references in literature and popular culture, many Americans have little knowledgeof the Bible and its stories. A Gallup poll in 2000 reported 41 percent of Americans say they rarely or never read the Bible. An American Bible Society survey showed 79 percent of Americans say they know the Bible, but 54 percent couldn't identify its first five books.
More here-
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-14/news/fl-bible-challenge-20130113_1_bible-challenge-american-bible-society-episcopal-church
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