Marathon Bible Reading with Renovations the Goal

From New York-

For many of Americans finding time to read a book can become a burden. But for the parishioners of St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Rochelle “hitting the books” is exactly what they had planned.

On Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Rayner “Rusty” Hesse Jr. and a few members of the 80-person congregation kicked of an eight-day Bibliathon. The event is designed to raise funds to complete the outside renovations to the “little white church on the hill.”

Just two years ago, the congregation undertook the task of reading all 27 books of the New Testament. The marathon reading session last around 48-hours and helped raise $7,000 for restorations to the Carpenter Gothic style exterior of the church and grounds.

This year the community will read the 39 books of the Old Testament contained within the New International Version of the Bible, which Hesse believes is more accessible to readers.

Hesse is proud of the outpouring of faith from the community last year, and this year he expects no different.

More here-

http://newrochelle.patch.com/articles/marathon-bible-reading-with-renovations-the-goal