How to use this list:
1. Pledge as a family to read one story a week for 52 weeks.
2. Pick a bible storybook or bible from which you will read the story each week. Choose one that is appropriate for the entire family. Keep it out in plain sight as a reminder each week.
3. Starting at the beginning of the list, read one story each week out loud to everyone. If a listed story is not in your bible storybook, read the story directly from the bible text. Or choose another bible story in the storybook not on the list.
4. Use one or more of the following questions to discuss the story:
a. What is the story about? Retell the story in your own words, act it out, or portray a scene in an artistic manner (draw, model it in clay, etc.)
b. What did you like best in the story? With which person did you most identify?
c. How does this story connect with the previous one? Where do you see signs of God's covenant (promise or pledge) with God's people?
d. What does this story call us to do as God's people?

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For Preschool Children and Early Readers:

Adventure Bible Storybook (Zonderkidz) New! Over fifty stories with key verses highlighted for each story.

The Beginner's Bible: Timeless Children's Stories (Zonderkidz): Almost 100 Bible stories told in an easy to read format and kid friendly pictures.

The Jesus Storybook Bible (Zonderkidz): Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, this unique bible storybook points to how Jesus is at the center of every story.

My First Message: A Devotional Bible for Kids (NavPress): Based on Eugene Peterson's The Message, this bible storybook features wonderful illustrations as well as prayers, questions, and things to do at the end of each story.

The Rhyme Bible Storybook (Zonderkidz): Thirty-five classic bible stories are retold in delightful rhymes.

Spark Story Bible (Augsburg Fortress Publishers): New! One hundred fifty stories in a hardback book with colorful artwork to engage young children.

For Elementary Children:

The Adventure Bible (Zonderkidz): This NIV Bible contains book introductions, relevant history facts, and ways to live out God's Word in daily life. For students ages 8 - 12.

The Adventure Bible for Young Readers (Zonderkidz): Many of the same features of the regular Adventure Bible are found in this version, but the shorter sentence structure and simpler
vocabulary makes it a better choice for those ages 6 - 10.

The Spark Bible (Augsburg Fortress Publishers): New! Designed for children in grades 3 - 6, this NRSV bible also includes stickers that they can use to highlight passages.

For Middle and High School Youth:

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (NavPress): Written by Eugene Peterson, this version is a paraphrase rather than a word for word translation. It is meant as a "reading bible," as Peterson put it, to get people into the Word. Teenagers may find that its language is more accessible to them than a traditional bible.

The NIV Student Bible (Zondervan): This student bible contains introductions to each book including tips on how to read it, biographies of 100 biblical people students should know, and a guided tour section which highlights important events in the bible. Also included are short articles or "Insights with life questions to stimulate thought.

For Adults:

The Life Application Study Bible (Zondervan): Available in several translations, the Life Application Study Bible provides study notes, but also encourages readers to apply what they are reading to their own lives.

The Lutheran Study Bible (Augsburg Fortress Publishers): New! This bible features the NRSV translation as well as introductions, notes, and articles written by over sixty Lutheran pastors and teaching theologians.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (NavPress): Written by Eugene Peterson, this version is a paraphrase rather than a word for word translation. It is meant as a "reading bible," as Peterson put it, to get people into the Word. Teenagers may find that its language is more accessible to them than a traditional bible.

The NIV Study Bible (Zondervan): Provides extensive study notes and cross-references as well as multiple indexes.

The Peoples' Bible (Fortress Press): An NRSV bible that highlights the role of the cultures in shaping the development of the bible and the way people read it. Study notes and section overviews are provided by a number of distinguished scholars.

Serendipity Bible (Zondervan): This NIV bible is suitable for leading small group studies. It suggests several tracks for reading and studying the bible depending on the composition of the group. It also provides questions for facilitators to open group study, stimulate discussion, and help people process what the passage might mean for them personally.

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Whereas all the baptized when they affirm their baptism promise "to hear the Word of God" and "to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed";

Whereas all parents and sponsors covenant to place the holy scriptures in the hands of their children and nurture them in faith and prayer;

Whereas pastors at their ordination vow to be diligent in their study of the Holy Scriptures;

Whereas the ELCA has begun a Book of Faith Initiative inviting everyone to join the conversation, to make a commitment, and to become part of the initiative (see www.bookoffaith.org).

Be it resolved, that we become a "Book of Faith" congregation, committing ourselves to live in and from the Word of God in all our meetings, assemblies and events, so that as we regularly and increasingly hear, read, study, share and are engaged by God's Word, we lead by example in faithful service and holy living;

Be it further resolved that the leadership of [ORGANIZATION], in coordination with the Pacifica Synod Book of Faith Ministry Team, lead this initiative personally through example and through collaborative work in our ministry;

Be it further resolved that members of this [ORGANIZATION] covenant together to begin a regular practice of Bible study and prayer, gathering with others in the community to speak and hear the Word from one another;

Be it finally resolved that we celebrate and continue to support and strengthen those places where Scripture is already taught and engaged, such as Women of the ELCA Bible studies, camping and campus ministries, lay schools, congregational councils, Sunday school and other congregational groups [add your local concrete examples here]

We covenant together to do these things in order to become more fluent in the first language of faith-the language of Scripture-that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word.

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Mission:
To facilitate and implement the Book of Faith Initiative, as adopted by the 2008 Pacifica Synod Assembly, throughout all congregations within the synod. In particular:

To enable the congregations of the Pacifica Synod to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that they might live into their calling as a people renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word.

Responsibilities:
1) Encourage all Pacifica Synod congregations to become Book of Faith congregations, concretely committed to participation.

2) Encourage rostered and lay leaders to be trained with enhanced skills for teaching Bible.

3) Inform leaders and congregations about and advocate for the use of Book of Faith resources.

4) Collaborate with the Pacifica Synod Council, staff, the PALLMM program, and other Synod teams as appropriate.

Accountability:
The Book of Faith Ministry Team operates under Pacifica Synod Constitution article †S11.01. and SA08.05. This team is accountable to the Synod Council through the designated Synod Council liaison. The team works in conjunction with the staff of our synod including in particular the Bishop.

It is expected that this Ministry Team will submit a one-page Annual Report to the Synod Council by March 1 each year to be included in the Synod Assembly Notebook. This report will include:
" A brief statement of the team's overall purpose
" A summary of the team's ministry during the past year
" A summary of the team's goals and objectives for the coming year
" The names of current team members

Composition:
The Ministry Team Leader, clergy or lay, is appointed by Synod Council to serve for a term of three years (renewable). In this case, the Ministry Team Leader fulfills the role of "advocate" as required by the initiating resolution. The team is comprised of members of Pacifica Synod congregations, clergy or lay, who feel called to the ministry of this team and serve at will.

December 6, 2008
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