Loading...In April of 2016 my job was in jeopardy. My supervisor asked me to justify my position. One of the basic requirements of my job was to cultivate Bible Study which I had failed to do thus far within my congregation. Could Bible Study be different? It had to be.
I folded a piece of paper into a tent and wrote in pen, Women’s Bible Study, All Faiths Welcome. Then I made another one and tacked it to the bulletin board of a local coffee shop at the intersection of two major highways. I invited 4 women I felt close to and two came!! We couldn’t hear a word because the coffee grinder was so loud. I had to replace my bulletin board sign every day because it was taken down every day. We kept on meeting once a week on Wednesdays at 10:00 for one hour. We picked whatever we wanted to read, and talked about it. Then we prayed for one another.
That’s it. That’s Rachel’s Bible Study. We pick whatever we want to read and talk about it. Then we pray for one another.
Schedule of Bible Study
10 am Convene.
Agree to what we are reading.
Read it (usually aloud, always silently in addition)
Talk about it.
Pray.
11:00 am adjourn (honestly we go over by 15 minutes for chatting)
After a few weeks we moved to Panera. We tried several other restaurants and churches but we always came back to the big center table at Panera. Both customers and staff often thank us for being there and express their wishes to join or even give us a prayer request. I still put up the tent sign. I even started a Facebook Page. Part of what binds us together is how rudimentary and fluid the group is. We never know exactly who is going to sit down. Many stop by. These days the table is too small. There have been days it’s two or three.
Why Rachel? Rachel was the first person I wanted to talk about it. She is meaningful to me personally and I feel close to her the way I feel about Mary. So Genesis 29-35 is where we started in April, 2016. We’ve kept it personal ever since.
Everywhere I go, when I meet a woman in whom I discern an interest in Bible Study I invite her. That is why there are several pastors of various denominations, a few recovering church exiles, and every age and stage of faith background. All faiths are welcome. We read the Bible and pray for one another.
Join me the Rev. H Elizabeth Back and friends for Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays at Panera 1801 Rudy Lane. All Faiths Welcome. #faith #biblestudy #women
