Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so

to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus

Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

—Collect for Proper 28, The Book of Common Prayer

The study of Scripture is basic to the Christian life. Now the Episco-

pal Church has harnessed the Internet to allow Episcopalians to participate in Bible study by posting comments and thoughts on each week’s Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lec-tionary.

The complete weekly read-ings are posted along with study questions and reader com-ments at www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm

“The simple act of sharing our understanding of a Biblical

passage with others is powerful. This exchange of ideas and ob-servations has become, for me, personally, a remarkably helpful catalyst in growing my faith,” said Mark Harbour, a volunteer and regular contributor from the Diocese of Los Angeles.

According to its mission state-ment, the online weekly Bible study intends “to grow an active, web-based community of laity and clergy to share insights and perspectives from the Episco-pal Church’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Sunday read-ings.”

Online Bible studyRead, mark, learn and inwardly digest – and do it all on the Web

© Lin

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.com

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so

to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus

Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

—Collect for Proper 28, The Book of Common Prayer

The study of Scripture is basic to the Christian life. Now the Episco-

pal Church has harnessed the Internet to allow Episcopalians to participate in Bible study by posting comments and thoughts on each week’s Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lec-tionary.

The complete weekly read-ings are posted along with study questions and reader com-ments at www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm

“The simple act of sharing our understanding of a Biblical

passage with others is powerful. This exchange of ideas and ob-servations has become, for me, personally, a remarkably helpful catalyst in growing my faith,” said Mark Harbour, a volunteer and regular contributor from the Diocese of Los Angeles.

According to its mission state-ment, the online weekly Bible study intends “to grow an active, web-based community of laity and clergy to share insights and perspectives from the Episco-pal Church’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Sunday read-ings.”

Online Bible studyRead, mark, learn and inwardly digest – and do it all on the Web

© Lin

colnr

oger

s | D

ream

stime

.com

Its vision is “to develop a deep-er understanding of the Bible

and to foster spiritual growth by applying the understanding gained from lectionary readings into the context of daily life.”

The online Bible study also offers a downloadable list of weekly readings for the current lectionary year, which facilitates not only online participants but congregational Bible study groups as well.

Links with Facebook, Twitter, and other websites have driven traffic to the Bible study pages, helping the website grow into a resource useful not only to Epis-copalians, but to all who seek to connect to an online faith com-munity for study and reflection on Scripture. Some leave com-ments, some simply read what others have written, and some raise questions. (Please visit the website to learn how to access the Facebook and Twitter pages.)

As Harbour explains, “The process of becoming a better Christian is not finding the an-swers to questions as much as getting better at asking them.”

A special feature of the online Bible study is the weekly focus verse, designed for readers who want to participate but don’t have time to review all the lectionary

readings each week. Highlight-ing a single verse or a few short verses from each week’s gospel selection allows even those with busy schedules to ponder a single sentence or two.

For example, for the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9), the designated RCL readings are:

Acts 16:9-15Psalm 67Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

The Bible study focus verse is: “Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sab-bath” (John 5:8-9).

For more information about the online Bible study contact the coordinator, Sarah Johnson, sjohnson@episcopalchurch.org.

Image from“Be Opened,” a quilt by New York-based artist Pat Redding Scanlon, 2009.

Its vision is “to develop a deep-er understanding of the Bible

and to foster spiritual growth by applying the understanding gained from lectionary readings into the context of daily life.”

The online Bible study also offers a downloadable list of weekly readings for the current lectionary year, which facilitates not only online participants but congregational Bible study groups as well.

Links with Facebook, Twitter, and other websites have driven traffic to the Bible study pages, helping the website grow into a resource useful not only to Epis-copalians, but to all who seek to connect to an online faith com-munity for study and reflection on Scripture. Some leave com-ments, some simply read what others have written, and some raise questions. (Please visit the website to learn how to access the Facebook and Twitter pages.)

As Harbour explains, “The process of becoming a better Christian is not finding the an-swers to questions as much as getting better at asking them.”

A special feature of the online Bible study is the weekly focus verse, designed for readers who want to participate but don’t have time to review all the lectionary

readings each week. Highlight-ing a single verse or a few short verses from each week’s gospel selection allows even those with busy schedules to ponder a single sentence or two.

For example, for the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9), the designated RCL readings are:

Acts 16:9-15Psalm 67Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

The Bible study focus verse is: “Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sab-bath” (John 5:8-9).

For more information about the online Bible study contact the coordinator, Sarah Johnson, sjohnson@episcopalchurch.org.

Image from“Be Opened,” a quilt by New York-based artist Pat Redding Scanlon, 2009.