MIQRA: Falling in Love with Scripture

Miqra is a Hebrew word meaning "a public reading of scripture" and this resource is a How-To guide to help you create your own Miqra event -- where youth gather to learn, read and fall in love with Scripture.

The foundation of the Miqra event is a continuous public reading of the Bible throughout the entire 72  hours.  Each person or small group signs up to read for a shift during the event. There may be some people who come in to listen, rest or pray, but the majority of the participants are doing other activities such as watching movies, listening to dynamic speakers, praying, making  new friends or playing games that help them increase their knowledge of God's Word.

Originally created in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, this popular weekend event gathers teens together to talk about things such as:

• What is the Bible & Why Should We Read it?
• How is the Bible organized?
• Where do God's story and my story intersect?
• Who decided what's in the Bible?
• What's the Apocrypha?
• How to talk to Bible literalists?

This program is great for a diocesan youth gathering or special activity at a camp or conference center. Or it could be an ecumenical event, inviting churches in your neighborhood to join you. You might even try it as an interfaith event...... Imagine your cathedral with the Bible being read from one podium, the Koran being read one side of the room and the Torah being read on the opposite side of the room. It would be an interesting intertwining of the Word of God in the voices of the three Abrahamic faiths

Check it out... you'll find lots of ideas to help spark your imagination to inspire your young people to fall in love with God's word.