Bible Study for the 40 Days
Daily Bible Stories for Lent
In the Episcopal Church the structure of our liturgical year as well as the centrality of the Gospel in our worship, theology, education, and preaching means that we often have a deep familiarity with the “Jesus Story” but a more fleeting acquaintance with the foundational stories of the Hebrew Scriptures. Many of us need a periodic “refresher” on the narrative arc of the scripture stories that come before the Birth of Jesus, while others of us are still waiting to hear these stories for the first time! Each year, at the Great Vigil of Easter, we hear a few of these core stories as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection (these Easter Vigil stories are marked in red on the calendar below).
In Lent, we invite people of all ages at St. Mark’s to take time to immerse themselves more deeply in these foundational stories of our salvation history by reading (or hearing or watching) a bible story each day.
Younger Children and Families: You can click the Gray Story Title following each date on the calendar below to link to videos of St. Mark’s members telling/reading abridged versions of each bible story for children. (Most of these retellings come from: “Bible Stories for the 40 Days” by Melissa Musick Nussbaum, Illustrations by Judy Jarrett. If you enjoy these stories and illustrations, we encourage you to buy a hard copy of the book for yourself!)
Older Youth & Adults: You can click the Blue Scripture Reference on the calendar below to read the more complete story in the biblical text for yourself.
Members of St. Mark's: Feel free to use the stickers and chart provided in your "Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday" gift bag to mark your progress through these stories as you journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter!
In Lent, we invite people of all ages at St. Mark’s to take time to immerse themselves more deeply in these foundational stories of our salvation history by reading (or hearing or watching) a bible story each day.
Younger Children and Families: You can click the Gray Story Title following each date on the calendar below to link to videos of St. Mark’s members telling/reading abridged versions of each bible story for children. (Most of these retellings come from: “Bible Stories for the 40 Days” by Melissa Musick Nussbaum, Illustrations by Judy Jarrett. If you enjoy these stories and illustrations, we encourage you to buy a hard copy of the book for yourself!)
Older Youth & Adults: You can click the Blue Scripture Reference on the calendar below to read the more complete story in the biblical text for yourself.
Members of St. Mark's: Feel free to use the stickers and chart provided in your "Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday" gift bag to mark your progress through these stories as you journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter!
Warning: Do not walk this path alone!!! The Biblical Stories are not easy stories. They reflect an honest, full range of human experiences, including troubling episodes of violence, misunderstanding, and deceit. Biblical stories are meant to be read, discussed, and understood in community. We encourage you to read and discuss these stories with others--spend time in daily bible study with other members of your family, or invite a friend to be your Lenten “Bible Buddy”.
Centering Song
It can be helpful to sing a short song (like the one below)
to help you breathe, center and settle in preparation for reading/hearing a bible story.
to help you breathe, center and settle in preparation for reading/hearing a bible story.
Only in Silence the Word
Only in Dark the Light
Only in Dying Life
Speak to us, God, your life-giving Word.
("Creation of Ea", music by Ben Newman, words by Ursula K. LeGuin, adapted by Sylvia Miller-Mutia)
Only in Dark the Light
Only in Dying Life
Speak to us, God, your life-giving Word.
("Creation of Ea", music by Ben Newman, words by Ursula K. LeGuin, adapted by Sylvia Miller-Mutia)
Calendar of Daily Bible Stories
Lent Begins
2/17 ASH WED: Creation, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 2)
2/18 Adam & Eve in the Garden, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 3)
2/19 Abel and Cain, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 4: 1-16)
2/20 Noah’s Family, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 6:11-9:19)
Lent 1, First full week of Lent
2/21 The Tower of Babel, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 11:1-9)
2/22 God Calls Abram, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 12, 15, 17)
2/23 Sarah Laughs, read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7)
2/24 The Binding of Isaac , read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 22:1-18)
2/25 Rebekah at the Well , read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 24)
2/26 Twins-Jacob & Esau, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 25: 19-34)
2/27 Jacob Dreams of the Ladder of Angels, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 28:10-22)
Lent 2, Second full week of Lent
2/28 Leah and Rachel, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 29:1-30)
3/1 The end of the many colored coat, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 37)
3/2 Potiphar’s wife, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 39)
3/3 Joseph and the Dreams, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 40-41)
3/4 The Great Family Reunion , read by Pauline Artery (Genesis 42-43)
3/5 Three Women Save Baby Moses , read by Pauline Artery (Exodus 1-2:10)
3/6 The burning bush , read by John Murray (Exodus 3)
Lent 3, Third full week of Lent
3/7 Crossing the Red Sea , read by John Murray (Exodus 7-15)
3/8 Quail in the Camp , read by Else Tasseron (Exodus 16)
3/9 Meeting God on Mt. Sinai , read by Else Tasseron (Exodus 19-20)
3/10 Deborah, Judge of Israel, read by Chris Squire (Judges 4-5)
3/11 The Death of Samson , read by Chris Squire (Judges 13-16)
3/12 Naomi and Ruth, read by Pat Catlett (Ruth)
3/13 Hannah Prays for a Child , read by Chris Squire (1 Samuel 1:2–2:21)
Lent 4, Fourth full week of Lent
3/14 The Anointing of Young David, read by Nick Torres-Tollardo (1 Samuel 16)
3/15 A Child Brings Down a Giant , read by Nick Torres-Tollardo (1 Samuel 17)
3/16 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon , read by Donnel Miller-Mutia (1 Kings 10:1-13)
3/17 The Widow’s Kindness , read by Jeremy Wirths (1 Kings 17)
3/18 Jonah in the Great Fish , read by Jeremy Wirths (Jonah)
3/19 Jeremiah in the Cistern , read by Jeremy Wirths (Jeremiah 38)
3/20 Valley of the Dry Bones, read by Pat Catlett (Ezekiel 37)
Lent 5, Fifth full week of Lent
3/21 Job’s Troubles read by Donnel Miller-Mutia (Job 1-4)
3/22 Job’s Questions, read by Eileen Monte (Job 42)
3/23 The Fiery Furnace, read by Eileen Monte (Daniel 3)
3/24 Susanna’s Trial , read by Eileen Monte (Susannah )
3/25 Daniel in the Lion’s Den , read by Eileen Monte (Daniel 6)
3/26 Judith Saves her people , read by Eileen Monte (Judith 8-16)
3/27 Esther Saves her people , read by Eileen Monte (Esther)
Holy Week
3/28 PALM SUNDAY: The Stones Would Shout!, read by Father Christopher (Luke 19: 28-40)
3/29 A Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial, read by Father Christopher (Matthew 26:6-13)
3/30 Jesus Washes Everyone’s Feet, read by Father Christopher ( John 13: 1-17)
3/31 Judas Leaves, read by Deacon David (Matthew 26:17-30)
4/1 MAUNDY THURS: Peter Gets Scared, read by Deacon David (Matthew 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34 , John 18:15-27)
4/2 GOOD FRIDAY: Love on Another: The Last Days of Jesus, read by Mother Sylvia (John 18:1-19:42)
4/3 HOLY SATURDAY: Easter, by Brian Wildsmith, read by Mother Sylvia (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24:12)
4/4 EASTER DAY: Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
2/17 ASH WED: Creation, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 2)
2/18 Adam & Eve in the Garden, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 3)
2/19 Abel and Cain, told by Ken Eberhard (Genesis 4: 1-16)
2/20 Noah’s Family, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 6:11-9:19)
Lent 1, First full week of Lent
2/21 The Tower of Babel, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 11:1-9)
2/22 God Calls Abram, read by Kim Harlow (Genesis 12, 15, 17)
2/23 Sarah Laughs, read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7)
2/24 The Binding of Isaac , read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 22:1-18)
2/25 Rebekah at the Well , read by Melanie Peterson (Genesis 24)
2/26 Twins-Jacob & Esau, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 25: 19-34)
2/27 Jacob Dreams of the Ladder of Angels, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 28:10-22)
Lent 2, Second full week of Lent
2/28 Leah and Rachel, read by Rachel Ribeiro (Genesis 29:1-30)
3/1 The end of the many colored coat, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 37)
3/2 Potiphar’s wife, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 39)
3/3 Joseph and the Dreams, read by Mary Beth Libby (Genesis 40-41)
3/4 The Great Family Reunion , read by Pauline Artery (Genesis 42-43)
3/5 Three Women Save Baby Moses , read by Pauline Artery (Exodus 1-2:10)
3/6 The burning bush , read by John Murray (Exodus 3)
Lent 3, Third full week of Lent
3/7 Crossing the Red Sea , read by John Murray (Exodus 7-15)
3/8 Quail in the Camp , read by Else Tasseron (Exodus 16)
3/9 Meeting God on Mt. Sinai , read by Else Tasseron (Exodus 19-20)
3/10 Deborah, Judge of Israel, read by Chris Squire (Judges 4-5)
3/11 The Death of Samson , read by Chris Squire (Judges 13-16)
3/12 Naomi and Ruth, read by Pat Catlett (Ruth)
3/13 Hannah Prays for a Child , read by Chris Squire (1 Samuel 1:2–2:21)
Lent 4, Fourth full week of Lent
3/14 The Anointing of Young David, read by Nick Torres-Tollardo (1 Samuel 16)
3/15 A Child Brings Down a Giant , read by Nick Torres-Tollardo (1 Samuel 17)
3/16 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon , read by Donnel Miller-Mutia (1 Kings 10:1-13)
3/17 The Widow’s Kindness , read by Jeremy Wirths (1 Kings 17)
3/18 Jonah in the Great Fish , read by Jeremy Wirths (Jonah)
3/19 Jeremiah in the Cistern , read by Jeremy Wirths (Jeremiah 38)
3/20 Valley of the Dry Bones, read by Pat Catlett (Ezekiel 37)
Lent 5, Fifth full week of Lent
3/21 Job’s Troubles read by Donnel Miller-Mutia (Job 1-4)
3/22 Job’s Questions, read by Eileen Monte (Job 42)
3/23 The Fiery Furnace, read by Eileen Monte (Daniel 3)
3/24 Susanna’s Trial , read by Eileen Monte (Susannah )
3/25 Daniel in the Lion’s Den , read by Eileen Monte (Daniel 6)
3/26 Judith Saves her people , read by Eileen Monte (Judith 8-16)
3/27 Esther Saves her people , read by Eileen Monte (Esther)
Holy Week
3/28 PALM SUNDAY: The Stones Would Shout!, read by Father Christopher (Luke 19: 28-40)
3/29 A Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial, read by Father Christopher (Matthew 26:6-13)
3/30 Jesus Washes Everyone’s Feet, read by Father Christopher ( John 13: 1-17)
3/31 Judas Leaves, read by Deacon David (Matthew 26:17-30)
4/1 MAUNDY THURS: Peter Gets Scared, read by Deacon David (Matthew 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34 , John 18:15-27)
4/2 GOOD FRIDAY: Love on Another: The Last Days of Jesus, read by Mother Sylvia (John 18:1-19:42)
4/3 HOLY SATURDAY: Easter, by Brian Wildsmith, read by Mother Sylvia (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24:12)
4/4 EASTER DAY: Alleluia! Christ is Risen!