"Summer Reading Program" at St. Mark's
One of my enduring memories of summer as a kid was participating in the annual "Summer Reading Program" at the local library. Whatever your age, we invite you to make reading bible stories part of your personal "Summer Reading Program"!
The page below offers a suggested calendar of bible readings, based on the stories selected for inclusion in the "Children of God Storybook Bible", edited by Desmond Tutu. This sequence of readings ensures that you will encounter a balanced selection of stories from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament (especially the Gospels) over the course of the summer.
For each story below, the youth of St. Mark's have created a "video read aloud" of the story from the "Children of God Storybook Bible" to introduce you to the story. For older youth and adults who want to "dig deeper", a link to the complete scripture text is provided as well.
We encourage you to set a personal goal for your Summer (Bible) Reading Program, and keep track of your progress.
Everyone (of any age) who chooses to participate in this Summer (Bible) Reading Program is invited to come together to celebrate with a Summer (Ice Cream) Sundae party on the last Sunday of August!
Please sign up using the button above to let us know you plan to participate!
The page below offers a suggested calendar of bible readings, based on the stories selected for inclusion in the "Children of God Storybook Bible", edited by Desmond Tutu. This sequence of readings ensures that you will encounter a balanced selection of stories from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament (especially the Gospels) over the course of the summer.
For each story below, the youth of St. Mark's have created a "video read aloud" of the story from the "Children of God Storybook Bible" to introduce you to the story. For older youth and adults who want to "dig deeper", a link to the complete scripture text is provided as well.
We encourage you to set a personal goal for your Summer (Bible) Reading Program, and keep track of your progress.
Everyone (of any age) who chooses to participate in this Summer (Bible) Reading Program is invited to come together to celebrate with a Summer (Ice Cream) Sundae party on the last Sunday of August!
Please sign up using the button above to let us know you plan to participate!
Summer Bible Stories
From “Children of God Storybook Bible” (COG), by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
Part 1: Hebrew Scripture (aka Old Testament) Stories
1) The Creation, Genesis 1 (COG 8)
2) Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 (COG 12)
3) Leaving the Garden, Genesis 3(COG 14)
4) Noah’s Ark, Genesis 6-9 (COG 16)
5) Abraham Trusts God, Genesis 15, 17 (COG 18)
6) Strange Visitors, Genesis 18 (COG 20)
7) A Wonderful Dream, Genesis 25, 27-28 (COG 22)
8) Joseph is Sold into Slavery, Genesis 37 (COG 24)
9) Joseph Feeds & Forgives, Genesis 41, 45 (COG 26)
10) Moses is Saved, Exodus 2 (COG 28)
11) The Voice from the Burning Bush, Exodus 3-4 (COG 30)
12) Let my People Go, Exodus 7-15 (COG 32)
13) The 10 Commandments, Exodus 20 (COG 36)
14) The Story of Ruth, Ruth 1-4 (COG 38)
15) Samuel in the Temple, 1 Samuel 3 (COG 40)
16) King David is Anointed, 1 Samuel 16 (COG 42)
17) David & Goliath, 1 Samuel 17 (COG 44)
18) King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 3, 10 (COG 46)
19) Naboth’s Vineyard, 1 Kings 21 (COG 48)
20) Esther Saves Her People, Esther 1-10 (COG 50)
21) Isaiah Becomes God’s Messenger, Isaiah 1, 6 (COG 52)
22) Jeremiah the boy Prophet, Jeremiah 1, 18 (COG 54)
23) God Saves Daniel, Daniel 6 (COG 56)
24) Jonah and the Big Fish, Jonah 1-4 (COG 58)
2) Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 (COG 12)
3) Leaving the Garden, Genesis 3(COG 14)
4) Noah’s Ark, Genesis 6-9 (COG 16)
5) Abraham Trusts God, Genesis 15, 17 (COG 18)
6) Strange Visitors, Genesis 18 (COG 20)
7) A Wonderful Dream, Genesis 25, 27-28 (COG 22)
8) Joseph is Sold into Slavery, Genesis 37 (COG 24)
9) Joseph Feeds & Forgives, Genesis 41, 45 (COG 26)
10) Moses is Saved, Exodus 2 (COG 28)
11) The Voice from the Burning Bush, Exodus 3-4 (COG 30)
12) Let my People Go, Exodus 7-15 (COG 32)
13) The 10 Commandments, Exodus 20 (COG 36)
14) The Story of Ruth, Ruth 1-4 (COG 38)
15) Samuel in the Temple, 1 Samuel 3 (COG 40)
16) King David is Anointed, 1 Samuel 16 (COG 42)
17) David & Goliath, 1 Samuel 17 (COG 44)
18) King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 3, 10 (COG 46)
19) Naboth’s Vineyard, 1 Kings 21 (COG 48)
20) Esther Saves Her People, Esther 1-10 (COG 50)
21) Isaiah Becomes God’s Messenger, Isaiah 1, 6 (COG 52)
22) Jeremiah the boy Prophet, Jeremiah 1, 18 (COG 54)
23) God Saves Daniel, Daniel 6 (COG 56)
24) Jonah and the Big Fish, Jonah 1-4 (COG 58)
Part 2: New Testament Stories
25) An Angel Appears to Mary & Jesus is Born, Luke 1-2 (COG 60, 62)
26) Epiphany, Matthew 2 (COG 64)
27) Christ in the Temple, Luke 2(COG 66)
28) Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3 & Luke 3 (COG 68)
29) Jesus in the Desert, Matthew 4 (COG 70)
30) Wedding at Cana, John 2 (COG 72)
31) Jesus Goes Fishing, Luke 5 (COG 74)
32) Beatitudes, Luke 6 (COG 76)
33) Jesus Blesses Children, Mark 10 (COG 78)
34) Good Neighbor, Luke 10 (COG 80)
35) The Law of Love, Mark 12 (COG 82)
36) Disciples Learn to Pray, Luke 11(COG 84)
37) Lost Sheep, Luke 15 (COG 86)
38) Jesus Feeds the Crowd, John 6 (COG 88)
39) Jesus the Healer, Luke 5 (COG 90)
40) Jesus Restores Sight & Gives LIfe, Mark 5, 8 (COG 92)
41) Zacchaeus, Luke 19 (COG 94)
42) Loving Father & Son Who Came Home, Luke 15 (COG 96)
43) Jesus Calms the Storm, Luke 8 & Matthew 8 (COG 98)
44) Sharing God’s Plan, Matthew 25 (COG 100)
45) The Transfiguration, Matthew 17 (COG 102)
46) A Woman’s Love for Jesus, John 12 (COG 104)
47) Jesus Becomes a Servant, John 13 (COG 106)
48) Last Supper, Matthew 26 (COG 108)
49) Trial & Death of Jesus, Matthew 26-27 (COG 110)
50) Jesus is Alive, Luke 24 & John 20 (COG 112)
51) The Good News, Acts 1 (COG 114)
52) The Coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2 (COG 116)
53) The Disciples Spread the Good News, Acts 2-4 (COG 118)
54) Paul Follows Jesus, Acts 9 (COG 120)
55) The Promise of a New Earth, Revelation 21-22 (COG 122)
26) Epiphany, Matthew 2 (COG 64)
27) Christ in the Temple, Luke 2(COG 66)
28) Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3 & Luke 3 (COG 68)
29) Jesus in the Desert, Matthew 4 (COG 70)
30) Wedding at Cana, John 2 (COG 72)
31) Jesus Goes Fishing, Luke 5 (COG 74)
32) Beatitudes, Luke 6 (COG 76)
33) Jesus Blesses Children, Mark 10 (COG 78)
34) Good Neighbor, Luke 10 (COG 80)
35) The Law of Love, Mark 12 (COG 82)
36) Disciples Learn to Pray, Luke 11(COG 84)
37) Lost Sheep, Luke 15 (COG 86)
38) Jesus Feeds the Crowd, John 6 (COG 88)
39) Jesus the Healer, Luke 5 (COG 90)
40) Jesus Restores Sight & Gives LIfe, Mark 5, 8 (COG 92)
41) Zacchaeus, Luke 19 (COG 94)
42) Loving Father & Son Who Came Home, Luke 15 (COG 96)
43) Jesus Calms the Storm, Luke 8 & Matthew 8 (COG 98)
44) Sharing God’s Plan, Matthew 25 (COG 100)
45) The Transfiguration, Matthew 17 (COG 102)
46) A Woman’s Love for Jesus, John 12 (COG 104)
47) Jesus Becomes a Servant, John 13 (COG 106)
48) Last Supper, Matthew 26 (COG 108)
49) Trial & Death of Jesus, Matthew 26-27 (COG 110)
50) Jesus is Alive, Luke 24 & John 20 (COG 112)
51) The Good News, Acts 1 (COG 114)
52) The Coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2 (COG 116)
53) The Disciples Spread the Good News, Acts 2-4 (COG 118)
54) Paul Follows Jesus, Acts 9 (COG 120)
55) The Promise of a New Earth, Revelation 21-22 (COG 122)