When The Story Becomes Yours

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
                                                                          —Psalm 119:105
 

Do you remember your first Bible? Maybe it was given to you by a church, or perhaps passed down from a parent or grandparent. For me, it was 1982 at First UMC of Russellville, when I was in the third grade. I still have it and it is in the picture above. 

That Bible was more than just a gift. It became a tool, a light, a guide, a companion for the journey.

This Sunday at Aldersgate, we’ll celebrate that same milestone for our 3rd and 4th graders as they receive their own Bibles. It’s more than a gift—it’s a reminder of the promises we made at their baptisms: that we, the church, will surround them with love and help them grow in faith.

When we place a Bible in their hands, we’re not only giving them a book. We’re giving them the story—the whole library of God’s love, grace, challenge, and hope. We’re saying to them: This story is your story too. Let it shape you, guide you, and comfort you as you grow.

I hope you’ll be in worship this Sunday, September 7, as we mark this important step in the lives of our children. May it remind us all of the gift Scripture is in our own lives and the call to let God’s Word continue to light our path.

See you in worship—in person or online!

With Gratitude,

Rev. Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Aldersgate UMC