Although it may seem old-fashioned at the moment, communities organize around the power and experience of words. Christian community has always been highly dependent on the written word. We are people of the Book. And we are people of many books.

As society moves more and more toward other ways of learning and communicating, it is a valuable practice for us to retain some affection for our books—and to honor the communal wonder of meeting God through the written word. At this cultural juncture, Adult Formation can play a key role in keeping and teaching holy reading as a practice of faith. Books form community by creating conversations, clarifying difficult issues, providing practical resources, or communicating universal spiritual experiences. Book groups, special book studies, book tables, clergy recommended book lists, book nooks on your Web site, lectio divina workshops, author events, and reading aloud to each other (as do many monks and nuns at meals) are powerful ways of creating community around books.

Questions to consider:

• How has your faith been shaped by books? Which books?
  
• How can you pass on the love of reading and books as a spiritual practice—especially to younger, visually oriented people?
  
• How does your faith tradition honor reading and books?