God's Gift of Life: A Lenten Study Based on the Revised Common Lectionary (SFTCS)

Lent is an ideal time to pray and reflect on the gift of life God offers to us through Jesus Christ. Traditionally, it is a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter. In God’s Gift of Life, Larry Beman invites us to create a holy space for Bible study and to open our hearts and minds through self-examination and reflection so that we might grow in our faith. He brings a relaxed and invitational tone to the study of the Scriptures and includes personal stories that help us to apply them to our daily lives.

Larry Beman is a pastor/educator/storyteller who lives near Rochester, New York. He has written numerous articles and curriculum resources for the United Methodist Publishing House. Following in the footsteps of his carpenter grandfather, he is part of a team that offers home repairs to low income families in a rural county in Western New York. He is blessed to be married to Barbara Bruce.

Dr. Nan Duerling has been writing and editing curriculum resources for youth and adults since 1984. The editor of The New International Lesson Annual, Nan has also contributed to resources including Mature Years, Scriptures for the Church Seasons, Seasons of the Spirit, Leader in the Church School Today, and Bible Lessons for Youth. When she served as a member of the Committee on the Uniform Series of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Duerling participated in the development of the annual cycles for the International Lesson Series and worked with the youth team as a consultant. Nan taught in the Course of Study School at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. from 1987 until she retired in 2008.

Nan lives in Cambridge on Maryland’s picturesque Eastern Shore with her husband Craig, her mom Ruth, Craig’s mom Helen, and two lively Curly-Coated Retrievers, Ada and Bentley, who are registered therapy dogs. The Duerlings are members of historic Zion United Methodist Church, where Nan leads a weekly lectionary study group for the community.