Marathon Bible Reading with Renovations the Goal

For many of Americans finding time to read a book can become a burden. But for the parishioners of in New Rochelle “hitting the books” is exactly what they had planned.

On Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Rayner “Rusty” Hesse Jr. and a few members of the 80-person congregation kicked of an eight-day Bibliathon. The event is designed to raise funds to complete the outside renovations to the “little white church on the hill.”

Just two years ago, the congregation undertook the task of reading all 27 books of the New Testament. The marathon reading session last around 48-hours and helped raise $7,000 for restorations to the Carpenter Gothic style exterior of the church and grounds.

This year the community will read the 39 books of the Old Testament contained within the New International Version of the Bible, which Hesse believes is more accessible to readers.

Hesse is proud of the outpouring of faith from the community last year, and this year he expects no different.  

“Everyone reads the Bible in chunks, but to sit down and read the whole thing is a process that not many do,” he said. 

This Bibliathon is an event that aids in the completion of repairs to the church’s secondary building which was once the stables at the Daniel T. Cox estate and complete landscaping as a prelude to May 15 visit by New York Bishop Mark Sisk.

Sisk will rededicate the church as well as celebrate the exterior renovation completed in 2010.

Hesse kicked off the events by saying the words so deeply ingrained in the popular mindset, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” in a dulcet tone.

He and the congregation hope to raise $10,000 for the building fund. Currently there are 231, 20-minute reading sessions over the eight days. Members are sponsored in the same way marathon runners are. Instead of a certain amount a mile, readers hope to collect about $1 a minute from friends and family. If the slots are vacant Hesse fills in until the next reader arrives.

After he read for the first 20 minutes, Hesse was given a break by young Emma Mandella. As her younger sister and mother listened to her, she read the story of Noah and the building of the ark.

“It was just something to see her reading up there,” said Stephanie Mandella, Emma’s mother. “She came to me to read at the first Bibliathon and this year she signed right up,” said the smiling mother.

After a session is completed everyone takes a two-minute break that is usually filled with water breaks and a quick question and answer by Hesse. The reverend takes great care in telling the readers about how the Bible is structured and how the texts came to be written or edited in the manner they are presented.

Other members of the congregation like Mimi Munroe Goodwin enjoy the sessions because of the dialogue that opens up between members of the church.

“It is an exercise for the community. It lets you experience the words in a new way,” said Goodwin, who is an interfaith member of St. John’s.

Hesse emphasizes the church’s openness and welcomes any and all readers or people willing to sit down and practice their faith together.

“Many people say they are an open church. But we live it,” said the 18-year reverend of St. John’s.

Readings will continue throughout the week and slots are still available. Reading times through Sunday are as follows: Thursday, May 12, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, May 13, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, May 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

If you wish to volunteer or donate to the Bibliathon, feel free to email stjohnsnr@aol.com, click here for a sponsor sheet or stop by the church to listen or read alongside.