There are some really interesting options in the RCL passages this week – What’s in a name, in Hosea; Restoration and forgiveness in Psalm 85; What happens when a community forgets God in Genesis; Building on Christ’s foundation in Colossians and Teach us to pray in the gospel. Richness and diversity on a plate.
What are you going with this week? Rachael offers some great prompts in her Lectionary blog post from earlier in the week. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all of these options speak into our global and local predicaments with a message of hope and promise reminding us of the faithfulness of God as well as the call on us to be in community with God and with each other, actively engaged in the world, not hiding behind locked doors.
we’d love to hear what you’re doing with these texts – or any others you feel called to preach on. We can encourage one another to speak those words of hope in our communities around the world. Please share what you have and ask for what you need in the comments as, together with the Holy Spirit, we speak God’s word into being.
Rev Liz Crumlish is a Presbyterian minister living on the west coast of Scotland. She is a member of the RevGalBlogPals Board, writes for Spill the Beans, blogs at Journalling and contributed to There’s a Woman in the Pulpit.
************************************************************************************
RevGalBlogPals encourages you to share our blog posts via email or social media. We do not grant permission to cut-and-paste prayers and articles without a link back. For permission to use material in paper publications, please email revgalblogpals at gmail dot com.
RevGalBlogPals 
I’m working on linking “Our Father”–the One whose name is above all names and yet relates to us as parent, and my favorite translation of the last verse, “Save us in the time of trial.” The One who calls us family walks with us into whatever life tosses at us. We are never alone, and never need be afraid.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Joann, sounds like an encouraging link to be made. Blessings on your preaching the good news
LikeLike
I was struck, this week, by the way the disciples were attracted by prayer and so asked Jesus: Teach us to pray.
Reflected on that in a blog post:
http://liz-vicarofdibley.blogspot.com/2019/07/prayer-shenanigans.html?m=1
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m with the Narrative Hebrews passage. Meh. I’m sure a sermon will arrive.
LikeLike
It will! I can hardly believe it, but it does. Blessings, Marci.
LikeLike
Thanks! I am out of town the next two sundays, so will leave other preachers to close out Hebrews. Enneagram Bootcamp, here I come!
LikeLike
Going off lectionary the next four weeks to do a Broadway-themed sermon series. We’re kicking off with Dear Evan Hansen this week, and using the passage about blind Bartemaeus to focus on how no one deserves to be forgotten, and will be found, through the love of Jesus. Crossed fingers the A/V technology doesn’t go wacky.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds like fun – praying the technology works
LikeLike
Ooooo I want to come hear you! Will there be a way to read/hear the sermons after? Also I am filing this idea away for the future as it definitely sounds like something right up my alley.
LikeLike
For those tacking the Luke passage, Matt Skinner has the “Dear Working Preacher” article this week, and it’s lovely. A great paragraph (which I am quoting in full in my sermon):
“It’s a very personal, intimate thing, one’s prayer life. Getting started at praying is less like learning how to drive a car, how to play the banjo, or even how to preach. For most, it is more like learning how to kiss. You learn some by watching others do it. You should be discerning about whom you will allow to teach you. You certainly make mistakes. And maybe you always worry deep in your head that you might be doing it wrong.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
“tackling”
LikeLike
Thanks, Pat,that’s helpful.
LikeLike
I’ve just been to a 90th birthday party, so I have plenty of cake and other delicious snacks to share to help us along. Hoping the Holy Spirit is making her rounds, inspiring sermon prep.
LikeLiked by 2 people
First, for the virtual table, let me offer an abundance of fresh herbs – parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, lavender, cilantro, chives, basil… and some very sweet little cherry tomatoes from our garden.
I’ve somehow preached this Luke passage three times without actually addressing the first four verses (The Prayer!) in any detail. So here we go. I may or may not have spent too much time and energy exploring the grammar, but those verb tenses fascinate me. Mostly though, I’m struck by the way this passage begins and ends in the same place … calling the Creator of All Things my parent. https://wp.me/p2U45T-uX
LikeLike
Not the mechanics, but the relationship. Thanks so much for sharing where this gospel reading has taken you this time around.
LikeLike