11th Hour Preacher Party: Whoever You Are

Preachers, how are you bringing the Word to your congregations this week? So many of the readings reflect questions of identity. In the Narrative Lectionary, God says, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The Revised Common Lectionary names Job, Christ’s brothers and sisters, as well as women and children – the “least of these.”… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Life or Leftovers

What’s the Good News this week, preacher friends? Where are you finding abundance in the first Sunday of August? The crowd following Jesus is hoping for a few leftovers (remember those twelve baskets of abundance the disciples gathered after Jesus multiplied loaves and fish?), but Jesus has other ideas. In fact, all of the RCL… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Holy Week AND Easter Edition

This week’s Preacher Party gets started a day early to help those of you who may be writing for all of the Three Days. So whether you’re struggling to put words together for Maundy Thursday, or you’re putting the finishing touches on your Easter sermon, we are here for you! As Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe reminds… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Christmas Leftovers Edition

What do you do with the second Sunday after Christmas? Do you get a jump start on Epiphany, or sing all the Christmas carols that somehow haven’t been sung yet this season? Is this the Sunday for a much-needed vacation, or the Sunday to start a new preaching series for 2021? Does your congregation observe… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: A World of Words

How many words does it take to make the Word of God come alive for your congregation? I’ve discovered my sermons are getting shorter through the pandemic – maybe it’s to accommodate reduced attention spans in online worship, but I find using fewer words of mine does a better job of helping people hear God’s… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Abundant Abundance

It’s a week of abundant abundance, no matter which Old Testament stream you follow. Are you wrestling with God right now, as Jacob did? Or are you hearing Isaiah’s call of welcome to the feast of God’s people? Paul weeps for his “kindred according to the flesh” who seem to have missed out on the… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Come, Holy Spirit!

UPDATE: The Preacher Party moved to Wednesday a few weeks ago, to accommodate preachers who are recording sermons earlier in the week for online worship. Since that post, riots have erupted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The spark igniting those riots may have been frustration over yet another death of a black man at… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Blessed Beyond Measure

Lunar New Year, Groundhog Day, Superbowl Sunday, Candlemas, first Sunday in Black History Month, Palindrome Sunday (02.02.2020)…. this weekend offers a plethora of opportunities for preaching themes and illustrations! If you are preaching from the Revised Common Lectionary, blessings abound. This week we hear Paul’s words to the church at Corinth about the way God’s… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Ready or Not, It’s Advent!

Are you ready? It seems that, no matter how well I plan, something always takes me by surprise when the old year gives way to Advent.  It might be in the liturgy, or the decorations, or the way the first Sunday in Advent can’t seem to decide if it belongs in November or December. But… Read More