Narrative Lectionary: Muddy Revelations (Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17, 3:1-8)

When the woman opened her closet door, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Definitely not what I saw on the full shelves.  Serving as a hospice chaplain, I was always interested in what people did to prepare for the death they knew was coming.  Family visits, long-delayed trips, going to the beach and sitting outside… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: The Gifts of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 Our Narrative Lectionary Year ends this week with Pentecost. There are suggested sermon series through the summer, if you’re interested, at Working Preacher. Today’s WP commentary is here. Bible Worm Podcast is here. Bible Worm also suggests a summer preaching series at their site. But before summer preaching decisions,… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: A Mystery Gift (1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57)

This scripture is particularly poignant in this pandemic time, when we’re confronting death in different, more demanding ways than we usually do.  Some of us are overwhelmed with the number of deaths around us, and have lost people to death much too soon.  All of our lives have changed in response to the lethality of… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Source of Love

It’s the infamous LOVE text! Read it (maybe for the umpteenth time) here. It is not unfamiliar. This text is often used in wedding and union ceremonies; sometimes ordinations and installations, too. In the Working Preacher Commentary, you can find a historical and contextual glimpse into what might have prompted the Apostle Paul to write these… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: The Challenge of Conflict (Acts 18:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18)

I once knew a man with a 1942 Indian motorcycle—an antique beauty of industrial design. He was invited to bring his motorcycle to a Vogue photo shoot in a stately home, on a gorgeous oriental rug. The nervous homeowner asked, “It doesn’t leak does it?” Without batting an eye, the man with the motorcycle answered,… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: The World Turned Upside Down (Acts 17:1-9, 1 Thess 1)

The Narrative Lectionary continues its sweep through Acts, this week with the story of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. We see the story as Luke tells it in Acts and the way Paul refers to it in a letter to the church. This is a good text to offer when people in the pews tell… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Mystery Gifts (Acts 3:1-10)

At the big intersection near my home, four gentlemen have divided up the corners.  In their system, each of them asks for money on only one corner. Three of the four work their corners most days, but even when someone is missing for a day, no one takes over his corner.  Each man works a… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: The Alleged New Normal Edition

Greetings, friends connected by the Spirit and electronics. Our Narrative Lectionary post was delayed this week due to our writer experiencing a situation familiar to all of us right now- more work than expected, to be completed in new and different ways. I’m pinch-hitting, even though I’m an RCL user, so I appreciate your indulgence.… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Look Towards Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8)

This Sunday’s text can be found at Mark 16:1-8, and the commentary from WorkingPreacher here. On the day Jesus died, the state-run newspaper ran the headline “Fringe Group Leader Executed.” The Religious Daily News posted “Temple Cloths Torn by Invisible Hand.” The local radical weekly posted “Disciples Denied while Doyen Crucified.” Over the weekend, the… Read More