Our Narrative Lectionary feature will be on hiatus for Summer, 2017. The discussion resumes on Tuesday, September 5th, as we begin Year 4. As always, we thank our colleagues at Working Preacher for their resources, particularly those about preaching series you might want to check out for this summer.
Narrative Lectionary: All in the Family
We continue this week with Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Text can be found here (including the verses we aren’t preaching from–just to see what we’re missing): Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29. Commentary from Working Preacher is here. I am fond of Cuyler Black’s cartoon about Paul and his letter to the Bergmans. It’s always a helpful reminder… Read More
Narrative Lectionary – Before and After (Galatians 1:13-17, 2:11-21)
A staple feature of women’s magazine’s is the makeover. We get the “before” picture, with the disorganized closet, the unflattering haircut or the dated clothes. Then the experts take over, and we see the “after” picture of the functional closet, the arresting haircut, or the stylish new clothes. One magazine, bowing to reality, used to… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: The Early Church in Conflict (Acts 15)
The early church was full of amazing things, wasn’t it? The Holy Spirit working in and among the people, the people living together, sharing all things in common, all seemingly working towards a common goal. It seems idyllic, doesn’t it? And then we re-read this Sunday’s passage found in Acts 15:1-17. You can find the Working… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: The Circle Starts to Spread Edition (Acts 8:26-39, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch)
As we continue our Easter journey through Acts we embark on a theme that will carry us through the next few weeks . Who gets to be part of the church? What are the criteria for inclusion? A foreign eunuch? Those who do not follow the Law? This week we have a story that is… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Stephen & Church Politics Edition (Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60)
We have a rather lengthy passage this week, jumping from last week’s Road to Emmaus to Acts 6 and 7. By missing the first 5 chapters of Acts, we jump over Pentecost (for the moment) and the promise of the early church, who shared what they had. “There was not a needy person among them, for… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Heartburn (Luke 24:13-35)
Journalist Cokie Roberts said once that, decades after her father’s death, she still thinks she sees him on the streets of Washington, D.C., the city where he lived and worked. Someone with a similar gait, or mannerisms, will catch her eye, and for a brief, impossible moment, she thinks it’s her father. We have the… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Living Among the Dead (Luke 24:1-12)
It’s Easter Sunday and our text can be found here. Be sure to check out the Working Preacher Commentary here. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” the two men asked the women at the tomb… Are you looking for the living among the dead? Who are the dead? They are the… Read More
RCL-Narrative Lectionary: Holy Week Extravaganza Bonus Edition!
Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Easter Vigil. Whatever other worship services and events are typical for your congregation. It’s all come down to this, folks! It’s the final countdown, the sprint to the finish, the last hurrah. It’s time to get serious. Jesus has joyfully entered Jerusalem. The final meal, betrayal, arrest, and execution are at… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: ‘Liberate’ a Colt, Start a Celebration Edition (Luke 19:29-44)
Finally! We made it!!! Several chapters after being told the Jesus had set his face toward the city this week’s reading finds us on the very outskirts of Jerusalem — though we still seem to stop just short of actually walking through the gate. You can read the passage (Luke 19:29-44) here. The folks at… Read More
