It’s Magnificat Sunday! This week, we hear Elizabeth’s praise of Mary and her child, and Mary’s song of praise to God. How wonderful to have two female prophets in one worship service! As you speak about God’s call for them and their response, be sure to remember that your congregation includes worshippers who have struggled… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Joy!
JOY: Sing aloud! Do not be afraid! Be welcomed home! (Zephaniah 3:14-20) JOY: Draw water! Shout to the whole world! Call on God’s name! (Isaiah 12:2-6) JOY: Rejoice always! Do not worry! Give thanks! (Philippians 4:4-7) JOY: Flee from wrath! Do not hoard! Be cleared of chaff! (Luke 3:7-18) The exhortations of John the Baptist… Read More
RCL: Coming Christ & Preparations
The theme of preparation is strong this week. How can we prepare for the one who is coming? Every year, we need to practice. We have to practice how to wait. How do you wait? I suspect we prepare to help us wait, because we can never truly be ready. Luke 3:1-6 juxtaposed… Read More
RCL: Hope, Even While the Seas Roar
Over the years, I have grown to love Advent. In the early years of my ministry, I didn’t exactly love the season. It was too busy, too demanding, too conflicted. It was hard to find a message of hope while ignoring the whole idea of the Second Coming. I had tangled up my unfortunate experiences… Read More
RCL: All my Mites
Benediction from the National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen It is election time in the United States, and I have been thinking about this text–Mark 12:38-44 all week, before even I was conscious that it was the lectionary. I will start by admitting that I didn’t remember that those in political & religious power are devouring… Read More
RCL: May Our Eyes be Opened
I was 10 when I first needed glasses. I was a little bit nearsighted, nothing unusual or significant. That is, until I first wore my glasses in school. Then I was teased relentlessly. I learned to only put on my glasses for reading the blackboard or watching a movie. That was good for a couple… Read More
RCL: Eager Disciples Edition
“Are you able to be like me and do what I do?” “Yes, we are!” I get the impression that James and John are imagining that they will receive Jesus’ miraculous power to heal, or will see the Holy Spirit as he did at his baptism. They seem excited to be like him, and eager… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Mouthful
What is in your mouth? What words, what complaints, what praises, what bitterness? This Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary texts offer quite a mouthful: Job’s mouth is unapologetically filled with complaints and arguments, as he rages, “Oh, that I knew where I might find God in order to make my case!” (Job 23:3-4) A rich man… Read More
RCL: Love, Marriage, Children
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10 is a text that has been used against divorce and against gay and lesbian marriage, there is a kernel here that really needs to be focused on. This is one of those “clobber” texts, weaponized to fight against beliefs different from one’s own.… Read More
RCL: Turning Sorrow into Gladness
I don’t know about you, but it has been increasingly difficult to remain positive and hopeful amidst the political chaos that seems to have free reign over the U.S. (and other parts of the world for sure). People come and ask what it means to be Christian in the face of such chaos. The response… Read More
