Jesus, we walk again with you Cheerful palms waving Music full of Hosannas Bells and children choirs add light to the day Even as we read the Passion account, it’s like we don’t hear it. Even “Happy Easters” on the way out of worship After singing “Were You There?” … without a verse about resurrectionContinueContinue reading “Between the Hosannas and Hallelujahs”
Category Archives: Sparks from the Lectionary
Clay Jars
The texts for Sunday, June 3, 2018: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; and Mark 2:23–3:6 “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7 There are days I should tattooContinueContinue reading “Clay Jars”
Seeking
The texts for Sunday, September 11, 2016 are: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; and Luke 15:1-10 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” -Luke 15:8 The unrelenting love of God. That seeks And looks inContinueContinue reading “Seeking”
On feeling overwhelmed
The texts for Sunday, July 10, 2016 are: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-10; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37 “Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it forContinueContinue reading “On feeling overwhelmed”
What kind of love?
The texts for Sunday, May 3, 2015: Acts 8:26–40; Psalm 22:25–31; 1 John 4:7–21; and John 15:1–8 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” – 1 John 4:18 I believe that I can say with absolute certainty thatContinueContinue reading “What kind of love?”
We wish to see Jesus
The texts for Sunday, March 22, 2015: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Psalm 51:1–12; Hebrews 5:5–10; and John 12:20–33 “They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.'” – John 12:21 For those of you who occasionally or frequently or rarely set foot in the doors of a church building,ContinueContinue reading “We wish to see Jesus”
Dusting off some Words
The texts for Sunday, March 15, 2015: Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Ephesians 2:1–10; and John 3:14–21 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2:8 This is one of those bits of scripture that is so familiar we kind of assume weContinueContinue reading “Dusting off some Words”
Saved by the flood
The texts for Sunday, February 22, 2014 (Lent 1B): Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; and Mark 1:9-15 “And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” – 1 Peter 3:21 In Northern WisconsinContinueContinue reading “Saved by the flood”
Kings and Prophets
The texts for Sunday, February 15, 2014 (Transfiguration Sunday): 2 Kings 2:1–12; Psalm 50:1–6; 2 Corinthians 4:3–6; and Mark 9:2–9 “Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.” – 2 Kings 2:1 You would think that a biblical book entitled “Kings” mightContinueContinue reading “Kings and Prophets”
The great grace of work
The texts for Sunday 21, 2014 (Pentecost 14A): Jonah 3:10–4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; and Matthew 20:1-16. ” And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go intoContinueContinue reading “The great grace of work”
Believing
The texts for Sunday, September 14, 2014 (Holy Cross Day): Numbers 21:4b–9; Psalm 98:1–4; 1 Corinthians 1:18–24; and John 3:13–17 . “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” – John 3:16 What does belief mean? I think that we, inContinueContinue reading “Believing”
Speaking Love
The texts for Sunday, September 7th, 2014: Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; and Matthew 18:15-20 . “So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” – Ezekiel 33:7 What does it mean to love? I ask thisContinueContinue reading “Speaking Love”
The Fullness of God
The texts for Sunday, November 24, 2013 (Christ the King Sunday or the Reign of Christ): Jeremiah 23:1–6; Psalm 46 (though, we’re using the semi-continuous option for the psalm: Luke 1:68–79); Colossians 1:11–20; and Luke 23:33–43.”For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” – Colossians 1:19I think I’ve probably written and preached about this before,ContinueContinue reading “The Fullness of God”
We (Will) Rise
The texts for Sunday, November 10, 2013 (Lectionary 32): Job 19:23–27a; Psalm 17:1–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; and Luke 20:27–38. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God” – Job 19: 25-26 This is a textContinueContinue reading “We (Will) Rise”
Blessed is the dust…
The texts for Sunday, November 3, 2013 (All Saints, Year C): Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11–23; and Luke 6:20–31 . “Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'” – Luke 6:20 Too often, I think, we are quick to turn things like blessing and sainthoodContinueContinue reading “Blessed is the dust…”
Praying for Everyone?
Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay The texts for Sunday, September 22, 2013 (Lectionary 25 C): Amos 8:4–7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1–7; and Luke 16:1–13 . “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone” – 1 Timothy 2:1 I know this sentence continues in the text to tell us to prayContinueContinue reading “Praying for Everyone?”
Reclamation Grace
The texts for Sunday, September 15, 2013 (Lectionary 24C): Exodus 32:7–14; Psalm 51:1–10; 1 Timothy 1:12–17; and Luke 15:1–10. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51: 10 I’d say that God is a God of second chances; but, besides it sounding a little cliché, it might give the impressionContinueContinue reading “Reclamation Grace”
Free to Move
The texts for Sunday, August 25, 2013 (Lectionary 21C): Isaiah 58:9b–14; Psalm 103:1–8; Hebrews 12:18–29; and Luke 13:10–17 “And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.” – Luke 13:11 I bet she didn’t expect anything to change thatContinueContinue reading “Free to Move”
Jabbok Dawn 