The texts for Sunday, May 27, 2012 (that we will use): Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 104:24–34, 35b; Acts 2:1–21; and John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15 “The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full ofContinueContinue reading “The ever-present Wind”
Category Archives: Sparks from the Lectionary
They cast lots?
The texts for Sunday, May 20, 2012: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; and John 17:6–19. “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” -Acts 1:26 I typed “leadership books” in Amazon and 85,792 books came up. Typing in “leading church”ContinueContinue reading “They cast lots?”
Running Behind
The texts for Sunday, May 13, 2012: Acts 10:44–48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1–6; and John 15:9–17 “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.” – Acts 10:44 Have you ever felt like you were a little behind the ball on something? Or maybe everything? I feel thatContinueContinue reading “Running Behind”
The Wilderness Road
The texts for Sunday, May 6, 2012: Acts 8:26–40; Psalm 22:25–31; 1 John 4:7–21; and John 15:1–8 “Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.)” – Acts 8:26 I wonder what PhilipContinueContinue reading “The Wilderness Road”
God is greater…
The texts for Sunday, April 29, 2012: Acts 4:5–12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16–24; and John 10:11–18 “… for God is greater than our hearts…” – 1 John 3:18-20 This week, I’ve had a couple of depressing conversations. Conversations about how the world is such a hard place, how things don’t seem to ever getContinueContinue reading “God is greater…”
You are Witnesses
The texts for Sunday, April 22, 2012: Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1–7; and Luke 24:36b–48 “You are witnesses of these things.” – Luke 24:48 What does your life bear witness to? The Greek word for witnesses is μάρτυρες (martyres). Yes, it is the same word we use for martyrs. Martyr means witness. A martyrContinueContinue reading “You are Witnesses”
The Bravery of Doubt
The texts for Sunday, April 15, 2012: Acts 4:32–35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1—2:2; John 20:19–31. “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.””- John 20:29 Poor Thomas. Every year, this second Sunday of Easter, Thomas gets heldContinueContinue reading “The Bravery of Doubt”
Saved from Death
The texts for Sunday, March 25, 2012: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; and John 12:20-33 “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” – Hebrews 5:7ContinueContinue reading “Saved from Death”
Whine!
The texts for Sunday, March 18, 2012: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; and John 3:14-21 “The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.” – Numbers 21:7ContinueContinue reading “Whine!”
The Power of God
The texts for Sunday, March 11, 2012 are: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” -1 Corinthians 1:18-25 “It is said that [the Devil] deploys extreme and exquisite cunning to foil God’s power and goodness and toContinueContinue reading “The Power of God”
Dancing Dust
The texts for Sunday, March 4, 2012: Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16; Psalm 22:23–31; Romans 4:13–25; Mark 8:31–38. “Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the LORD. Their descendants shall serve the LORD, whom they shall proclaim toContinueContinue reading “Dancing Dust”
Refracting God’s promises
The texts for Sunday, February 26, 2012: Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; and Mark 1:9-15 “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” – Genesis 9:13 Hildegaard von Bingen is one of my favourite church ancestors. She is theContinueContinue reading “Refracting God’s promises”
Moving on—Tears allowed
The texts for Sunday, February 19, 2012: 2 Kings 2:1–12, Psalm 50:1–6, 2 Corinthians 4:3–6, Mark 9:2–9 “But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.” – 2 Kings 2:12b So, the story goes that Elisha was plowing his field and the prophet Elijah came along and threw hisContinueContinue reading “Moving on—Tears allowed”
Contagious Wellness
The texts for Sunday, February 12, 2012: 2 Kings 5:1–14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; and Mark 1:40–45. “But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to himContinueContinue reading “Contagious Wellness”
The Infinite Blue
The texts for February 5, 2012: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; and Mark 1:29-39. “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 41:31 This is oneContinueContinue reading “The Infinite Blue”
Chaos: God’s favorite material
The featured image is by Shelly Fanguy. Check out her beautiful work and the wonderful blog of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mt Lebanon, Pennsylvania here: Bible 365 at St. Paul’s The texts for Sunday, January 8, 2012: Genesis 1:1–5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1–7, and Mark 1:4–11. “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, theContinueContinue reading “Chaos: God’s favorite material”
A little light, please
The texts for Christmas Day: Isaiah 52:7–10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1–12, and John 1:1–14 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did/does not overcome it.” – John 1:5 It’s amazing how even with the smallest amount of light, your eyes will adjust so that you can see. I’ve been on a couple ofContinueContinue reading “A little light, please”
God in-fleshed
The texts for Sunday, December 18, 2011: 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26; Romans 16:25–27; and Luke 1:26–38. “The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called SonContinueContinue reading “God in-fleshed”
Jabbok Dawn 