Preach – Page 42

A Steward’s Green Pastures

June 22, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 25, 2017
Luther likens the 23rd Psalm’s “green pasture” to the church, and the church’s beloved community to the Good Shepherd’s flock. It is easy to overlook the fact that this short psalm of praise is both communal as well as personal. We are stronger in community, and we have the capacity to be better, too. In community, in concert and in contact with God’s word read and proclaimed, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we experience something precious and life-giving. We are strengthened for the journey, our focus is sharpened, and we are reminded of God’s many good gifts. In our life together we affirm our abundance rather than fear our scarcity. (Photo: Katrina L, Creative Commons)

Losers

June 22, 2017 By Rob Blezard Leave a Comment

3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 25, 2017: What’s a preacher supposed to do with these “hard” lessons for this week? If we set the discipleship bar too high, won’t that alienate the folks who want an easy life? Easy is not always the answer. In fact, most things truly worth having require expenditures of time, effort, and energy. Why should we expect the journey of faith to be any different? If Jesus’ life and ministry and the paths of his early followers are our model, most of us are in real trouble! (Photo: Barbara Kruger, Modern Art Oxford Creative Commons)

Stewardship and Radical Risk-Taking

June 16, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 18, 2017
Faithful ministry and mission in the 21st century is an uncertain (and potentially volatile) mix of sound management and radical risk-taking. This week’s gospel lesson can instill either terror or radical risk-taking into everyday disciples and congregational leaders. Let’s shake the dust of fear off and fling wide the doors to go forth into a hurting and needy world. (Photo: Paxson Woelber, Creative Commons)

How Long, O Lord?

June 15, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Narrative Lectionary for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 18, 2017
To be human is to enter into suffering. He or she who denies that fact is a liar. Our world is broken. Sin and death, although ultimately defeated, are nipping at our heels like worrisome little yapping dogs. Even God’s people behave badly and let us down. This is part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. Thankfully, this is not where we stay after a season of lament. God’s hope is ever-present and real.

Trinity Sunday: We’re Not Flying Solo, Folks!

June 8, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Trinity Sunday, Year A, June 11, 2017
Holy Trinity Sunday is an excellent time to remind one another that we do not “go it alone” when we follow Jesus and live disciples in the beloved community. We are stewards of a very good gospel, yes indeed, but we are also stewards of one another. We are called into relationship, no matter how messy, difficult, or beautiful that may be on any given day. (Photo: Camdiluv, Creative Commons)

Living the Spirit Life

June 1, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard 2 Comments

Narrative Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost Sunday, Year Three, June 4, 2017
With the Narrative Lectionary this year we are given choice to focus on a snippet from Acts and a relevant passage from Galatians, or we can choose to highlight the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5. Whatever the choice, even with the Gospel passage, the focus in on the Holy Spirit and how that mysterious, unsettling, and powerful divine presence and force works in the lives of the faithful, goading and cajoling us to speak and live the language of love. (Photo: Waiting for the Word, Creative Commons)

Love and Care Spoken Here

June 1, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

RCL Reflection, Pentecost Sunday, Year A, June 4, 2017:
What languages are spoken in your congregation? What message are people hearing? How do you hear the good news? Most importantly, is the language of love infused in every song, every sermon, every handshake and hug? Is love woven into the fibers of ministry and the mission of all disciples? Is love the last word in all you say and do in the name of Jesus? (Photo: Denise Krebs, Creative Commons)

Exponentially One (in Christ)

May 26, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 28, 2017
Why is it that we humans always seem to prefer the divide and conquer method in life? I understand that stereotypes–the broad categories we sort folk and situations into—function to keep all the sensory data manageable, but this human tendency also runs quite counter to Jesus’ way of organizing. Instead of division, Jesus was all about multiplication and addition. If only Paul can get this group of folks to believe it and live like it!

Knit Together as One

May 25, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Revised Common Lectionary reflection, Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 28, 2017
Listen. Can you hear the voice of Jesus praying for you? Can you feel yourself surrounded by his love for you and for this world? Can you feel in the words of John’s gospel this week what it means to be in Christ, to be covered with his abiding love and the divine desire for relationship? Can you sense the power of prayer as these words enter your mind, heart, and being? Listen again. Breathe in the power of prayer. Now, go and share that power with others so that all may know Christ’s love. (Photo: David Morris, Creative Commons)

Wide Welcome?

May 20, 2017 By Sharron R. Blezard Leave a Comment

Narrative Lectionary for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 21, 2017
Here we stand at the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther determined to call the church back to accountability in the gospel, to rid God’s people of extraneous and burdensome practices that he felt ran counter to the teachings of Jesus. Not surprisingly, things changed in both expected and unexpected ways. Also not surprising is the fact that some things haven’t changed after all these years. We still need to clean our lenses to see Jesus clearly and love our neighbors more dearly. (Photo: Jro, Creative Commons)