RCL Reflection, Baptism of the Lord, Year A, January 12, 2020
Without water there is no lasting life on this earth. Christ, in his baptism, shows us what is fitting and proper, sort of a Jesus H2O, if you will. After all, human beings are about 66% water, and 70% of the human brain is water. Make this a day to celebrate baptism and walk wet into the world. (Photo: Dmitry Kichenko, Creative Commons)
Second Sunday after Christmas Day/Epiphany of the Lord, Year A, January 5, 2020
What’s the big idea for worship this week? Keep celebrating Christmas and incarnation! Unless…you will choose to celebrate Epiphany a day early. This is also the first Sunday of a new year AND a new decade—with lessons that offer so many rich possibilities for preaching and teaching. (Photo:
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A, December 22, 2019
This week’s lessons remind us that good things often follow times of stress, trouble, and complication, i.e. course corrections. We, like Joseph, can respond with openness and a willingness to embrace change and new directions as we follow Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. (Photo: jerryw387, Creative Commons)
RCL Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year A, December 15, 2019
No matter what lesson or lessons you use in crafting your sermon or lesson, let this third Sunday of Advent be a powerful YES in a world that so often cries no. We have great hope even in the face of doubt because God has said YES to us and to all of creation. (Photo: Barney Moss, Creative Commons)
RCL Lectionary Reflection, Second Sunday of Advent, Year A, December 8, 2019
Blessing and hope: These two words weave a unifying thread through the lessons for the Second Sunday of Advent. Yes, there are a couple of discomforting and unusual images, including John’s reference to a human “brood of vipers,” but there’s much more of a spirit of anticipation for a new world, a new way, and a messiah to lead into that promised kin-dom. What a blessing indeed! (Photo: Christi Belcourt, Creative Commons)
RCL Lectionary Reflection, First Sunday of Advent, Year A, December 1, 2019
By living and savoring the present moment, we are able to piece together a life of moments lived in expectation and awareness—imagine a colorful quilt of unique patterns that tell a story and give meaning and contour to a life of discipleship and stewardship. Advent blesses us with the call to pay attention, to be awake, and to anticipate a different world order. (Photo: Allan Cleaver, Creative Commons)
RCL Lectionary Reflection, Reign of Christ, Year C, November 24, 2019
Even as he hung there dying at the hands of Empire and the religious leaders of his day, Jesus was still loving others and showing mercy, kingly qualities indeed. This week’s lesson ends with the thief’s request to be remembered. Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” We do not, however, have to wait until we’re dying to be with Jesus in “paradise.” (Photo: Chip Simons, Creative Commons)
RCL Lectionary Reflection, Proper 28 (33), Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, November 17, 2019
We as the church face some stiff challenges, but that’s okay. There’s nothing that God cannot make a way from, and we are promised that God will never leave us. Even if our structures crumble and burn to the ground, the Spirit will resurrect something new from the ashes. Are we ready for God to do a new thing? (Photo: Peter Kaminski, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, November 10, 2019
We follow a God of the living as Jesus says, “for to him all of them are alive.” Whenever we start playing the what if game we leave little room to listen for God’s call—on our individual lives and on our life together as church. We turn inward, fall prey to worry, and fail to see the presence of God among us in the very folks and situations about which we fret and fume. (Photo: a2gemma, Creative Commons)
RCL reflection for November 3, 2019
This year how about recasting the observance of All Saints to include not only the ancestors but also present day saints and the future faithful? Make the day a celebration of ALL the saints who together weave a colorful and expansive tapestry of faith, who let the light of Christ shine through their own lives, and who choose an alternative way of living and being. (Photo: Creative Commons, Thanks!)
