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       info@stewardshipoflife.org

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Stewardship and Radical Risk-Taking

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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)

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How Long, O Lord?

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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.

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

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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)

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Living the Spirit Life

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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)

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Love and Care Spoken Here

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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)

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Knit Together as One

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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)

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Wide Welcome?

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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)

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Do You See Jesus?

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Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 21, 2017
Suffering from a case of fuzzy spiritual vision? Have no fear! Jesus is near. The great physician is ready and able to adjust our sight and fit us with corrective, discipleship lenses through which we may see the world aright. In this Sunday’s gospel lesson, Jesus reassures his disciples that even though he must leave them for a while, they will not be abandoned or left alone. The same promise applies to us today. (Photo: Kamaljith K V, Creative Commons)

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Stewards of the Church

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Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 14, 2017
We Christians are not meant to act in a vacuum. We do better when we find ways to work together and hold one another mutually accountable for what it means to be Christ’s body here on earth (or at least our particular version of it) and how we are called to steward resources and share the Good News. Our governing bodies, confessions, creeds, and constitutions help keep us faithful to God’s word and work in the world—at least when we’re at our best. (Photo: Cary Bass-Deschenes, Creative Commons)

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Day by Day with Glad and Generous Hearts

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Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 7, 2017
If we are to be effective as the people of God reaching out to the world and ushering in the reign of Christ right now and right here, then it is time to look our practice with fresh eyes. Where are we stale? What makes us tired? Are we simply going through the motions and trying to stay afloat in our congregations? Can we articulate our congregational identity, our sense of vision and mission? We can learn a thing or two from the early church’s understanding and application of “glad and generous hearts” and “life abundant.” (Photo: minkmonkeymoo, Creative Commons)