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Monthly Archives: April 2017
April 25, 2017
Extreme hospitality A Revised Common Lectionary resource for April 30 By Magdalena I. García But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. – Luke 24:29 Read the full lectionary passages here That strange traveler… Read more »
April 21, 2017
Biological Redemption Sensitivity, Not Perfection is The Aim By Elizabeth Jeffries I discovered my life’s calling at the seasoned age of 4. My personal epiphany came during during preschool, in my phase of incessant inquiry. When I asked my Mom a string of questions about the stars in the sky, she explained to me… Read more »
April 20, 2017
Sustainable church Learning from the farm-to-table journey By Ayana Teter Several weeks ago, I was scanning the Netflix library in search of a thoughtful documentary and took a chance on one entitled Sustainable. It was a video essay that detailed one group’s perspective on the farm-to-table journey by highlighting the rich and deep relationships between those… Read more »
April 19, 2017
If God is good, then why…? Confirmands play stump the pastor By Graham Standish Too often we blame God for things we do to ourselves, for things others do to us, or for what others do to others. Then we credit ourselves for blessings that come from God, and others for the blessings that… Read more »
April 18, 2017
When the processions and the alleluias cease A Revised Common Lectionary resource for April 23 By Magdalena I. García When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ – John 20:22 Read the full lectionary passages here When the processions cease and the wooden crosses are stored… Read more »
April 16, 2017
Easter Sunday Read John 20:1–18 Jesus is alive! My Lord lives! With mourning I began my day. At dawn, the other women and I trudged out to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body and to say our goodbyes. Yet the stone and his body were gone. We didn’t know who had taken him; neither did his… Read more »
April 15, 2017
Great Vigil of Easter Read Mark 15:42–47 My Lord, I was complicit in your death. I knew you were the Messiah, but I allowed fear to keep me from openly following you. I listened as my brothers on the Sanhedrin plotted your downfall. I permitted them to purchase your life for 30 silver pieces. I stood… Read more »
April 14, 2017
Out of Chaos By Becky Lindsay Who could have predicted That out of the chaos that was the Passion— The incident of betrayal by a brother, The apathy of somnolent friends, Denial and desertion by those dearest, The iterations of humiliations and hatred, The multiple occasions of accusations, The repetitions of rough-handling, Flailings, floggings with… Read more »
April 14, 2017
Good Friday Read Matthew 27:45–54 When you earn your livelihood overseeing crucifixions, you eventually go numb. It’s a matter of survival. But today’s events terrified even me. I’m used to dealing with slaves and criminals. Flog them, nail them to a crossbeam, and you’ll always get some colorful words out of them. Not this “king of… Read more »
April 13, 2017
Maundy Thursday Read Luke 22:47–53 I’m following orders, but everything about this is wrong. Roman guards and the high priest’s coterie don’t take orders from commoners. We don’t make arrests without charges. And trials aren’t held in the dead of night. Yet here we stand, hundreds of us interspersed among olive trees, watching Judas kiss his… Read more »