Liturgy of the Palms
Psalm:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Gospel: Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Today is Palm Sunday; I am sure that comes as no surprise to anybody. If your church is like most then you might be hosting some type of Easter Fest or EGGtravaganza to really get to the heart of what Easter is. Nothing celebrates Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection better than candy, eggs, bunnies and shopping! One doesn't have to look very far, much like Christmas, unfortunately, to see all the ways we have allowed the culture to influence what and how we do things. We allow the consumerism and concepts of beauty to determine that again we must buy things to be happy and that there is no way you can show up to church with a dress you have previously worn. But enough of that. Moving on to the Scriptures. This week we only have two scriptures to read and our Psalm is quoted in our reading from Mark.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Lent Week 5
Psalm: Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm
119:9-16
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Gospel: John 12:20-33
Epistle: Hebrews 5:5-10
Today is the last Sunday of Lent before Palm Sunday next week (Which is still during the season of Lent as well). We have been exploring the theme of wilderness this Lent, partially because that is what our church's theme is this Lent. But this week, we move away from the wilderness and are invited to explore what God has done for us through Jesus.
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Gospel: John 12:20-33
Epistle: Hebrews 5:5-10
Today is the last Sunday of Lent before Palm Sunday next week (Which is still during the season of Lent as well). We have been exploring the theme of wilderness this Lent, partially because that is what our church's theme is this Lent. But this week, we move away from the wilderness and are invited to explore what God has done for us through Jesus.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Lent Week 4
Psalm: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Epistle: Ephesians 2:1-10
We are more than halfway through Lent this Sunday and the themes of Lent naturally continue: wilderness, sorrow, sin, repentance, but also salvation. Our readings this week revolve around an episode which happened early in the creation of Israel. Toward the end of Israel's wandering in the desert, the people once again complained against God and Moses. The interesting thing about it this time is that they were coming off a great military victory over some Canaanites and were raring for a fight against Edom despite the Lord having told them not to fight against them. (In Deut. 2 it says that this land had been given to the descendants of Esau, and thus the Lord would not allow Israel to take it.) The people got inpatient because they were taking the long way around Edom. A bit silly when you think that they had literally been taking the long way around for 40 years wandering around the desert. The complaint also took the same form it had throughout Numbers, they loathed the food (manna) that they got, so felt that there was no bread and water. So basically The Lord disciplined them through fiery snakes which caused sickness and death. The solution was for Moses to fasten a replica of the snakes to a pole and whoever looked at it would live.
Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Epistle: Ephesians 2:1-10
We are more than halfway through Lent this Sunday and the themes of Lent naturally continue: wilderness, sorrow, sin, repentance, but also salvation. Our readings this week revolve around an episode which happened early in the creation of Israel. Toward the end of Israel's wandering in the desert, the people once again complained against God and Moses. The interesting thing about it this time is that they were coming off a great military victory over some Canaanites and were raring for a fight against Edom despite the Lord having told them not to fight against them. (In Deut. 2 it says that this land had been given to the descendants of Esau, and thus the Lord would not allow Israel to take it.) The people got inpatient because they were taking the long way around Edom. A bit silly when you think that they had literally been taking the long way around for 40 years wandering around the desert. The complaint also took the same form it had throughout Numbers, they loathed the food (manna) that they got, so felt that there was no bread and water. So basically The Lord disciplined them through fiery snakes which caused sickness and death. The solution was for Moses to fasten a replica of the snakes to a pole and whoever looked at it would live.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Lent Week 3
Psalm: Psalm 19
Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17
Gospel: John 2:13-22
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
This week is a bit of a challenge for me to try and find connections between our four passages. I always wonder when it comes to the Lectionary why the church has brought these four particular passages together for each Sunday in the church year. Why during Lent do we read these four passages and what does each passage say to the other? Some weeks these questions are easier to answer than others.
The reading from Exodus is the giving of the 10 Commandments. Psalm 19 is a song of praise of God revealing himself through creation and through his law and precepts. These two arenas are referred to as natural or general revelation and special revelation. Our Gospel reading from John is the episode of Jesus throwing out the merchants and traders in the Temple. Finally, in 1 Corinthians, Paul challenges the wisdom and power of the world through the perceived foolishness and weakness of the cross.
Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17
Gospel: John 2:13-22
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
This week is a bit of a challenge for me to try and find connections between our four passages. I always wonder when it comes to the Lectionary why the church has brought these four particular passages together for each Sunday in the church year. Why during Lent do we read these four passages and what does each passage say to the other? Some weeks these questions are easier to answer than others.
The reading from Exodus is the giving of the 10 Commandments. Psalm 19 is a song of praise of God revealing himself through creation and through his law and precepts. These two arenas are referred to as natural or general revelation and special revelation. Our Gospel reading from John is the episode of Jesus throwing out the merchants and traders in the Temple. Finally, in 1 Corinthians, Paul challenges the wisdom and power of the world through the perceived foolishness and weakness of the cross.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Lent Week 2
Psalm: Psalm 22: 23-31
Old Testament: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Gospel: Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9
Epistle: Romans 4:13-25
Lent continues this week and I hope God is using this time and space to meet with you. I feel like this week we have 2 Scriptures that go together well, Genesis and Romans, and then the Gospel reading of Mark stands alone. Genesis and Romans both deal with the story of Abraham and the faith he had in God.
In Genesis 17, we have what may be considered the final covenant making time between God and Abraham. God reveals the covenantal sealing act of circumcision for all male individuals in Abraham's household. He also reveals that the promise of children and inheritance will come not through Hagar or any other means, but through Abraham's wife Sarah. Abraham seems to be one of those people who likes to solve his own problems. Although, we have to give him credit; he was 86 years old before he took matters into his own hands and conceived Ishmael through Hagar. And, even before this when he left his father's household and brought Lot with him to receive his inheritance if the time came and he had no other child. Finally, in these verses in Genesis, God gives Abraham and Sarah new names, previously they were Abram and Sarai. Thus, chapter 17 is one of the key passages in the life of Abraham and the creation of Israel.
Old Testament: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Gospel: Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9
Epistle: Romans 4:13-25
Lent continues this week and I hope God is using this time and space to meet with you. I feel like this week we have 2 Scriptures that go together well, Genesis and Romans, and then the Gospel reading of Mark stands alone. Genesis and Romans both deal with the story of Abraham and the faith he had in God.
In Genesis 17, we have what may be considered the final covenant making time between God and Abraham. God reveals the covenantal sealing act of circumcision for all male individuals in Abraham's household. He also reveals that the promise of children and inheritance will come not through Hagar or any other means, but through Abraham's wife Sarah. Abraham seems to be one of those people who likes to solve his own problems. Although, we have to give him credit; he was 86 years old before he took matters into his own hands and conceived Ishmael through Hagar. And, even before this when he left his father's household and brought Lot with him to receive his inheritance if the time came and he had no other child. Finally, in these verses in Genesis, God gives Abraham and Sarah new names, previously they were Abram and Sarai. Thus, chapter 17 is one of the key passages in the life of Abraham and the creation of Israel.
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