2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Ordinary 16B; Proper 11 God is on the move. Jesus is traveling by sea and land. The Holy Spirit blows where it wills. Once you were aliens and strangers, now you are incorporated into the covenant community. The divine doesn’t hunker down and doesn’t allow us to remain sedentary, either. Like those timers that buzz on your Fitbit or iPhone or computer (you know, the ones that remind you to get up and move), God seems to prod us, refusing to let us get too comfortable where we are. The king may be settled, but God tells Nathan, “I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt.” It is almost like God gets the word to King David: “Do you really think I have time to settle down and relax?! Have you looked around lately? There is work to be done! Furthermore, do you remember where you came from and where I’ve been with you? Why would you think I’d want to retire to temple when I … [Read more...]
Celebrating 200 years of the Presbyterian Outlook at GA
Each year, the Presbyterian Outlook hosts a luncheon on the first Saturday of General Assembly. The gathering gives participants an opportunity to hear from each of the candidates standing for moderator and listen to some thoughts from the editor on the critical issues facing the church. This year, the luncheon was held in St. Louis on June 16, 2018, and celebrated the Outlook’s 200-year anniversary. Here are the remarks from the event. Jill Duffield, Outlook editor and publisher Researching one’s ancestry seems to be in vogue right now. The ability to swab our cheek, put it in the mail and – “presto!” – discover the journey our DNA has taken that leads to us seems irresistible. We long to know to whom we are connected, what hardships and triumphs they experienced, what kind of people are “our” people. I have not sent my DNA to ancestry.com or 23andMe or any of those services. My sister, however, has done them all. She has also researched parts of our family … [Read more...]
8th Sunday after Pentecost — July 15, 2018
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Mark 6:14-29 Ordinary 15B; Proper 10 For a Gospel into that whole brevity thing, Mark devotes a lot of space to the account of John the Baptist’s death. There is no birth narrative in Mark. Mark begins with (wait for it…) John the Baptist. Jesus’ baptism and temptation are allotted five verses total. The account of Jesus’ rejection in Mark’s Gospel leaves out copious details found in Luke. We don’t even get the story of the resurrection in Mark’s compact recording of the life and death of Jesus. And yet, the writer of Mark gives a 16-verse rendering of John the Baptist’s beheading by Herod. What’s so important to Mark in this gruesome story in which there are no good actors, save the one whose head ends up on a platter? I don’t think this is a mere morality tale about power and its abuse, although that’s in there. Nor do I think Mark relishes the horror for horror’s sake, although the writer of the Gospel does not spare the disturbing details. … [Read more...]
Sitting in the right spot
Scheduled to give a lecture at the 2018 Festival of Homiletics, I arrived at the designated venue well before my slotted time. I worshipped twice, listened to a good lecture and even had time to grab a quick lunch. I looked at my watch: 30 minutes until I was up. Not enough time to retreat to the hotel, too much time to sit eagerly on the front pew. Reading through my manuscript one last time couldn’t hurt. I looked for a spot close to where I needed to be in a quarter of an hour, but not so close that the organizers might want to go ahead and test the mic. Somewhere in the sanctuary? I could sit inconspicuously in the back. Nope. People had gathered to meditate with the contemplative music. Downstairs? Nope. Too many people shopping for books, getting swag from sponsors, eating lunch. Outside on the church steps? Nope. Too hot while wearing my “I’m a professional” jacket. I spotted a folding chair, unfolded, just inside the narthex. Perfect. I settled in and began to flip … [Read more...]
7th Sunday after Pentecost — July 8, 2018
Mark 6:1-13 Ordinary 14B; Proper 9 Jesus’ instructions to his disciples in Mark’s Gospel remind me of a packing list for camp. Campers should bring: flashlight, sunscreen, bug spray, toothbrush, rain poncho, flip flops, tennis shoes, swimsuit, enough shorts and T-shirts for a week, towels, toiletries. Be sure to pack a jacket or sweatshirt, as it may get cold in the evenings. What to leave at home: cell phone, electronics, pocket knives, money. Items to be sure to bring and those to be sure to leave indicate the nature of the activities and the kind of community that will define camp. Practicality wins the day, with comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that allows the wearer to move freely without worrying about getting dirty. Cell phones, computers and the like are prohibited: too distracting. Campers must be able to focus on the tasks and people at hand. Money isn’t necessary, serving as a hindrance to keep track of rather than a means to acquire goods. Everything that … [Read more...]
Prayer for Independence Day
Lord of all, we recognize that true freedom comes through you, that our ultimate loyalty belongs to you and that our real identity is bestowed upon us by you. Every day is a gift, every breath a moment to give you praise, every hour one in which to live what you command. Knowing that you are Alpha and Omega, we ask for the wisdom to properly order all else. On this day when we celebrate our country’s independence, we give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy in this land: the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; the ability to speak what is on our minds, even when what we have to say is contrary to popular opinion or public policy; and the freedom to worship (or not). Help us to recognize that such marks of human dignity are for all people and that you, O Lord, love and value every person and place you have made. May our patriotism be subject to your law, our loyalty to country never higher than our obedience to your will, our pride of nation always secondary to … [Read more...]
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