1st Sunday of Advent — December 2, 2018
Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 Advent 1C The days are surely coming when struggling with texts about the heavens and..
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Support the Outlook on #GivingTuesday
Friends, It is that time of year again: Giving Tuesday! Unlike other random days on the secular calendar (why can’t every day..
Christ the King Sunday — November 25, 2018
2 Samuel 23:1-7; Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 The language of “king” perplexes and confounds. For some, it creates a stumbling block to..
Prayer for Thanksgiving
God whose giving knows no bounds, your Word teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances. Today we take that instruction to..
26th Sunday after Pentecost — November 18, 2018
1 Samuel 1:4-20; Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25; Mark 13:1-8 Ordinary 33B Proper 28 Occasionally, when the Outlook staff emails one another we begin..
Prayer for the victims of the California fires
Devastation. Displacement. Death. Lord, the images from California capture only a fraction of the suffering and pain consuming your people who seek..
Caring is not enough: Reflections on transgender pastoral care
“Caring is not enough.” “Good intentions are not enough.” Erin Swenson, a licensed counselor and transgender Presbyterian minister from Atlanta, told those..
God’s love knows no borders
Whoever welcomes children welcomes Jesus. Love your neighbor as yourself. Who do you think was a neighbor to the man? The foreigner..
Prayer for all
Lord of All, we struggle with the expansiveness of your call and care. If only you would command us to love only..
25th Sunday after Pentecost — November 11, 2018
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17; Mark 12:38-44 Ordinary 32B Proper 27 What obligation do we have to those in our society who cannot provide..
Prayer in the wake of another mass shooting
God who weeps with us, breaking news is no longer shocking news. After another mass shooting we hear the reports of how..
24th Sunday after Pentecost — November 4, 2018
Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34 Ordinary 31B Proper 26 At first reading of the Gospel text this week, I marveled at the audacity..
A princess of God
At our first meeting she told me she was a “prayer warrior.” I nodded, not knowing enough about what she meant to..
Prayer for Pittsburgh
Lord, we know your power, your promises and your presence, but on days like today when your chosen people are gunned down..
23rd Sunday after Pentecost — October 28, 2018
Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52 Proper 25 Ordinary 30B I found myself getting emotional as I read and studied the..
22nd Sunday after Pentecost — October 21, 2018
Job 38:1-7 (34-41); Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45 Ordinary 29B Proper 24 I feel for Job this week. We are on chapter 38..
Taking a long look
The title of the project that has culminated in the articles you will find in this issue of the Outlook is ambitious,..
21st Sunday after Pentecost — October 14, 2018
Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31 Ordinary 28B Proper 23 All three of the texts appointed for this Sunday involve seeing..
20th Sunday after Pentecost — October 7, 2018
World Communion Sunday Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16 Ordinary 21B Proper 22 “There once was a man…” Job begins..
A prayer for divided times
Reconciling God, we come to you grief stricken by the rancor and division among us, the hurt and pain rampant in our..
19th Sunday after Pentecost — September 30, 2018
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50 Ordinary 26B Proper 21 Esther, elders, unknown exorcists: Who has the authority to speak..
The good in people
Fatigue creeps into her face. The school year has kicked into high gear with little or no ramp-up time. Advanced Placement classes..
We would see Jesus
Church nerds go to worship when on vacation. I could try to spin this as dedicated piety, but it is more ecclesiastical..
18th Sunday after Pentecost — September 23, 2018
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37 Ordinary 25B Proper 20 They didn’t know what Jesus was saying, but they were afraid to ask..
17th Sunday after Pentecost — September 16, 2018
Proverbs 1:20-33; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38 Ordinary 24B Proper 19 Wisdom cries out in the street, mostly unheard as those within earshot..