4th Sunday of Advent – December 18, 2016
Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7 ; Matthew 1:18-25 Advent 4A The ways in which we sinful human beings can misunderstand God, faith and..
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3rd Sunday of Advent — December 11, 2016
Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Advent 3A The texts for this third Sunday of Advent brought to my mind a recording..
A home for the holidays
"Away in a manager, no crib for a bed." The beloved Christmas hymn came vividly alive to me one Advent when I..
2nd Sunday of Advent – December 4, 2016
Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Advent 2A I am just contrary enough to look forward to John the Baptist’s disruptive Advent..
You can help the Outlook on #GivingTuesday
On this #GivingTuesday, please consider making a financial gift to the Presbyterian Outlook. Last year, more than 45,000 organizations in 71 countries..
1st Sunday of Advent – November 27, 2016
Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Advent 1A These Advent texts offer a series of contrasts this week: light and dark, awake..
Inviting Jesus to Thanksgiving dinner
I don’t much like Thanksgiving. What’s not to like? There are the three F’s – food, family and football, not necessarily in..
Come, Lord Jesus
I am tired of waiting for Jesus. The wrangling of a national election that had the tenor of a raunchy reality show,..
November 20, 2016 – Christ the King Sunday
Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 This is the Sunday we make explicit what is true every Sunday and every day: Christ is King...
November 13, 2016 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 65:17-25; Luke 21:5-19 Ordinary 33C Proper 28 I am writing this before the election results are revealed. You will be preaching..
Repairers of the breach
In the wake of the election, a Scripture passage has been coming to my consciousness over and over. It is from the..
Theology matters
The only way I ever walked into a hospital room to visit the sick, or a home to meet with a bereaved..
A prayer for Election Day
Almighty God, as people go to the polls this day we pray first and foremost for peace. May the sense of community..
November 6, 2016 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary time
Haggai 1:15b-2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38 Ordinary 32C Proper 26 Just in time: On the Sunday before the election, the..
Look for the supports
I entered the sanctuary hoping to slip into a back pew, but the church was crowded. A summer Sunday during late June..
Become an Outlook partner and raise funds for your congregation
The Presbyterian Outlook is excited to introduce a new fundraising program to help you raise money for your local congregation - while..
October 30, 2016 – 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Luke 19:1-10 Ordinary 31C Proper 26 What are we watching for? What are we trying to see as we..
October 23, 2106 — 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Joel 2:23-32; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Luke 18:9-14 Ordinary 30C Proper 25 What is being poured out? The Spirit? Us? Our hearts? There..
October 16, 2016 – 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 31:27-34 2, Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8 Ordinary 29C I don’t know what to do with these texts. In some ways, they..
Words of purpose
"Remember that writing things down makes them real; that it is nearly impossible to hate anyone whose story you know; and, most..
Pastoral prayer in storm and exile – Hurricane Matthew
God of all times and all places, as we gather this day to worship, give praise and say thank you, we are..
October 9, 2016 – 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19 Ordinary 28C Proper 23 We are to live in hope, looking toward the future..
October 2, 2016 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lamentations 1:1-6; Psalm 137; Luke 17:5-10 Ordinary 27C Proper 22 There are times in our lives when lament is the only response..
We need more hypocrites
If you haven’t read “My Green Manifesto” by David Gessner, I suggest you do so. The book is beautifully written about a..
Outlook book editor publishes tome
(Outlook) Roy Howard, pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in North Bethesda, Maryland, and book editor for the Presbyterian Outlook, went on..