4th Sunday of Advent — December 22, 2019
Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-17; Matthew 1:18-25 Advent 4A Signs and angels mingle with kings and carpenters this week, demonstrating yet again God’s..
More Stories from this Author
Waiting for Jesus
I am supposed to be waiting for Jesus. That’s what I tell people for four weeks every November and December. “Stand guard...
Meet Presbyterian Outlook Foundation board member: Millie Snyder
Millie is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was raised in the Moravian Church. She graduated from Davidson College with honors in psychology..
3rd Sunday of Advent — December 15, 2019
Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Advent 3A Total restoration envelops us this third Sunday of Advent. God hones and heightens each..
The last will be first
Shellie Warren finished the New York City Marathon at 11:14 p.m. — 12 hours, 6 minutes and 3 seconds after she started...
2nd Sunday of Advent — December 8, 2019
Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Advent 2A John the Baptist is on the scene, calling for repentance, and people are flocking..
You can help the Outlook on #GivingTuesday
Advent has arrived and congregational life is in full swing. Music programs, Christmas pageants, angel trees and special worship services occupy our..
First Sunday of Advent — December 1, 2019
Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Advent 1A Salvation is near. That’s the overwhelming word for this first week of Advent. God..
Give thanks: A prayer
Give thanks in all circumstances. Your admonition, God, is clear, our execution of it inconsistent. Ours is a culture overflowing with discontent...
Returning to Mister Rogers’ neighborhood
I’d seen the documentary on Mister Rogers. I cried unashamedly in parts and noted everyone else seemed to be sniffling, too. I..
Christ the King Sunday — November 24, 2019
Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Christ the King Sunday bridges Ordinary Time and Advent, inviting us to shift our attention..
The utter ridiculousness of worship
Sitting in the back of a presbytery worship service – watching two of my black-robed colleagues call us to confession and read..
Meet Outlook board member John Arwood
John Arwood is a lifelong Presbyterian, raised in Arkansas and ordained as an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina...
23rd Sunday after Pentecost — November 17, 2019
Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Ordinary 33C; Proper 28 God’s cosmic and total transformation hovers, lurks and looms this week...
Prayer for Veterans Day
Jill Duffield names the sacrifices made by military members and their families, asks for healing, peace and blessing.
22nd Sunday after Pentecost — November 10, 2019
Haggai 1:15b-2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38 Ordinary 32C; Proper 27 Our human focus fixates on matters perhaps inconsequential to God...
21st Sunday after Pentecost — November 3, 2019
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10 Ordinary 31C; Proper 26 Public. Obvious. Communal. These three adjectives describe Jesus’ encounter..
Navigating politics in our pews
I want to say that election season looms — but really, election season is off and running. Debates – on stages and..
Coffee and conversation with co-moderator Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri
Last week, I had the opportunity to catch up with co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. I spoke with her..
Meet the Presbyterian Outlook board: Ann Herlin
Ann Herlin is associate pastor at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Virginia, where she has served for 18 years. During..
20th Sunday after Pentecost — October 27, 2019
Joel 2:23-32; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Luke 18:9-14 Ordinary 30C; Proper 25 I come back to this parable of the praying Pharisee and..
Meet the treasurer of the Presbyterian Outlook board: Martha Nommay
Martha has served as the director of finance and operations at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis since 2006. She received her certified..
19th Sunday after Pentecost — October 20, 2019
Jeremiah 31:27-34; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8 Ordinary 29C; Proper 24 The days are surely coming when God’s people will know God’s..
18th Sunday after Pentecost — October 13, 2019
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19 Ordinary 28C; Proper 23 God traverses all manner of boundaries this week, debunking human..
The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities
Kate Bowler Princeton University Press, 368 pages Reviewed by Jill Duffield How do women in Christian traditions where official leadership roles are..