Ministry interrupted
Women get interrupted more frequently than men. Studies reveal this, but I didn’t need research to confirm this truth — my own..
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17th Sunday after Pentecost — October 6, 2019
Ordinary 27C; Proper 22 World Communion Sunday Lamentations 1:1-6; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10 We constantly want more. Yet, Jesus tells us..
Meet the secretary of the Presbyterian Outlook board: John Wurster
John is not only our board secretary, he also serves on the development committee and occasionally writes “Looking into the lectionary” reflections..
16th Sunday after Pentecost — September 29, 2019
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31 Ordinary 26C; Proper 21 Is there any hope for the rich person? In 1..
15th Sunday after Pentecost — September 22, 2019
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13 Ordinary 25C; Proper 20 God calls to account those who abuse their power and use..
We are better than this
I am sitting in a cozy café in Washington, D.C. Seated at the table beside me are two elementary school age children..
14th Sunday after Pentecost — September 15, 2019
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 Ordinary 24C; Proper 19 Oh Jeremiah, you are in touch with God’s anger like..
Meet the vice president of the Presbyterian Outlook board: Becca Gillespie Messman
Becca brings a myriad of talents to her service on the board. She is not only gifted with words, she is skilled..
13th Sunday after Pentecost — September 8, 2019
Jeremiah 18:1-11; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 Ordinary 23C; Proper 18 Can any of us, really, live up to Jesus’ expectations in the..
Prayer for the Bahamas
Lord of all creation, we lament the devastation in the Bahamas and grieve with those still in shock at the level of..
Back to school prayer
Lord, you delight in creating beauty, in calling forth new and good things, in forming unexpected relationships of love, in teaching us..
12 Sunday after Pentecost — September 1, 2019
Jeremiah 2:4-13; Hebrews13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14 Ordinary 22C Proper 17 DIY discipleship never turns out well. When left to our own..
Prayer for those in the path of Dorian
Lord who calms the storm, we pray for those anxiously watching weather forecasts, preparing for wind and rain, wondering if destruction will..
11th Sunday after Pentecost — August 25, 2019
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17 Ordinary 21C Proper 16 Bent double. For 18 years. Unable to stand up straight. Relegated to..
Bumper sticker theology
The bumper sticker on the car in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot read: “Heaven has walls, hell has open borders.” Google tells me..
10th Sunday after Pentecost – August 18, 2019
Isaiah 5:1-7; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:14-56; Ordinary 20C Proper 15 Hebrews feels like an outlier this week. By faith - the litany..
Meet the president of the Presbyterian Outlook board: Sharon Blount
Sharon’s leadership of the board is marked by wise, gentle persistence. Sharon retired as a senior manager in the Internal Revenue..
9th Sunday after Pentecost — August 11, 2019
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Ordinary 19C Proper 14 Cease to do evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice...
Payback time
“What do we do now?” That’s the refrain I hear after I speak or preach or teach about the long history and..
Prayer for El Paso
Enough, Lord God, enough. Rend our hearts and restore your goodness and mercy in our land. Through you, all things are possible,..
Big Tent considers transitions, truth and transformation
BALTIMORE – Day two of Big Tent culminated with a rousing call to action delivered with conviction and clarity by Amantha Barbee,..
Mystery and metamorphosis: Brown leads the Big Tent in Bible study on Romans 12:2
Mystery and metamorphosis: What does wonder have to do with transformation? William Brown, professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, invited..
8th Sunday after Pentecost — August 4, 2019
Hosea 11:1-11; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 Ordinary 18C Proper 13 To whom do we turn when seeking guidance? Justice? Wisdom? Reassurance or..
Staff spotlight: Jen Jones
Jen came on board as our art designer in 2017. While technically not part of the staff (she’s a contractor), Jen is..
6th Sunday after Pentecost — July 21, 2019
Amos 8:1-12; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Ordinary 16C; Proper 11 Two phrases stand out in this story of Mary and Martha: “many..