Ode to the vulture

Andrew Taylor-Troutman invites readers to transcend an ominous image.

A Different Kind of Fast: Feeding Our True Hungers in Lent

"While the reﬂection questions and content could be tailored to suit a small group, this is a particularly rich choice for individual reading for Lent this year," writes Amy Pagliarella.

Christian Ed for Children

Wow and Thanks, God! — Weekly Christian ed lesson

In this lesson, children will explore Psalm 111 and use it as a springboard and guide for recognizing God’s work in the world and the call to express thanks for all that God does.

Looking into the lectionary

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany — January 28, 2024

The church exists because of Jesus Christ. All things exist because of Jesus Christ. It’s amazing, astounding and true, writes John Wurster.

Outlook Standard Lessons

The gifts we bring (January 28, 2024)

We are not our own; we belong to Christ. We are gifted by the Spirit so that we may be the church in the world, writes Tara Bulger.

Hymns

Jesus of Nazareth Went to Capernaum

A free hymn with sheet music based on Mark 1:21-28 by Scott Barton.

Weekly Liturgy

Order of worship — January 28, 2024

You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation.

News from other sources

Chalice receives $1.25 million Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative Grant from Lilly Endowment

Family Faith Every Day, a new initiative by Chalice Media Group that will help parents and caregivers of young children incorporate faith practices into everyday family life, has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Outlook Reporting

Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery pays $718,000 debt in act toward reparative justice

The “mountain of debt” was incurred by a Black church during presbytery-directed building transfer in the early 2000s.

Voices

Searching for Epiphany on holy and hellish nights

R. Shea Watts reflects on modern iconographer Kelly Latimore’s “Christ in the Rubble” image. In Epiphany, where do we find God’s revelation in a world full of violence?

Presbyterian News Service

Historic African American PC(USA) church to host Matthew 25 Summit

‘I hope that the church at large will experience New Life’s passion for community justice,’ church team leader says.

Outlook Features

Small is beautiful: Readers write

We asked you to write about small, beautiful moments in 250 words or less. Here are some of our favorite submissions.

Faithful conversations

Black Presbyterian leadership and churches

The whole church is in decline, but more than 80% of Black Presbyterian churches are without installed pastors. Warren Lesane Jr., Shavon Starling-Louis, Stephen Scott and Teri McDowell Ott discuss vital Black leadership.

Outlook Horizons Studies

Horizons — The crippled beggar’s encounter

Rosalind Banbury's sixth reflection on the 2023-2024 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study.

Voices

The future of the PC(USA) is being reformed by God

And it is as limitless as the holy imagination that we vow to practice when we are ordained, writes Allison Unroe.

Book Reviews

Hope is Here! Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community

Luther E. Smith Jr. proclaims that Hope is Here! as he invites us to practice and pursue justice in our churches and communities.

Religion News Service

Christians Against Christian Nationalism translates TikTok activism to local politics

The popular TikTok account is, in part, a response to the growth of ‘trendy’ fundamentalism on the platform.

Voices

On doppelgängers, bronze snakes and repentance

If American Christians considered our complicity in the genocides of Jewish and Palestinian people, what would we realize about ourselves? SueAnn Shiah reflects.

Outlook Reporting

Doing more with less: Smaller PC(USA) congregations face new leadership realities

What are small churches to do? Gregg Brekke explores the challenges facing shrinking congregations and how some pastors and presbyteries are addressing the issue.