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Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 26—September 26, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 | Psalm 124 | James 5:13–20 | Mark 9:38–50
Summary: In our Gospel, the disciples are worried because someone else is casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus replies that whoever is not against us is for us. This reinforces the opportunities open to us as ministers of Christ. We need to be washed of our assumptions and to cut loose the bonds that keep us from doing ministry.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 25—September 19, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Proverbs 31:10-31 | Psalm 1 | James 3:13—4:3; 4:7–8a | Mark 9:30–37
Summary: In our Gospel, the disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest, and Jesus puts a child before them and tells them that whoever welcomes a child welcomes God. In our world, many seek wealth and fame, but true greatness happens more on the interior than the exterior. Our greatness comes not from wealth or ambition or fame. It comes from accepting ourselves as beloved of God and followers of Jesus.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 24—September 12, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Proverbs 1:20-33 | Psalm 19 | James 3:1–12 | Mark 8:27–38
Summary: In our Gospel, after feeding and healing the crowds, Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is and then the more important question: who they say he is. Then he calls on them to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow. The cross we are called to take up is the cross that Jesus has already carried. We are called to put aside that which divides us; deny our fear, envy, and despair; and let go of the chains that bind us. The question for us is who God says we are. The Messiah has come into the world, knows us deeply, and calls us beloved.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 23—September 5, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 | Psalm 125 | James 2:1–17 | Mark 7:24–37
Summary: In our Gospel, we see holiness made whole in the persistence of the Syrophoenician woman. Her daughter is healed, and so is Jesus. In our modern world, we stand in need of healing as people are determined to cling to our personal rights. The woman opened Jesus’ eyes to see his mission for the healing of the whole world. Jesus heals us and opens our eyes to see that God’s love abides for everyone and all of creation.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 22—August 29, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Song of Solomon 2:8–13 | Psalm 45:1–2, 6–9 | James 1:17–27 | Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23
Summary: One of the most accurate criticisms of the modern church is hypocrisy; we do not live up to what we preach. The risk of sharing the sacred vision is that we will fall short, but our silence can imply complicity. We are called to speak with integrity and humility the sacred vision that God calls us to greater wholeness.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 21—August 22, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10–11), 22–30, 41–43 | Psalm 84 | Ephesians 6:10–20 | John 6:56–69
Summary: In our Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, and many are offended. This is a hard saying, but even harder is Jesus’ unambiguous call to sell everything or leave everything behind and follow him. In the world around us we see people in mortal danger and are tempted to walk away. As followers of Jesus we are bound up with the work or God in the world. We are called to respond to the hardest saying of Jesus: love one another.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 20—August 15, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: 1 Kings 2:10–12; 3:3–14 | Psalm 111 | Ephesians 5:15–20 | John 6:51–58
Summary: This week I have been wondering whether our creeds matter in a world on fire and ravaged by disease. But the creeds are part of the rhythm of our faith and might remind us of the larger rhythms that shape our lives, including the rhythm of creation. In our Gospel, John talks about eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ. This can be both confusing and disgusting, but I see the value of Jesus enfleshed, of the realization that in Christ, flesh and blood becomes holy. Scholars tell us that Revelation was written in response to the ecological devastation of the Roman Empire to show that salvation comes through the gentle lamb and not a powerful, destructive emperor. Christ is flesh and blood and ‘āina; Christ is the broken earth, our broken bodies, and is being crucified with the earth in ecological devastation. Yet, the broken flesh is risen from the tomb; God is not finished with us yet. The leaves of the trees will be for the healing of the nations.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 19—August 8, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: 2 Samuel 18:5–9, 15, 31–33 | Psalm 130 | Ephesians 4:25—5:2 | John 6:35, 41–51
Summary: In our Gospel, after feeding the five thousand, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” and immediately there are complaints about this claim. They could not picture Jesus as the bread of life, only the provider of bread. We too long for the fleeting bread of the world and fail to see Jesus as the bread of life that sustains our faith. May Jesus be among us each day as we share the gifts of grace and become the bread of life for the world.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 18—August 1, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: 2 Samuel 11:26—12:13a | Psalm 51:1–12 | Ephesians 4:1–16 | John 6:24–35
Summary: Our first reading tells of the destructive effects of human insatiability. The inclination to dissatisfaction surrounds us and eats away at our spirits. For Christians, the bread of life provides what we need and brings satisfaction. Our value does not come from ourselves. We belong to God, we are fed by the bread of life, and that is enough.