Looking into the lectionary - Addressing sexual misconduct in the church

Romans 6:12-23 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8) June 28, 2026 Our Scripture lesson from Romans includes some of Paul's most definitive statements about sin and our enslavement to it. The language of enslavement is startling to modern ears, but in Paul's view, creatures are always subject to some lordship — if not Christ's lordship, then other unworthy lordships. Thus, Bob Dylan seems to channel Paul when he contends in a classic song: “You’re gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” Some might question both Paul and Dylan on this point, since modern people are heirs to a quintessential American belief that we are fundamentally free and that sin is no more than a temporary setback — certainly not enslavement. Yet in Paul's view, life is shaped by two encumbrances: one leading to death and the other to life.   In Romans 6:18, Paul argues that the Romans are “freed,” but that this freedom is not unencumbered. As Pauline scholar Beverly Gaventa puts it in her New Testament Library commentary on Romans, “the human is always enslaved and at the same time always free: the question is not whether one is free or enslaved, but to whom or what one is enslaved and from whom or what one is freed.” To get at this question, it is important to attend closely to the verses that immediately precede the lectionary text in Romans 6:1-11, where Paul speaks of baptism in cruciform terms as immersion into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This cruciform pattern of dying and rising in union with Christ exposes and resists death-tending realities that enslave us while empowering new life. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Roger Gench. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for June 21, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — June 28, 2026 by Roger Gench   Louisville Seminary summit affirms Black, rural congregations by Dartinia Hull GA overture recommends studies on sexuality and gender, relationships, and family by Gregg Brekke Committee addresses sexual misconduct within the church by Harriet Riley

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Overture asks PC(USA) to address historic harms in Liberia As PC(USA) considers Liberia Project 180, church leaders say the work of apology and repair begins with “cleaning our own house” and telling the truth about the denomination’s role in Liberia’s colonization. — Patrice Gaines Constitutional Interpretation Committee to discern some weighty matters during the 227th General Assembly Among them are requiring ministers to be monogamous and prohibiting the use of non-disclosure covenants in employee relations. — Mike Ferguson Faith communities can have an important role easing the nation’s housing crisis The Rev. Mark Elsdon is among those to address Thursday’s Faith-Based Development Summit in Louisville. — Mike Ferguson The Christian Past That Wasn’t Paul B. Dornan finds Warren Throckmorton’s meticulous history a compelling challenge to Christian nationalist myths and a timely defense of church-state separation. Vigil Critics called "Vigil" comforting. Andrew Taylor-Troutman found something far more unsettling: a novel that probes guilt, grace and the limits of repentance. Presbyterian Outlook honors the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins with the E.T. Thompson Award Hawkins is Director of Advocacy and Witness for Presbyterian Life & Witness.— Layton Williams Berkes Join us on Wednesday!

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Revised Common Lectionary Readings for June 14, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, June 14, 2026

First Reading Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7 1The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.2He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground.3He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant.4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.5Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes."7Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent."10Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?"13The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son."15But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh." 1The LORD dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised.2Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.3Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him.4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.6Now Sarah said, "God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me."7And she said, "Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." Psalm Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. 2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 12What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? 13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. 16O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds. 17I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD. 18I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! Second Reading Romans 5:1-8 1Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Gospel Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23) 35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 10:1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.12As you enter the house, greet it.13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues;18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time;20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

WCC NEWS: Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine: “Light always triumphs over darkness”

A Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine on 11 June drew together online local churches on the ground in Ukraine, leadership from the World Council of Churches (WCC), and people of good will from across the world who united online in spirit across great distances. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 11 June 2026 In welcoming remarks, Bishop Sándor Zán Fábián, bishop of the Trans-Carpathian Reformed Church and chairman of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, expressed appreciation from a land where the pain of war has become a daily reality. "I hope this prayer strengthens each of us in our understanding that in Christ we are one, and that light always triumphs over darkness,” he said. “May God bless you and grant peace to Ukraine and the whole world!" Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, noted that, as scripture tells us with Apostle Paul, if one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it.  “We are saddened by what we see and the fact that it continues, and never comes to an end with the loss of so many lives,” said Pillay. "Though separated by distance, we are united in spirit." Prayers of lamentation, hope, and peace were drawn from many faith traditions in Ukraine and from across the world. Those gathered uttered the Lord’s Prayer together in their many languages, and joined in singing live with a local congregation in Ukraine.  Pastor Heider János from the Transcarpathian Reformed Church offered a reflection entitled “Source to Sustain our Lives.” He described how, every day in Ukraine, people easily lose their equilibrium. “Where can we get our strength not just to survive but to stay human, stay with love and peace, and be able to support our neighbor?” he asked.  He drew an analogy to the North American forests of Giant Sequoias. “One would think that those giants have roots reaching miles down,” he said. “But researchers discovered that wasn’t the case at all.” The secret of the strength of the great trees its that every sequoia holds the roots of its  neighbor. “They share the nutrition coming from the soil,” he said. “They survive because they are in fact united into one entity in the invisible depth.” Thus, in a oneness with Christ, those gathered for the prayer also are able to support their brother and sisters, said János. “Let us stick together in faith and love and hope,” he said. The Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine was prepared and organized in cooperation with the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which represents more than 90% of all religious organizations and communities in Ukraine. The recording will be available soon on the WCC YouTube channel. WCC encourages global fellowship to pray for peace in Ukraine (WCC news release, 8 June 2026) More about the Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine The Global Prayer for Peace in Ukraine Prayer Resource See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, June 15 and Sunday, June 21, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, June 15, 2026 - That people find satisfaction is their work. 
• Tuesday, June 16, 2026 - That people are sensitive to the vulnerability of their neighbors.
• Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - That loving families would be valued and protected by all authorities in this nation.
• Thursday, June 18, 2026 - That people reflect the love and mercy of God in their daily lives.
• Friday, June 19, 2026 - That the Body of Christ claims a renewed sense of unity.
• Saturday, June 20, 2026 - That we celebrate the gifts and talents that God has given us.
• Sunday, June 21, 2026 - That people take seriously God's call to be good stewards of creation.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, June 7, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: On July 4, we'll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country. And even though we haven’t been perfect, we’ve served as an example of fr...

Sunday's Message (Freedom in Christ: Freedom That’s Enlightened)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message (Freedom in Christ: Freedom That’...: On July 4, we'll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country. And even though we haven’t been perfect, we’ve served as an example of fr...

World Evangelical Alliance - Middle East Relief

“At 3 in the morning, we evacuated with nothing but what we could carry.” These are the words of a family from Resurrection Church in South Lebanon — one of many whose lives have been repeatedly shaken by conflict. Over the past five years, this church has grown from 30 families to nearly 300, bringing together Lebanese, Palestinians, Arabs, and Kurdish believers. Today, many are facing unimaginable hardship. Missiles passed overhead. Explosions shook their neighbourhoods. Children cried in fear as nearby buildings were struck. One church family lost their newborn baby in an airstrike. Another young believer, unable to leave her father behind, quietly asked: “Please pray that I wouldn’t feel anything.” These are not distant headlines. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet even now, the Church is responding. Leaders are helping families evacuate, opening homes to shelter the displaced, and providing food, medicine, prayer, and care through local churches. At least 60 families remain trapped in southern Lebanon. Many have little or no income. The needs are urgent. Together, we can stand with them. Give Now Your gift today will help provide: Emergency shelter for displaced families Food and essential supplies Medical support and trauma care Ongoing ministry through local churches Prayerful support for vulnerable believers and the next generation WEA’s Middle East Relief efforts are carried out through trusted local partners, including the Middle East and North Africa Evangelical Alliance and local churches already serving affected communities. Please join us in prayerful action for families across Lebanon and the wider region. Support the Reponse Learn more and give here: www.worldea.org/middle-east-relief-campaign/ Even in suffering, we hold onto hope. Because Christ is present through His Church — every nation, every generation. Grace and peace, World Evangelical Alliance In partnership with MENA Evangelical Alliance and local churches. The World Evangelical Alliance retains discretion over how donations are allocated to ensure they are used where they can have the greatest impact. Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 600 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 143 national Evangelical Alliances in 9 regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy, relief, and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments, and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church. For more information, visit worldea.org WEA has been a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1980. WEA is audited annually by an independent public accounting firm. WEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the United States, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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