Looking into the lectionary - An update from General Assembly

Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost July 12, 2026 In professional wrestling, matches are typically fought between a “heel” and a “face.” A “heel” is the bad guy, the villain of the match, who may or may not be defeated by the good guy, the innocent “babyface” (or “face,” for short). The black-and-white morality play is an essential part of this sport/performance; yet there is also significant fluidity to the roles for specific wrestlers. For instance, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, arguably the most famous professional wrestler alive, has been both a face and a heel at various times over his nearly three-decade wrestling career. “Do you smell what the Rock is cooking” – his famous catchphrase – was debuted during his first heel phrase in 1998. He continued to use it when he turned face in 1999 — and when he turned heel again in 2004. The story of God’s chosen family is a lot like the world of professional wrestling: there are a lot of characters, who seem constantly to turn face to heel or heel to face. Abraham, the “father of the faith,” repeatedly cuts shady deals to pimp out his beautiful wife Sarah. Isaac and Rebekah pray together for her barrenness to be overcome – and it is! – only to have Rebekah cry out in complaint that God has “blessed her” with a painful pregnancy. Then there are the two main characters of this Sunday’s text: Esau and Jacob. Esau is born feral and strong, and Jacob is, well, a heel-grabber. It seems pretty clear who ought to be the face and the heel; yet the prophetic word of God calls for a role reversal! It is Jacob who comes out on top in the end, according to God’s promised plan (turns out the fight was fixed all along). Yet it seems to me that Jacob, though the victor, remains the heel in this story. What are we to make of the fact that God chooses the heel to win? .... Thank you to this week's writer, Aaron Pratt Shepherd. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for July 5, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — July 12, 2026 by Aaron Pratt Shepherd GA227 clears 64 items by consent, confirms four entity leaders on opening night in Milwaukee by Eric Ledermann   Town Square brings exhibits and connections back to General Assembly by Greg Allen-Pickett Spread of White Christian nationalism scuttles idea for Presbyterian celebration of July Fourth by John Bolt Beyond thoughts and prayers: A walk against gun violence by Caroline Garcia Theologians and religious leaders say the Reformed tradition speaks against transactional concepts of covenant by multiple authors A look into the Presbyterian churches of Milwaukee by Outlook staff   Documents contradict PL&W testimony on covenant given to terminated mission co-workers by Eric Ledermann

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Coalition celebrates PC(USA)’s approval of fossil fuel divestment overture Press release: Supporters of CLJ-02 call the General Assembly's approval of a plan to divest most fossil fuel investments by 2030 a historic milestone after 12 years of advocacy. Krysten Carter Holloway confirmed as President and CEO of the Board of Pensions Press release: The 227th General Assembly confirmed Krysten Carter Holloway as president and CEO of the Board of Pensions, making her its first African American woman and first person of color in the role. PC(USA) agency urged to quickly fill immigration attorney vacancy The “matter requires immediate institutional attention,” writes the General Assembly Operations Committee. — John Bolt Committee approves call for U.S. embargo and sanctions on Cuba to be lifted Commissioners voted to express solidarity with the PC(USA)'s long-time Cuban partner church and urged U.S. advocacy staff to push for diplomatic relief. — Eric Ledermann Committee approves naming Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide, calls for arms embargo After nearly four hours of discussion, commissioners approved a measure that PC(USA) staff said would free them to advocate ‘in a much stronger way.’ — Eric Ledermann

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World Evangelical Alliance - Lifting Up Venezuela

In solidarity with Venezuela. On June 26 2026, twin major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela causing devastating damage. Communities have been severely disrupted with many deaths reported and more missing. The president of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela, Pastor César Mermejo traveled today to the area of greatest destruction to assess the situation on the ground, connect with the pastors on the ground and to plan a coordinated response. Below are some of the photos he just sent. As part of our global family, the World Evangelical Alliance and Alianza Evangélica Latina stands in solidarity with Evangelical Council of Venezuela and lend our support as they organise themselves to provide relief. We invite the global Church to stand together in prayer and generosity. Give Now Please pray for: Families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. The safety and strength of rescue workers, volunteers, and local church leaders. The churches responding tirelessly to meet urgent needs. God's comfort, healing, and hope to reach every affected community. If possible, please donate to help the church be salt and light in this precious hour. Your gift will go a long way to support the alliance as they provide practical assistance to those who are suffering. You can donate at the link below—simply select OTHER and note “Venezuela.” https://worldea.org/donate/ Support the Reponse Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing hope where it is needed most. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2 Grace and peace, World Evangelical Alliance 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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Revised Common Lectionary Readings for June 28, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, June 28, 2026

First Reading Genesis 22:1-14 1After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. 9When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called that place “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” Psalm Psalm 13:1-6 1    How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?           How long will you hide your face from me? 2   How long must I bear pain in my soul,           and have sorrow in my heart all day long?      How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3   Consider and answer me, O LORD my God!           Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4   and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;           my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. 5   But I trusted in your steadfast love;           my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6   I will sing to the LORD,           because he has dealt bountifully with me. Second Reading Romans 6:12-23 12Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. 20When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Gospel Matthew 10:40-42 40“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

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