Looking into the Lectionary - Welcoming neurodiversity in worship

Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 Fourth Sunday of Easter April 26, 2026 This Sunday offers preachers a rare opportunity to put texts that are often cherry-picked or selectively used into their full context: 1 Peter 2:24: “By his wounds, you have been healed…” John 10:10: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly…” Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…” I’ve preached Psalm 23 dozens of times, almost always at funerals. What most people hear in that context are its opening and closing reassurances in the face of grief and death. On “Good Shepherd Sunday,” however, the preacher may be delighted by the opportunity to direct the congregation’s attention to richer, deeper meanings of Psalm 23 as a whole. One such overarching theme is God’s abundance and providence. For a tangible example of the metaphors of green pastures and still waters, look no further than the testimony of Acts 2 about the life of the early Christian community. The idyllic imagery of the earliest Christians sharing their material possessions with “glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46) and living out the angelic promise of “good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10) is a lovely portrait that nicely complements the familiar, comforting landscape in Psalm 23. This theme carries into the Gospel reading as well. In John 10:9-10, Jesus says, “Whoever enters by me … will find pasture,” and “have life abundantly.” Many commentators note that zoē, the Greek word for “life” used here, carries a more “spiritual” or “theological” meaning than bios, the other Greek word for life used in the New Testament. When we read Psalm 23 alongside Acts 2 and John 10, we can see how the resurrected life we celebrated at Easter can (and indeed must!) spring forth in the midst of our everyday living. ... 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 April 19, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — April 26, 2026 by Aaron Pratt Shepherd General Assembly 227 to consider several health-related topics by Gregg Brekke Welcoming neurodiversity in worship by Jen Bluestein   A cosmic case for empathy by Brendan McLean

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Faith has always gone to space. Artemis II shows how much it has changed. Both Apollo 8 and Artemis II missions included public references to religion, but astronauts aboard the Artemis’ Orion spacecraft struck a broader, more global tone. — Religion News Service Joyful, Anyway Joy isn’t the absence of pain — it’s what we carry through it. In "Joyful, Anyway," Kate Bowler offers hope without easy answers. Amy Pagliarella provides a review. Time and World Why does modern life feel increasingly rushed and disconnected? Philip J. Reed reviews Hartmut Rosa’s "Time and World." New campus ministry fellowship available for University of Dubuque and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary Students A new fellowship program will provide graduate students the unique opportunity to work in collegiate ministry while obtaining a master’s degree. — UDTS Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit In a shifting and uncertain world, strong leadership begins with vulnerability, compassion and connection, writes Miriam Nelson in her review of Brené Brown’s "Strong Ground." Union Presbyterian Seminary honors professors Frances Taylor Gench and John T. Carroll as they retire The seminary will celebrate the careers of retiring professors Frances Taylor Gench and Professor John T. Carroll. — Union Presbyterian Seminary  When “fit” fails: Rethinking discernment in pastoral searches When pastoral calls falter, “fit” is often blamed. But the deeper issue is clarity. What if “fit” could be defined, tested and faithfully discerned before a call is extended, asks Gary Noonan? Ready-to-go lessons on relevant topics like: empathy, friendship and self-worth. Learn more!

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Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, April 20 and Sunday, April 26, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, April 20, 2026 - That we put aside our self-interest for the sake of our neighbors.
• Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - That our church leaders have the strength and faith to stand up for the truth.
• Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - That our community, state and national leaders would be presented with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness.
• Thursday, April 23, 2026 - That we listen to those who have experiences different from our own.
• Friday, April 24, 2026 - That our judges would adjudicate with godly wisdom.
• Saturday, April 25, 2026 - That college students feel God's love and support
• Sunday, April 26, 2026 - That teachers and administrators would be open to God's Word and God's will.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, April 5, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: During the worship services of Holy Week,  we’re focusing  on  The Paradox of the Passion: Exploring Holy Week in the Gospel of Matthew . No...

Sunday's Message - The Paradox of the Passion (The Paradox of the Resurrection)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - The Paradox of the Passion (The...: During the worship services of Holy Week,  we’re focusing on  The Paradox of the Passion: Exploring Holy Week in the Gospel of Matthew . Now...

WCC News: The Feast of Creation: an Eastern Orthodox gift to the whole church

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" The words of the Prophet Isaiah, cited throughout the gathering, found fresh meaning on 18–19 March, when more than 600 church leaders came together online, according to event organisers, to explore the Feast of Creation, a liturgical observance rooted in Eastern Orthodox tradition that is now taking hold across confessional boundaries worldwide.  Webinar – Feast of Creation: New Liturgical Feast, Gift for the Third Millennium 02 April 2026 World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator, Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, speaking in his capacity as chair of the Feast of Creation committee, placed the moment in its broader context: "The ecumenical process towards a common liturgical Feast of Creation started with a powerful conference in Assisi in March 2024," he said, adding that its success "might become a landmark in the history of Christianity." Convened by WCC, Middle East Council of Churches, and churches and communions spanning the global Christian family, the event, titled "The Feast of Creation: A New Liturgical Feast, a Gift for the Third Millennium,” drew on a decade of steady ecumenical groundwork. "The strong backing by so many church families can be seen as an encouraging sign that the ecumenical miracle of joint ecumenical action for establishing this feast in the church calendar globally could become a reality," Bedford-Strohm added, reflecting his personal reading of the process. Celebrated on 1 September, or the following Sunday, the Feast of Creation already sits in the liturgical calendars of many churches. Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant for Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice, traced its Eastern Orthodox origins for those attending, drawing on the 10th-century Menologion of Basil II, the oldest Byzantine liturgical calendar. "September 1st represents 'the day of Creation,’ God's act of the creation of the universe," he explained. In 1989, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios widened its scope by inviting "the entire Christian world to offer every year on this day prayers and supplications to the Maker of all." Creation Day has since gained steady momentum alongside the extended Season of Creation, both among grassroots communities and church leadership worldwide. Rev. Dr Antoine Al Ahmar, director of the Theological Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and a theologian of the Maronite Catholic Church, presented a new theological report drawing on three academic conferences held in Assisi since 2024. "Creation is a multifaceted mystery," he said. "Therefore, the Feast of Creation is a multifaceted feast." He outlined four dimensions celebrated on the holy day: God's act of creation, creation as a Christological mystery, creation as a Trinitarian mystery, and creation as a sacramental and covenanted gift. Rev. Dr Cheryl Lindsay of the Consultation on Common Texts and Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross of the World Methodist Council walked participants through a growing set of resources, chief among them the addition of the Feast to the Revised Common Lectionary in April 2026, with new biblical readings available to congregations ahead of this year's celebrations. Prayers from Frances Namoumou of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Karen Westerfield Tucker of the World Methodist Council closed the gathering, drawing attention back to what the feast ultimately asks of its observers: a living commitment to the care of creation. As one tradition's gift becomes the whole church's celebration, that commitment grows a little more visible. The full recording is available on the WCC website. Learn more about the Season of Creation here Watch the Feast of Creation webinar in various language here Feast of Creation webinar unites churches across time zones on 18–19 March (News Release, 18 March 2026) Christian leaders unite in Assisi to establish historic Feast of Creation (News Release, 06 May 2025) 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

Good Friday

Good Friday is the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion. The hours of noon to 3 p.m. are particularly significant as these commemorate the time Jesus hung on the cross. It is an especially important time to pray for the church and the world for whom Christ gave his life.

Good Friday morning in Jerusalem, May 2022. Walking the Via Dolorosa. Photo Credit: Maddi Froiland, ELCJHL.

Passion and Paradox: An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship 

(Geneva Press, 2003, 113-116, 131-132)

The Good Friday service is a penitential service, yet it is also a celebration of the good news of the cross. So, retain the paradox of the day in the form, mood, and texts of the service. Good Friday is a day in which to allow for numerous contemplative moments, and to permit the power of silence to speak for itself.

The passion narrative according to John is read on Good Friday, because at the heart of John’s passion narrative is the good news of the cross — the victory of the cross. Thus, John’s emphasis on crucifixion and glory corresponds to the tension and ambiguity of the day. 

The Good Friday service is intentionally in concert with the broad ecumenical tradition, and representative of many ecumenical aspects. It, therefore, reflects a commonality with many strands of Christian tradition. 

The proclamation of the readings for the day may replace the sermon, or a brief sermon may precede, interweave, or succeed the readings for the day. Those who plan the liturgy may consider letting the gospel speak through the power of silence, or through an appropriate liturgical dance or offering of music, which may help deepen reflection on the cross for all worshipers.

A fitting response to the hearing of the passion of Christ is intercession in the form of bidding prayers for the whole family of God and the afflictions of the world [the Solemn Intercession]. This is an important element of the Good Friday tradition. Such bidding prayers are signs of our joining in Christ’s priestly ministry of fully extending his arms in order to embrace all God’s people (that is, his posture on the cross).

The Solemn Reproaches [of the Cross] are an ancient text of Western Christendom associated with Good Friday. They need to bread slowly and clearly. The Solemn Reproaches take the place of confession in this service, so no Confession of Sin and Declaration of Forgiveness are included in the service. 

The Service for Good Friday draws people into the story of the passion of Christ. It is composed of contrasting actions and moods of the solemn reading of the passion of Christ and, yet, a hopeful look toward the resurrection. … [I]t is most dramatic and meaningful when all depart in silence. The service continues with the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday, or an Easter Day service.

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, April 6 and Sunday, April 12, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Sunday, April 5, 2026 - That we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by renewing our commitment to life.
• Monday, April 6, 2026 - That God protects all civilians impacted by the conflict in Gaza.
• Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - That we remember those who died in service to their country.
• Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - That we remember the dedication shown by our teachers. 
• Thursday, April 9, 2026 - That we live our daily lives with both faith and focus.
• Friday, April 10, 2026 - That our leaders have the courage and wisdom to confront the racial divisions within our country.
• Saturday, April 11, 2026 - That we renew our commitment to life.
• Sunday, April 12, 2026 - That our leaders would be honest, humble and God-fearing men and women who recognize that they are accountable to God for each decision and action.