Looking into the lectionary - What should the church say?

Acts 7:55-60; John 14:1-4 Fifth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2026 “While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died” (Acts 7:59–60). Christians herald Stephen as the “first martyr,” stoned, according to Luke (the author of Acts), by a Jewish mob after proclaiming the good news of Jesus to them. Stephen models the peaceful endurance that later becomes characteristic of Christian martyrdom tales. He kneels and prays to Jesus in the midst of murderous violence aimed at him. His prayer for forgiveness for those persecuting him in 7:60 intentionally echoes Luke’s portrayal of Jesus dying on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Acts’ portrayal of Stephen epitomizes the ideal of Christian forgiveness: radically praying for those who persecute them (see also Matthew 5:44). Stephen’s death sets the stage for future Christians to piously claim benevolence in the face of what they call unjust suffering. Told this way, the story sounds nice. The problem is that the story is false. Acts scholars generally acknowledge that this book is a work of fiction. Furman University professor of religion Shelly A. Matthews calls Stephen the “perfect martyr” for Luke’s theo-political agenda, which shifts the blame for Jesus’s death off Rome and onto Jewish people. In his Gospel, Luke cannot deny Rome’s culpability for Jesus’s crucifixion, a historical fact that was well-established for his audience. The figure of Stephen, an apostle without a reputation, provides Luke the ideal canvas to present Jesus’s followers as compassionately self-controlled in the face of a violent Jewish mob enacting an extrajudicial killing. Luke misrepresents Jewish culpability. He creates both Stephen’s reputation as a forgiving martyr and a reputation of Judaism as intolerantly violent. Luke’s rhetorical fiction contributes to centuries of Christian anti-Judaism that persists today.... Thank you to this week's writer, Jimmy Hoke. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for April 26, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — May 3, 2026 by Jimmy Hoke   Dismissed mission co-workers, denominational officials draft new theology of mission by Eric Ledermann Polyamory, church policy and the limits of regulation by April Stace The church cannot be silent — but what should it say? by Harriet Riley

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Gracious exclusion: Courage to name the no in our yes Can saying “no” be an act of Christian love? Becca Messman explores how boundaries help churches practice deeper, more meaningful inclusion. Unification Commission, A Corp Board unanimously recommend balanced unified budgets for 2027 and 2028 The budget proposals, which await approval by the 227th General Assembly, are for $90.5 million in 2027 and $97.9 million in 2028. — Presbyterian News Service Rebecca Sue: A Sister’s Reflections on Disability, Faith, and Love In "Rebecca Sue," Kathleen Norris honors her sister’s childlike faith and enduring humanity, offering a moving meditation on disability, family and God’s steadfast care. Review by Amy Pagliarella. How grief led me back to church After losing three close family members, one man finds his faith and a calling to pastoral ministry. Alan Olson reflects on how loss can open the door to renewal. Ovid Benjamin “Ben” Sparks III, longtime pastor and advocate for those on the margins, dies at 87 A pastor, preacher and former Outlook board member, Sparks helped shape church and civic life in Richmond through a lifelong commitment to justice and unity. PC(USA) survey explores why some donors have paused or halted their giving to the national church The most common response was givers are focusing on their local church. — Mike Ferguson A strategic plan for the work of the Administrative Services Group A Corporation Board gets an initial look at the top areas for concentrated efforts throughout 2026. — Mike Ferguson Princeton Theological Seminary to honor three retiring faculty members through ‘The Work That Endures’ event April 24 The public is invited to farewell lectures from Theology Department Professors Dirk Smit, George Hunsinger and Mark Lewis Taylor. — PTS

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Revised Common Lectionary Readings for April 19, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 19, 2026

First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41 14aBut Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, 36“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. Psalm Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 1   I love the LORD, because he has heard           my voice and my supplications. 2   Because he inclined his ear to me,           therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3   The snares of death encompassed me;           the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;           I suffered distress and anguish. 4   Then I called on the name of the LORD:           “O LORD, I pray, save my life!” 12  What shall I return to the LORD           for all his bounty to me? 13  I will lift up the cup of salvation           and call on the name of the LORD, 14   I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people. 15   Precious in the sight of the LORD           is the death of his faithful ones. 16  O LORD, I am your servant;           I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.           You have loosed my bonds. 17  I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice           and call on the name of the LORD. 18  I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people, 19  in the courts of the house of the LORD,           in your midst, O Jerusalem.      Praise the LORD! Second Reading 1 Peter 1:17-23 17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. Gospel Luke 24:13-35 13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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

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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