Looking Into the Lectionary — Worship resources for 3/27

March 27, 2022 Fourth Sunday of Lent Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 COMMENTARY Do you know where the “far country” is? I serve a city church. Almost every morning, I walk by the door just outside my office and someone is sleeping on the steps. On the cold mornings, if someone is there, I stop and I watch until I see movement to know that nobody died on our steps overnight. That’s the far country. “No one gave him anything.” The parable tells us the prodigal came to himself. Some preachers interpret that graciously: He recognized the error of his ways and resolved to improve his life. Others are more skeptical: He realized he was starving to death, so he decided to come up with a good speech to deliver to his father and head home. The grace of it all is that it doesn’t really matter if he recognized the error of his ways or simply desired a solid meal. His father takes off running for him and there is a new robe, a new ring, a big feast. That’s when the far country comes home. “I have worked for you, I have slaved, and you never threw me a party.” The older son has done everything right in his life. He stayed home and worked hard. The return of his younger brother from the far country and the joy of his father send him into an emotional crisis. Suddenly, readers of the story are back in the far country again … “no one gave him anything.” You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. Thanks to this week's guest writer, Rev. Dr. Baron Mullis. An order of worship for March 27, 2022. This liturgy is free to use. The Uniform Lesson for March 27, 2022, by Richard Boyce Love without judgment — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale 4th Sunday of Lent — Family faith formation for March 27, 2022, by Rebecca Davis IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Presbyterian College president surprises high school senior with a full-tuition scholarship Matt vandenBerg, president of Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, awards Sarah Grace Stanley a full-tuition scholarship during her home church service at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church. Global and local mission in the PC(USA) Presbyterian Mission Agency's Coordinator of Vital Congregations Carlton David Johnson shares a Matthew 25 lens for mission. Tech watch: Canva Rose Schrott Taylor shares a tech tip.  Where have all the sunflowers gone? Andrew Taylor-Troutman laments with the people of Ukraine and finds hope in their extraordinary courage. Presbyterians discuss aftershocks to Stated Clerk’s Israel comments, possibilities for 2024 General Assembly Leslie Scanlon reports on the March 17 meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA). A retelling of Psalm 13: How long? Rebecca Gresham-Kesner writes Psalm 13 in her own words. The four “R’s” of partnership: What we can learn from our community partners Alonzo Johnson, coordinator for the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Program (SDOP) of the PC(USA), shares his thoughts on mission.

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