Looking into the lectionary - Some prayers for your week

September 15, 2024 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost  Mark 8:27-38 Today’s gospel reading can be compared to the midpoint of a movie. It’s a major turning point that raises the stakes and moves the story in a new direction. Consider the heartbreak you felt when Andy left behind Woody and Buzz at Pizza Planet in “Toy Story.” How sweaty did your palms get when J. Robert Oppenheimer realized his bomb’s devasting potential in “Oppenheimer”? These moments clarify the film’s central conflict, setting up the climax. Many believe Mark 8:27-38 heralds a similarly crucial moment in the Gospel. It signifies a shift in Jesus’ journey, moving the focus from his teachings, healings and preaching to his impending crucifixion in Jerusalem. Like all good midpoint moments, it illuminates the tension building. The passage opens with a discussion on Jesus’ identity. In Caesarea Philippi, a seat of Rome’s imperial power, Peter proclaims Jesus as the Messiah or Christ. This declaration mirrors the language of the empire, which claimed gods selected emperors. Yet, it also challenges this notion. While the empire governs with authority over the people, the rule of God embodied in Jesus originates from and is shared with the people. In the next scene, Jesus reveals his impending suffering. Until now, Jesus has been known for his empathy and commitment to bringing wholeness to individuals and the entire community. Unsurprisingly, Peter had a strong reaction when he heard Jesus discussing his forthcoming suffering. He had just acknowledged Jesus’ liberating deeds as evidence of God’s power and compassion by proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. Now, he struggles with the idea of Jesus facing vulnerability and death. Yet, the suffering Jesus speaks of is not a means to an end but rather a consequence of paying attention to the pain experienced by those living under oppressive systems and working to eradicate and dismantle them. Peter’s understanding of power and suffering is centered on dominance and command while Jesus demonstrates his power through service and suffering with others. This transformational perspective on power and suffering has a similar implication for Jesus’ followers.  ... Thanks to this week's writer Rev. Dr. Adam Ryan Quine. Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for September 15, 2024, by Adam Ryan Quine A prayer before the September 10th debate by Erin Weber-Johnson and Mieke Vandersall  Hezekiah’s prayer (September 15, 2024) by Rose Schrott Taylor Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study— Land justice by Rosalind Banbury Want the worship resources for September 8, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Harris-Walz campaign hires the Rev. Jen Butler, longtime activist, to lead faith outreach Butler, a Presbyterian minister, said she brings ‘a broad set of relationships that I think can help, very quickly, pull a broad coalition together’ in a foreshortened Harris campaign. — Jack Jenkins A back-to-school prayer for congregations Elizabeth H. Doolin pens a call-and-response prayer for children, caregivers, teachers and all those who living through back-to-school days. Dr. Thelma Adair, the first African American woman elected Moderator of the General Assembly, dies at 103 She’s remembered as a passionate educator, church leader and human rights advocate. — Mike Ferguson How to Hit the Ground Running: A Quick-Start Guide for Congregations With New Leadership What should a pastor in a new call do first? Neal Mitchell addresses these and similar practical questions in his updated edition of his popular book. — Amy Pagliarella Turning toward the work of healing Outlook Editor Teri McDowell Ott introduces our issue on reparations. How national parks taught us the art of slow travel Karie Charlton and her husband Kurtis used their summer travel to engage mindfulness. "We aren't in a hurry," they would remind each other. Lessons from a worker-pastor For 20 years, N. Barry Dancy has balanced being a part-time pastor and tractor-trailer driver. He believes dual employment could be key to the future of small churches.