Looking into the lectionary - Checking in with Montreat

October 20, 2024 Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost  Mark 10:35-45 Years ago, I fought for a seat next to famed Episcopal preacher Barbara Brown Taylor. At a small conference where she was the keynote speaker, a group of us hatched a plan to eat lunch with Barbara — a women-only table. The flaw in our plan: no one told the men, eager to sit with Barbara as well. We women went through the buffet line, trailing Barbara carefully, staying close so we wouldn’t lose her, as our pack leader guarded six seats around one round table. But as soon as Barbara set her tray down, two men swooped in. “May we join you?” Barbara, of course, said yes, while the rest of us exchanged eyes full of daggers, resenting these men for intruding on “our” seats. I’m embarrassed by this memory now, the seating game we adults play that harkens back to the school cafeteria, the place we all learned the rules. Where you sit and with whom matters. James and John should have been embarrassed, too. Their ambition got the best of them as they ask Jesus for special seats next to him in glory. Matthew and Luke rework this story from Mark, perhaps attempting to make these disciples look better. In Matthew’s version, the mother of James and John requests the honor on behalf of her sons (Matthew 20:20). Luke avoids specifics, boiling the story down to a “dispute” among the disciples (Luke 22:24). No matter the version, these disciples should know better, and Jesus says as much. “You do not know what you are asking” (Mark 10:38). Jesus isn’t interested in who is great and who will be glorified. He wants to know who will serve humbly, and who will sacrifice for the good of God’s people. This passage in Mark reminds us of Jesus’ purpose: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Beyond personal sacrifice and humility, Jesus preaches a gospel that counters the “rulers” who “lord over” others and the “great ones” who act as “tyrants.” In his book Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination, Walter Wink writes about this young carpenter from Galilee who “revealed to the world God’s domination-free order of nonviolent love.” ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for October 20, 2024, by Teri McDowell Ott Montreat Conference Center and community grapple with effects of Helene by Darla Carter Justice, peace and memory (October 20, 2024) by Elana Keppel Levy Horizons — Food justice by Rosalind Banbury Want the worship resources for October 13, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... What baseball can teach the church about faithful change Can the church embrace change without losing its core identity? Matthew Rich looks at MLB for inspiration. Enchanted sports in a secular age Professional sports has become "one of the ways in which we make meaning and tell our own stories," writes Scott Hagley. Lessons from losing Losing is painful. According to professional athletes, it can also lead to growth, writes Andrew Taylor Troutman. Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue amid PDA deployments and generosity from volunteers and churches Presbyterians urged to donate funds and buckets to help the Southeast rebound from widespread devastation. —  Darla Carter This Sweet Earth: Walking with Our Children in the Age of Climate Collapse The only way to appreciate and care for the earth is to move more slowly through the world. — Elizabeth Doolin on Lydia Wylie-Kellermann's new book Between anguish and resilience: Reflections from Bethlehem As we mark one year since the Israel-Hamas war began, Teri McDowell Ott checks in with Bethlehem-based mission co-worker Doug Dicks. Charlotte clergy organize to deliver help and hope in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath Grassroots efforts by North Carolina congregations witness to Christ’s love in the midst of widespread devastation. — Emily Enders Odom Revelation: Professing Christ Today In a world that frequently promotes hatred, hostility and division, discover Revelation’s call to embody God’s grace, generosity and forgiveness. A new Fresh Outlook study. Pre-order the Outlook's daily Advent devotional today! In a world dominated by binary thinking – light vs. dark, good vs. evil – this Advent devotional challenges us to see beyond familiar binaries and embrace the complex, natural patterns of God in the world.