Looking into the lectionary, - Lessons from Samwise Gamgee

March 30, 2025 Fourth Sunday in Lent Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 In my re-reading of the parable of the prodigal son – or more accurately, the loving father – I was reminded of a story I heard 10 years ago from a teacher’s assistant in my systematic theology class. Our topic for the day was grace. Dave shared about one Reformation Sunday when he really wasn’t feeling the pomp and circumstance of the day, so out of spite or against his better judgment, he preached the most basic sermon on sin and forgiveness that he could think of. And, of course, it turned out to be one of his most warmly received sermons. As he put it in a recent email to me confirming the details of the story, “Shows how people respond to a message of forgiveness!” Perhaps the moment is right for preachers to offer our versions of the most basic sermon on sin and forgiveness. In this time of upheaval, we need to hear the heartbeat of the gospel: that when we turn from sin and return to God, God rushes to welcome us with open arms. Redemption is possible, even for this younger brother who has wandered just about as far away from home as he could go, squandering away all that the father generously, perhaps even foolishly, entrusted to him. In these days when we wonder how we will put our country back together, the promise of reconciled relationship when we turn from sin is hope we need to hear. ... Thank you to this week's guest writer Ellen Williams Hensle. Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship — March 30, 2025, by Ellen Williams Hensle Amendment 24-A wins approval from a majority of presbyteries by Mike Ferguson Sacred preparation (March 30, 2025) by Mark Hinds Horizons — Intergenerational Justice by Rosalind Banbury Want the worship resources for March 23, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Cultivating curiosity: Lessons from Samwise Gamgee, the Constant Gardener Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit who is happy with his garden, still feels the spark of something beyond within him. — Whitney Wilkinson Arreche Votes for Book of Order changes on track to pass Ordination examination questions continue to create debate. — Gregg Brekke Trump barrage of executive orders can only impose as much injustice as we allow Most startling is not the dismantling of government agencies that help others, but the public’s tolerance for these actions. — Kelly Brown Douglas Decline in American Christian observance has slowed, Pew study finds ‘The U.S. is a spiritual place, a religious place, where we’ve seen signs of religious stabilization in the midst of longer-term decline,’ said Gregory Smith, a senior associate director of research at Pew Research Center. Faith communities unite in declaration to defend refugees Among the signers of the ‘Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration’ is the Rev. Jihyun Oh of the PC(USA). Boundless curiosity and delight in the world This Lent, we journey with Eve's questioning, longing and seeking of God, writes Cynthia Jarvis. Making Time: A New Vision for Crafting a Life Beyond Productivity Maria Bowler’s "Making Time" offers a fresh, creative approach to time, moving beyond productivity to embrace presence, curiosity, and the joy of making. — Amy Pagliarella