Looking into the lectionary - Nonviolence, fear & hard questions

May 18, 2025 Fifth Sunday of Easter  Revelation 21:1-6  The phrase “trustworthy and true” in Revelation 21:5 leapt out of the lectionary this week at me. On first glance, I thought the author of Revelation was reemphasizing his point with synonyms. It would make sense. He was exiled. Stranded on an island. Imprisoned. I often repeat myself, and I’m not even under that kind of duress. But the more I stared at that phrase “trustworthy and true,” the more differentiated the words became. For something to be “true” there is an accuracy, factuality and correctness about it. It is an objective measure. But for something to be “trustworthy” means that it comes from a reliable, dependable source. There is some subjectivity in this one, as well as a relational type of integrity that must be inherent. So having them both side-by-side is powerful. For instance, building and maintaining relationships requires both trustworthiness and truth. At another point in the passage, we get some beautiful wedding imagery. This caused me to have a flashback to my wedding vows 20 years ago. A large reason these promises are standing the test of time is that they were both trustworthy (meant sincerely) and true (reflecting genuine feelings). Both are needed for a healthy marriage, but also in all relationships. Think about sharing secrets with your friend when you were a child. One of you might have made the other a pinky promise to ensure they would be both trustworthy to hold the confidence and true to their word. Or think about giving and receiving feedback at work. While sometimes it can be difficult to hear, feedback that is both given by a trustworthy colleague and is a true reflection of performance is essential for personal and professional growth. Being both “trustworthy and true” is needed for healthy relationships on a personal and public level. For instance, not only does a medical practitioner need their diagnoses to be true (based on their educated understanding of the condition), but their instructions must be trustworthy (reliable, clearly communicated, and safe to follow) when they work with individual patients. But think about Doctor Fauci back in 2020. All the official announcements and warnings he made about COVID had to be seen as both trustworthy and true or they were useless. Perhaps the clearest need for both can best be seen in a courtroom.  ... Thank you to this week's writer, Brian Christopher Coulter. Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship — May 18, 2025, by Brian Christopher Coulter A prayer for the church in the face of oppression by Shardaé Henry  Rebuilding faith (May 18, 2025) by Julia Boyce Horizons — Finding resilience, joy, and our identity in Christ by Rosalind Banbury Want the worship resources for May 11, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Americans may be going to church less, but most are still open to religion, spirituality Just because religious behavior and affiliation have taken a nosedive in the last 30 years does not mean America is suddenly a secular country. — Ryan Burge, Tony Jones Nonviolence, fear and hard questions What if God actually meant, “thou shalt not kill?” — Laurie Lyter Bright St. Andrews University announces the closing of its campus in Laurinburg, North Carolina The Presbyterian-related institution says its financial sustainability ‘is no longer attainable.’ — Mike Ferguson Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Rotunda — including credentialed press. — Jack Jenkins ­­The power we hold to make peace "Peace often requires more of us than violence: more courage, more creativity, more strategic thinking, more faith," writes Teri McDowell Ott. Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation "Church Camp" is both the memoir of theologian Cara Meredith and a well-researched assessment of the Christian camping industry. — Amy Pagliarella PC(USA) ministries at the UN and on Capitol Hill mark the first 100 days of the Trump administration with ‘vigorous, faithful and unrelenting’ advocacy The Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations help Presbyterians to carry out General Assembly directives. — OPW, PMUN The Outlook is hiring! Presbyterian Outlook is looking to hire a remote WordPress & SEO specialist for 100-Hour Contract Project. In a world overwhelmed by violence – systemic, interpersonal, and internal – what does it mean to follow the way of Jesus? May 13 at 7 p.m. (and on-demand)