Looking into the lectionary - A sermon for aging Christians

Psalm 130 Fifth Sunday in Lent March 22, 2026 Psalm 130 When I retired from the Air Force, I had one more year of seminary and no clear direction about what would come next. I was unsettled. Where was God leading me? A pastor friend suggested this liminal space could be therapeutic — a time to focus and listen. Psalm 130 is written by a psalmist experiencing a similar liminal space. Although we don’t know the particulars of the situation, we can sense the distress from the opening verse: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” In biblical times, “the depths” often referred to the chaotic depths of the sea, a place where it was believed evil reigned. The psalmist is in deep distress, perhaps even fearing death, and cries out for God’s help and forgiveness. Repetition and emphasis Psalm 130’s plea for help is followed by words of gratitude and thanksgiving. The writer acknowledges God’s power to forgive, which leads to hope (vv. 3–4). The focus then shifts to patience. The psalmist trusts that the Lord is present and will eventually respond (v. 5). Finally, the psalmist speaks to all of Israel, reminding the people that redemption comes through God’s steadfast love. Psalm 130 employs parallelism and repetition for emphasis. The word “wait” appears three times in verses 5–6. It is not just the psalmist’s intellectual self that waits for the Lord’s response. Rather, it is the writer’s very soul that waits. Another example appears in the repeated phrase, “more than those who watch for the morning” (vv. 5–6). Commentators suggest this refers to the Levites assigned to the Temple’s nightly watch. Their task was to signal the first light of dawn — the moment when the daily Temple sacrifice could begin. Dawn meant the long-awaited end of their night shift and the assurance of God’s blessing through the sacrifice. ...  Thank you to this week's writer, Jane Holtzclaw Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for March 15, 2026? You can find them here. Order of worship — March 22, 2026 by Jane Holtzclaw  Austin Seminary student James Talarico wins Democratic U.S. Senate primary by Harriet Riley A PC(USA) statement on the escalating war with Iran by the Office of Public Witness A sermon for elderly Christians in troubled times by Brenda Moten IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... The 227th General Assembly will feature 10 committees Committees will meet online June 22-24 before commissioners and advisory delegates head to Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Presbyterian News Service  Love Letters to God Andrew Taylor-Troutman praises "Love Letters to God' as a raw, brave epistolary friendship that wrestles honestly with suffering, faith, and a love strong enough to endure doubt. McCormick Theological Seminary announces $1 million gift establishing an endowed chair The Mitzi Gebhard Henderson Endowed Chair is ‘a living tribute to Presbyterian lay leader.’ — McCormick Theological Seminary Middle, high school students invited to ‘Wholly Shift!’ at 2026 Hastings Youth Conference Hastings College and the ASPIRE program are inviting students to an inclusive space where young people can explore their faith, build lasting connections and recognize their value. Why the ‘Book of Confessions’ still matters Stated clerk and pastor Christian Boyd argues that reducing the "Book of Confessions" risks unmooring Presbyterian formation from its theological foundations. A homecoming Doug McMahon reflects on how a bone marrow transplant teaches us that we humans are bound together, each needing the other, even at a cellular level. A pastor’s guide to online outrage A church quoted Bad Bunny. The comments turned combative. What followed led Trip Porch to think about Jesus and Nicodemus … and what faithful engagement looks like in the digital age. A new four-session Fresh Outlook Bible Studies In a moment when empathy is often misunderstood — and sometimes dismissed as weakness — “On the Road to Empathy” invites churches to return to Scripture and rediscover empathy as a deeply Christian practice.