Looking into the lectionary - Small churches + adaptation

Matthew 9:35-10:8 Third Sunday after Pentecost June 14, 2026 Church membership is shrinking across mainline protestant denominations. The reported number of U.S. adults who claim to be religiously unaffiliated is growing rapidly. Faced with these statistics, many within the church throw up their hands and wonder what will become of the church. Yet, research shows that while many are done with the institution of the church, they are not done with spirituality. Many believe in a higher power. Some are seeking ways to be grounded in something larger than themselves. In a world where so many are starving, where financial stability is increasingly hard to find, where gun violence and mass shootings are ever more frequent, where war rages around the world, and where political discourse is increasingly divisive, people remain hungry for good news. It appears that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Jesus looked out on the crowds and saw a group of people who were tired and overwhelmed, harassed and helpless. They, too, faced a world where political violence was at a high, where people could be killed because they disagreed with the powers that be, where families struggled to put food on the table, where religious leaders seemed to champion rules over people, and the division between the haves and have-nots was increasingly great. The people around Jesus yearned for good news. They hoped for the end of suffering from disease and physical impairment. They dreamed of a world that was just. They grasped at the hope that all could be fed. Jesus’s message was compelling, and so they crowded around him. As Jesus notes in Matthew 9:35-10:8, “The harvest is plentiful …” (v. 37). But, he continues, “the laborers are few” (v. 37). It was not a lack of people who yearned for the good news; it was a lack of people to do the work of proclamation and healing in a hurting world. And it is not a lack of people seeking some hope and good news today. Jesus sent his disciples out, out of their comfort zone, out of the safety of their community, out among the crowds. I wonder how many of our churches still hope that if they build it, people will come? They remain within the walls and the traditions of the church. They remain in their comfort zone and hope for someone who will shepherd them in comfort. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Rae Watson. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for June 7, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — June 14, 2026 by Rae Watson   Braving the Truth by Rachel Held Evans, reviewed by Amy Pagliarella Adapting together: A small church and Buddhist monks by David Williams Presbyterian Outlook wins five honors at Associated Church Press awards by Rose Schrott Taylor

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... How the Board of Pensions prices the Medical Plan Two principles guide the approach to pricing. — Todd Ingves The Presbytery of Milwaukee is just about set to host the 227th General Assembly The Committee on Local Arrangements practices its warm welcome on PC(USA) national staff. — Mike Ferguson Thinking about prayer and posture In this reflection, Brenda Moten explores how posture, humility and memory shape the way we pray. Beyond the altar: Prayer as devotion, discipline and public witness Winterbourne Harrison-Jones reimagines prayer as activism, insisting that true communion with God must move beyond the sanctuary and into the streets. Order the chaos Artist and mother Merideth Hite Estevez discovers that creativity — and grace — are often born in life’s glitter-covered chaos, where God meets us in the messy work of mending. Choosing between the banquets of the empire and the kingdom Quincy Worthington recounts witnessing protest and brutality outside an ICE detention center in Broadview, Illinois — and how that moment reshaped his understanding of faith, power and public discipleship. Why this Presbyterian pastor still knows the Hail Mary by heart Brittany Porch reflects on her Catholic roots, the comfort of inherited prayer and the words that return to us in moments of grief.

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WCC NEWS: Ecumenical organizations launch “Fasting and Prayer to Awaken Consciences” campaign across Argentina

The Ecumenical Roundtable for Democracy, Life, and the Common Good, joined by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, is promoting a nationwide campaign in Argentina entitled “Fasting and Prayer to Awaken Consciences,” from 2 to 9 June. Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentine. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 3 June 2026 Centered in Buenos Aires’ historic Plaza de Mayo and replicated in public squares across Argentina, the initiative seeks to draw public attention to the growing challenges of hunger, social exclusion, violence, and widening inequality. Organizers describe the campaign as a collective call for reflection, solidarity, and renewed commitment to the common good. Many Argentines continue to face economic hardship, as cuts to public spending have affected social programs, health, education, and pensions. Poverty remains widespread, especially among children and vulnerable households. Over eight days, participants will engage in fasting, prayer, public dialogue, cultural activities, and community gatherings designed to foster discussion about the country’s social realities and the urgent need for peace, justice, and inclusion. The campaign emphasizes both social justice and environmental justice as essential foundations for a more equitable society. According to organizers, the initiative is intended not only as a symbolic act but also as a practical demonstration of civic and community engagement. Local organizations, faith communities, and citizens are being encouraged to organize parallel events in cities and towns throughout Argentina, creating a nationwide network of participation and solidarity. “We fast to denounce hunger. We gather to defend life. We pray to sustain hope,” organizers said in a statement announcing the campaign. Members of the Ecumenical Roundtable include: Argentine Federation of Evangelical Churches; Service for Peace and Justice; Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights; Evangelical Social Ministry; Priests from Urban Settlements; Priests for the Option for the Poor; Argentine Commission for Refugees and Migrants; Buenos Aires Anabaptist Mennonite Church; Hora de Obrar Foundation; National Network of Argentine Women Building Community; Sorority & Faith; and Grupo La Tranquera. WCC member churches in Argentina See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland