Looking into the lectionary - D.C. churches respond to federal show of force

Luke 14:1, 7-14 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost August 31, 2025 Not long ago, I was leading a discussion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together with a church small group. We were considering the chapter called “Ministry,” which Bonhoeffer begins by noting the human penchant for comparison and judgment. Bonhoeffer claims that “from the first moment when [someone] meets another person [they are] looking for a strategic position [they] can assume and hold over against that person.” He takes a basis for this assertion from the disciples’ arguing among themselves which of them was the greatest in Luke 9. He could as easily have pointed to this passage from Luke 14. It’s an observation of human behavior, no less telling than the disciples’ earlier argument, that occasions Jesus’s parable: He sees people at a dinner party cozying up to the host by sitting in the places of honor — a dangerous strategy, Jesus suggests. For if you’ve calculated wrongly, the host might demote you, inviting someone else to assume the position of honor you had selected for yourself. The behavior Jesus witnesses at this dinner exemplifies the same jockeying for position Bonhoeffer calls the “dangerous enemy” of Christian community. What surprises here is that Jesus seems to be offering wisdom consistent with this game of advantage-seeking by suggesting a guest should choose a humbler spot, opening the possibility that the host might invite them to move up – climb up a rung on the ladder of honor – and take a seat nearer the host. “Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you,” Jesus says (Luke 14:10). I’ll show you how to gain the strategic position, he seems to be saying. Except that is not his last word. Jesus concludes this saying with the more universal pronouncement that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11). The clear implication is that this eschatological reversal of fortune will be God’s work, and it is consistent with the overall thrust of Luke’s Gospel. When placed in the eschatological context of God’s final judgment, this passage offers a liberating word: ... Thank you to this week's writer, L. Roger Owens. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — August 31, 2025, by L. Roger Owens The marvel of mutual mission by Greg Allen-Pickett D.C. churches respond to federal show of force by Harriet Riley A pastor’s call amid immigration uncertainty by Gary Noonan House Chaplain Margaret Kibben on what makes military chaplaincy important by Adelle M. Banks A back-to-school prayer for congregations by Elizabeth H. Doolin Want the worship resources for August 24, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Call to action: Lamenting increased militarism on our city streets The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness urges faithful resistance to militarized policing, affirming God’s peace, justice, and dignity over fear, force, and political control. Learning from telephones: Rethinking ministry for a changing world Churches must embrace adaptive change to disciple beyond walls and engage communities, writes Dave Coles. Presbytery of San Gabriel returns ancestral land to Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council The Rev. Jihyun Oh preaches during a worship service as part of Saturday’s historic land back transfer. — Kristen Gaydos Faith250: Healing the nation’s soul through words Reviving America’s moral language — Faith250 invites faith leaders to heal divisions through study and community, writes Becca Messman. Abundance Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s "Abundance" offers a hopeful, critical look at policy, politics and possibility, writes Amy Pagliarella. ‘Shiny Happy People’ returns to examine the Christian culture war pioneer Teen Mania The three-part docuseries explores the birth and sudden demise of Teen Mania, plus the gnarly underbelly of a ministry some former members consider abusive. — Kathryn Post

Looking into the lectionary - A blessing of the backpacks

August 24, 2025 Luke 13:10-17 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost In Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde contends that naming the roots of pain, suffering and injustice is critical for healing and transformation. Lorde differentiates unexamined suffering from that which is named: “Pain is an event, an experience that must be recognized, named, and then used in some way in order for the experience to change, to be transformed into something else, strength or knowledge or action.” Naming pain and suffering is also very much akin to the Buddhist notion of mindfulness of the roots of suffering. In The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh explains the Second Noble Truth of Buddhism in this way: “After we touch our suffering, we need to look deeply into it to see how it came to be. We need to recognize and identify the spiritual and material foods we have ingested that are causing us to suffer.” An adage that can be drawn from these insights is that whatever we don’t name, we reinscribe. In other words, if we don’t name suffering and injustice for what they are – suffering and injustice – they become normalized. I wonder if something similar is happening in Luke 13:10-17. The bent woman’s illness is linked to a crippling “spirit” (v. 11) and satanic bondage (v. 16). The story reveals an apocalyptic worldview where humans are caught in a struggle between the destructive powers of evil and the life-giving power of God. There are death-tending forces in the world that disfigure and diminish human life and all creation. And these forces are fighting on this woman’s back! Furthermore, this has been going on for 18 long years, and no one has named it so that healing and liberation could occur. The word “apocalyptic” originates from the Greek noun apokalypsis and the verb apokalyptō, both of which refer to revelation or revealing — words that also carry nuances of unveiling, exposing, unmasking and disrupting. So, what Jesus is doing in this story is exposing the power and systems of evil that are diminishing the woman so they won’t continue to be reinscribed, and the result is liberation. However, the fact that Jesus exposes these evil forces after the woman suffered for 18 years shows how often suffering and injustice are normalized — sexism, racism, homophobia, classism and authoritarianism can become so ingrained that they seem normal, so much so that it can be shocking when someone finally exposes it. The debate regarding the timing of Jesus’ healing of the woman, specifically whether it should occur on the Sabbath or at another time, may be considered a valid point of intra-Jewish discussion. However, the appropriateness of performing the healing itself is generally not in question, as it constitutes an essential aspect of ministry. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Roger Gench. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — August 24, 2025, by Roger Gench The ministry of excess space by John A. Bolt Blessing of the backpacks by Jess Rigel How love, faith, and community made my nursing dream possible by Alejandra Barrera In temples and churches, sensory rooms remove barriers for neurodivergent worshipers by Kathryn Post Summer reads: Faith, formation, and spiritual growth by Amy Pagliarella Want the worship resources for August 10, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Reading in a frenetic world Dartinia Hull reflects on the lasting power of words to awaken truth, dignity and freedom. The Rev. Jihyun Oh calls for urgent accountability in the devastating crisis in Gaza In a letter, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency calls for 10 actions ‘grounded in the Gospel.’ Are AI sermons ethical? Clergy consider where to draw the line. Much of the debate involves grappling with the question of whether AI is being used as a replacement for a sacred human project or whether it's a tool in the service of that project. — Deena Prichep Free hymn: “God Is Our Only King” A free hymn with sheet music by Scott Barton. Finding home: How love, faith, and community made my nursing dream possible Alejandra Barrera's journey to become a nurse was transformed by unexpected friendships, a loving church, and God’s quiet provision. Beloved Presbyterian composer Hal Hopson dies at 92 Over his remarkable career, Hopson published more than 3,000 works.

Looking into the lectionary - Online dating and ancient wisdom

August 10, 2025 Genesis 15:1-6 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost "Count the stars." Imagine if this was God’s response to your inquiries about what lies ahead. How would it make you feel if, when seeking comfort amidst the unknowns of the future, God asked you to undertake an impossible task: counting the stars? Abram was obedient. The kind of guy who quietly and faithfully did as God asked him to do. As Daniel M. Debevoise writes in his Feasting on the Word commentary, “The biblical picture of God and Abram’s relationship is fairly straightforward. God speaks; Abram listens. God promises; Abram believes. God commands; Abram obeys. There comes a point, however, when Abram finally says, ‘Wait a minute. I have a question.’” Genesis 15 marks a crucial moment where Abram seeks further assurance from God. He’s worried about his future, as his people’s survival relies on having descendants. But he and Sarai still have no children. Abram questions God, seeking clarity: How will this situation resolve? What does the future entail? How will your promises be fulfilled? Abram’s questions still hold relevance today. Given recent events, the future seems unpredictable. There’s widespread concern about the stability of our democracy. Each new natural disaster prompts us to consider the impacts of climate change and ponder what lies ahead for our planet. We frequently hear about—and some of us are—individuals juggling multiple jobs but still struggling to afford rent and provide for their families. Scripture consistently reassures us of God’s promise to take care of us, illustrating how God acts on our behalf, guiding us towards the peace and abundance of the Promised Land. Yet, we eventually find ourselves questioning with Abram, “So, how will this actually work out for us?” Uncertainty is uncomfortable. ... Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — August 10, 2025, by Teri McDowell Ott Horizons — Finding resilience, joy and our identity in Jesus Christ by Rosalind Banbury Rethinking psychological evaluations in the PC(USA) ordination process by Jane L. Holtzclaw 20 years after Katrina, this New Orleans church is still rebuilding hope by Harriet Riley Want the worship resources for August 3, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Union Theological Seminary President Serene Jones to retire after 18 years of leadership Following a sabbatical, she’ll return to Union to teach and write. — Union Theological Seminary The Emperor of Gladness "Ocean Vuong’s richly imagined characters push back against the material and spiritual scarcity of their surroundings, recognizing collective strength in shared rejection." — Ross Fogg Big truths for little readers Three new children’s books explore big faith questions with beauty, joy, and hope — from Miriam’s dancing to a magical lunchbox and what the Bible really is. — Various contributors [ … ] Poems In "[...]," a Palestinian American author dedicates his poems to “the relatable and unrelatable, the translatable and untranslatable Palestinian flesh.” Andrew Taylor-Troutman offers a review. What a wisdom text taught me about online dating A modern search for love meets ancient insight as Katy Shevel seeks wisdom for navigating friendship, faithfulness and dating apps.

Looking into the lectionary - Superman isn't 'too woke' — he's kind

August 3, 2025 Luke 12:13-21 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost In her luminous book Braiding Sweetgrass, Native American botanist and philosopher Robin Wall Kimmerer shares a dream about visiting her local market on an unusual day. With a basket over her arm, she tries to pay for fresh cilantro, but the vendor pats her arm and waves off Kimmerer’s attempt to pay. “A gift,” the vendor says. As Kimmerer moves further through the market, she sees bread rolls at a stall and opens her purse, but again, the vendor refuses to accept her money, as if it were impolite to pay. Kimmerer looks around in confusion, thinking, “This is a familiar market, yet everything has changed.” In this dream, no shopper is paying. The author drifts through the market with a feeling of euphoria. Gratitude is the only currency accepted here. It’s all a gift — the merchants, it seems, are passing on gifts from the earth. Kimmerer examines her basket, and although it’s half empty, it feels full. Then, noticing a cheese stall, she considers getting some. But after realizing it would be given as a gift, she exercises restraint. She has all she needs in her basket. Kimmerer shares this dream to show that moving from a market economy to a gift economy — from private goods to shared goods — changes everything. When we see the earth’s resources as abundant gifts shared by all, rather than as consumer goods to hoard and sell at market price, our view shifts. As we often say at the communion table: “These are the gifts of God for the people of God.” The parable of the rich fool This story from Braiding Sweetgrass provides an essential context and counterweight for understanding our gospel passage from Luke 12:13-21, the parable of the rich fool. ... Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Thank you to this week's writer, Roger Gench. Order of worship — August 3, 2025, by Roger Gench Superman isn’t ‘too woke’ — he’s kind by Brendan McLean First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville ministers to Texas flood victims, prepares for long-term recovery by Gregg Brekke Hospicing White Christianity and midwifing something new by Tamice Spencer-Helms Want the worship resources for July 27, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Is death the end? Holding on to love that outlasts loss Is death the end? Earl S. Johnson, Jr. shares a story of grief, God, and how love’s presence endures beyond loss. A blessing for picking up the pieces Blessed are you, who pick up the pieces: who gather sticks and saw down limbs, who drag away the broken branches and rake up what you can amid chaos ... — Eliza Smith DeBevoise Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson  "McPherson was a remarkable female American religious leader when that description fit few others, making her story relevant to Christians today." — Bill Tammeus Holding on A gripping recount of Melanie Spencer's father's passing, his life, and a poem he gave her with his last words of wisdom. Louisville Institute names a new executive director The Rev. Dr. Vanessa Lovelace will begin her new work Aug. 1. — LPTS PC(USA) Co-Moderators reflect at the halfway point of their term The Rev. Tony Larson and the Rev. CeCe Armstrong are traveling the nation and the world to learn from and inspire Presbyterians. — Layton Williams Berkes In four sessions, “Revelation: Professing Christ Today” by Mark D. Hinds seeks to create an inclusive environment for discussing and reflecting on the political ramifications of following Christ.