The Adventurous Lectionary: Pentecost 9, July 21, 2013

Last updated on: July 19, 2013 at 12:10 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – Pentecost 9 – July 21, 2013 Texts: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Today’s readings abound in possibilities, including the possibility that we will suffer serious consequences if we deviate from God’s vision of Shalom. According to the readings from Psalms and Amos, there is both a promise and threat in our relationship with God. Openness to God’s vision opens us to lively and transformative energies and contributes to the healing the world. Closing... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Prophet, Pastor, and Provocateur – July 14, 2013

Last updated on: July 8, 2013 at 12:20 pm By Bruce Epperly

Lectionary Reflections for Pentecost 8 – July 14, 2013 It has been said that the prophetic task involves agitating the comfortable and comforting the agitated. This is surely the case in today’s lectionary readings. Just ten days beyond the Fourth of July, these readings challenge our personal and national priorities and pretentions, and our temptation to subvert justice and care for the vulnerable for the sake of our economic and national well-being. The church, even the liberal church, is often... Read more

Can the Fourth of July be a Spiritual Holiday, Too?

Last updated on: July 3, 2013 at 11:45 am By Bruce Epperly

Here are some spiritual practices for experiencing the holy amidst the nation's fireworks. Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary for July 7: Transformation is Right in Front of You

Last updated on: July 1, 2013 at 7:04 pm By Bruce Epperly

The central question for pastor, congregants, and the congregation as a whole is: Are our choices and behaviors opening us and others to Christ or are they standing in the way of God’s generously given abundance? Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary for June 30: Bold Requests and Challenges

Last updated on: June 24, 2013 at 4:23 pm By Bruce Epperly

Today’s scriptures assert that God’s realm promises great things, and asks us to be persistent and focused in our quest to be faithful; we may have to let go of familiar relationships and comforts to awaken to the wonders God has in store for us. Sacrifice is essential to living faith, and our sacrifices open us to surprising powers and possibilities. Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary for June 23: Questions That Change the World

Last updated on: June 18, 2013 at 2:02 pm By Bruce Epperly

Lectionary Reflections for the Fifth Sunday in Pentecost – June 23, 2013 I Kings 19:1-4, 8-15a; Psalm 42 and 43; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39 Questions that Change the World “What are you doing here?” God’s question to frightened Elijah addresses us all. Why have we taken this path? What events got us into our current situation or life crisis? Now that we are here, what is our intention? Elijah’s intent was to save his skin. But, in hiding out, he discovered he could... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary: Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Last updated on: June 5, 2013 at 2:09 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – June 16, 2013 I Kings 21:1-10, 15-21a; Psalm 5:1-8; Galatians 2:15-21; Luke 7:36-8:3 Lively Grace and Difficult Justice Grace abounds, but grace doesn’t nullify the consequences of our personal or corporate actions. What we do matters and although grace can change the meaning of the past and awaken us to alternative futures, it cannot erase the impact of our actions. Justice and mercy leave seeds of creative transformation that contribute health and wholeness, while injustice and hard-heartedness... Read more

Seeing the World with the Eyes of the Heart

Last updated on: June 3, 2013 at 1:01 pm By Bruce Epperly

Walking in beauty is the gift of sight and insight. It is grounded in taking a more leisurely pace, even on busy days. One of my spiritual teachers, Gerald May, counseled the following awakening practice: pause, notice, open, yield and stretch, and then respond Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary: Pentecost 3

Last updated on: June 5, 2013 at 12:19 pm By Bruce Epperly

Today’s lectionary passages assert that faith opens us to new dimensions of reality and within these new dimensions, miraculous releases of divine energy, congruent with the laws of nature, are released. Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary for June 2, 2013: Truth, Exclusion and Violence

Last updated on: May 28, 2013 at 1:40 pm By Bruce Epperly

Today’s lectionary readings are challenging for progressive, postmodern, and pluralistic Christians. They also give pause to those who fashion clear boundaries between in and out, righteous and unrighteous, and saved and unsaved. Read more