Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 Today’s readings invite us to experience the mystical presence of God, revealed in creation, our inner lives, and the call to mission. Isaiah’s mystical vision is one of the most powerful witnesses to humankind’s encounter with the divine, or better put, God’s breaking into human life in a life-transforming way. God is always present, moving gently and sometimes dramatically in our lives. Still, there are moments that change everything. As I imagine... Read more

Pentecost Sunday – May 24, 2015 Acts 2:1-21 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 John 15:25-26, 16:4b-15 Today, we celebrate the lively Spirit of God, God’s gentle and occasionally wild presence, that transforms our lives, breaks down barriers, and gives live to what otherwise might be dead. On the day of Pentecost, a wild spirit encompassed the early Christian movement, shaking everything up and breaking down the barriers that separate humankind. Fire and wind, turning everything upside down, uniting... Read more

The Seventh Sunday after Easter Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 I John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Today’s readings are about prayer and alignment with God’s vision. Belief and action are essential to Christian life, and prayer may be the most definitive faith practice. Prayer changes things and leads to world-transforming actions. The reading from Acts is a curious one. It describes the first congregational meeting in church history. Uncertain of who should take Judas’ place among the apostles, the community casts... Read more

The Seventh Sunday after Easter Acts 1:15-15, 21-26 Psalm 1 I John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Today’s readings are about prayer and alignment with God’s vision. Belief and action are essential to Christian life, and prayer may be the most definitive faith practice. Prayer changes things and leads to world-transforming actions. The reading from Acts is a curious one. It describes the first congregational meeting in church history. Uncertain of who should take Judas’ place among the apostles, the community casts... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 10, 2015 Bruce Epperly Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 I John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17 Love is at the heart of today’s readings. God is love and God’s love invites us to love in action. Those who love go beyond the ego and its needs and are willing to sacrifice to transform our world and create new communities of love. In the brief passage from Acts, experience trumps orthodox theology. Peter... Read more

The Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22:35-41 I John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Today’s scriptures are mystical, energetic, and empowering. Angels inspire and divine energy flows, giving life to all creation and fruitfulness to persons of faith. Revelation is unbounded and democratic. The Pentecost spirit is unconstrained and flows to all people. An angel challenges Philip to hit the road. Not knowing exactly what’s in store, Philip nevertheless follows the angel’s guidance and comes upon an Ethiopian yearning to... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 26, 2015 Acts 5:4-12 Psalm 23 I John 3:16-24 John 10:11-19 Today’s readings portray the interrelationship of theology, spirituality, and ethics. The Christian life is defined by God’s love for humankind and reflected in God’s suffering love in Jesus. Jesus’ suffering transforms the world and models our own relationships as sacrificial and interdependent. John’s gospel proclaims God’s abundant love. To those who see God as punitive and as the... Read more

The Third Sunday of Easter – April 19, 2015 Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4 I John 3:1-7 Luke 4:36b-48 Resurrection is always life-shattering and beyond belief. Luke describes the disciples’ incredulity at encountering the Risen Christ. They have just heard of Jesus’ encounter with Cleopas and his friend at Emmaus and are astounded. In the midst of their conversation, Jesus appears greeting them with God’s peace. Resurrection life brings peace; it calms, clarifies, unites, and empowers. Perhaps a sense of God’s... Read more