Genesis 9:8-17 | Psalm 25:1-10 | 1 Peter 3:18-22 | Mark 1:9-15
Jeremy Richards
In our passage from Mark today, we’re going back to the beginning. We’ve already heard of Jesus calling his disciples, and casting out a demon in a synagogue, but now we’re going back to the beginning, to the first time Jesus appears on the scene in Mark’s Gospel.
2 Kings 2:1-12 | Psalm 50:1-6 | 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 | Mark 9:2-9
Jeremy Richards
The book Gilead by Marilyn Robinson is a fictional account of the life of the Congregationalist Minister John Ames. The book is written as a series of letters from the old John Ames to his young 7-year-old son. Ames, who had the child late in his life, knows he will soon die of a heart condition and won’t be there for most of his son’s life. The letters are an attempt to put down in writing the important family stories and life lessons Ames has learned over the course of his long life, since he’ll be unable to convey these lessons and stories to his son after he dies.
Isaiah 40:21-31 | Psalm 147:1-11, 20c | 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 | Mark 1:29-39
Jeremy Richards
Our Gospel reading today picks up right after our Gospel reading from last week, which, if you weren’t here or you don’t remember, was about Jesus preaching in a synagogue and then casting out a demon. These two passages – the one from last week and the one for today – cover one 24-hour period of time.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 | Psalm 111 | 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 | Mark 1:21-28
Jeremy Richards
The New Testament scholar Joel Marcus (one of Mitch’s favorite professors in seminary) says in his commentary on Mark that every Gospel writer has a story early in their Gospel that is meant to set the stage for what they want to say about Jesus. According to Joel Marcus, in Matthew it’s the Sermon on the Mount, in Luke it’s Jesus’ sermon in the synagogue in Nazareth, and in John it’s the wedding feast in Cana. And in Mark, Joel Marcus says, it’s the story we read today.
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 | 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 | Mark 1:14-20
Mitch Chilcott
On April 4th, 1967 exactly one year, to the day, before Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, he gave a speech at Riverside Church in New York City. The speech, which is about the Vietnam War, is one of his best and I highly recommend it to you.
Isaiah 60:1-6 | Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 | Ephesians 3:1-12 | Matthew 2:1-12
Jeremy Richards
This Sunday marks a new season in the Church Calendar. Advent and Christmas have given way to the season of Epiphany. The season of Epiphany focuses on two themes: the identity of Jesus as the Messiah (or Christ) and the inclusion of the Gentiles in the story of Israel. Or, to put the two together: Jesus’ fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures and prophecies, and that fulfillment including an invitation to all peoples, not just Israel.
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 | Galatians 4:4-7 | Luke 2:22-40
Jeremy Richards
I recently finished reading some of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read: The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. These 4 books trace the tumultuous friendship of Lenu, the narrator, and her friend Lila through most of their lives, from the time they’re children, until they’re in their 60s. I had heard a lot about these novels from numerous friends, and then Brie read them and told me how good they were, so I decided it was time to read them myself.
Luke 1:26-38
Jeremy Richards
One morning a few months ago, I had just woken up. My coffee wasn’t yet made. My eyes were half-shut. I was zoning out, staring at our kitchen sink when Brie ran in and stuck a long, skinny piece of plastic in my face with a look of joy and disbelief in her eyes. The piece of plastic had dots or a screen, maybe some different colors, I can’t really remember what it looked like because I wasn’t awake yet. I didn’t know how to read it, but I knew what it was.
Luke 2:8-20
Jeremy Richards
As Shelley mentioned last week, the lectionary texts during Advent are a little challenging, so I decided to take a break and explore our readings from our Advent Wreath this week and next week. I really love these readings because they focus on different characters in the Christmas story – everyday people who are invited into the story of God’s salvation. The readings begin by remembering those characters, and end by reminding us that those people are present in our world today. Last week we remembered the prophets from old and gave thanks for the modern day prophets. Today we remember the shepherds from old and also give thanks for those who fulfill similar working class roles today.