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Imagining the Lectionary: Held firm and strong (Epiphany 3B)
Imagining the Lectionary: Held firm and strong (Epiphany 3B)
by David Perry
Imagining the Lectionary: Held firm and strong (Epiphany 3B) Reflection accompanying images “Held firm and strong 1”, “Held firm and strong 2” and “Held firm and strong 3” The cross-shaped mooring bollards in the photographs convey such a real sense of hefty, unbreakable streng
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 6 Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 6 Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Proper 6 Ezekiel 17: 22-24 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17 Mark 4: 26-34 Paul’s argument in this section of 2 Corinthians is complex and far- reaching. He is putting forward a whole new theory of reality and knowledge. Christians, he argues, carry their own reality system around with them,
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 7 Year B
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 7 Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Proper 7 1 Samuel 17.[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 2 Corinthians 6.1-13 Mark 4.35-41 Right from the start in Mark, Jesus is up against it. Tempted by Satan in the wilderness; shrieked at by benighted souls in the synagogue; criticized by the self-appointed religious experts. Now the se
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 8 Year B
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 8 Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Proper 8 2 Samuel 1.1, 17-27 2 Corinthians 8.7-15 Mark 5.21-43 Mark folds one story inside another, like someone tucking a second letter inside a first. (A Markan sandwich, some say; but food is important within the story itself, so let’s not confuse the issue.) As in 2 Samuel, a
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - Proper 12 Year A
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - Proper 12 Year A
by SPCK - N T Wright
Twelve Months of Sundays – Year A Ordinary Time Proper 12 Genesis 29.15–28 Romans 8.26–39 Matthew 13.31–33, 44–52 ‘All things work together for good to those who love God.’ Probably not the first thought that sprang to Jacob’s mind the morning after his wedding, on discovering ho
New Testament Prayer for Everyone - To The Only Wise God
New Testament Prayer for Everyone - To The Only Wise God
by SPCK - N T Wright
PART 2 PRAYERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT PRAYERS OF PAUL TO THE ONLY WISE GOD Romans 16: 25-27 I watched as the children played in the swimming pool. The water was about four feet deep. Three of them stood side by side, with linked arms. Then they squatted down, with only their noses
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Suffering and Blessing and Judgment
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Suffering and Blessing and Judgment
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Suffering and Blessing and Judgment (1 Peter 3: 13- 5: 11) The author encourages those who suffer with the assurance of God’s blessing and of God’s future judgment of evil and of good. Here, unlike in 2:21–25, both Christ’s passion and his resurrection are cited, in such phrases
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Social Meaning of Sonship
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Social Meaning of Sonship
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Social Meaning of Sonship (Galatians 3: 23-26; 4: 4-7) In chapter 3, Paul has ingeniously used examples from Scripture and from life to illustrate his argument that observance of the law of Moses is no longer necessary for Gentile converts to Jesus. He maintains that his argu
Hymn: To simply bask in ignorance
Hymn: To simply bask in ignorance
by Andrew Pratt
To simply bask in ignorance, to shy away from facts, can masquerade as 'simple faith', or veil our foolish acts; and then the world will look at us, a church so old and stale, no longer worth a second glance, a church beyond the pale. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: BETHLEHEM (also known
Hymn: When my mind was double doubting
Hymn: When my mind was double doubting
by Andrew Pratt
When my mind was double doubting, when my brain was racked with pain, when no angels flew about me, when I thought I’d gone insane, suddenly God came and found me, brought me back to life again. Raise the roof with hallelujahs, paint the skies with psalms of praise, God has plumb
Monologue: It's all so familiar
Monologue: It's all so familiar
by Andrew Pratt
Monologue on 1 Corinthians 13 (I use the name Andrew. It is best if the reader inserts their own name here). It's all so familiar: 'Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity', they translate that as 'love' now - makes more sense, charity has the w
Out of Egypt now in Canaan
Out of Egypt now in Canaan
by Andrew Pratt
Out of Egypt now in Canaan, finding freedom in this place celebrating liberation, Hebrews learning of God's grace. Now this story, part of hist'ry, told again from year to year: speaks of haste, release and rescue, time of tension, time of fear. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: ALL FOR JE
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Third Lesson
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Third Lesson
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Third Lesson (Mark 10: 1-52) Building on the developing theme of a revisioning of power relations and the image of a child, an extended teaching section is presented in chapter 10. Included are three teaching episodes having to do with the household: marriage and divorce, childre
Hymn: Love as we, ourselves, know loving
Hymn: Love as we, ourselves, know loving
by Andrew Pratt
Love as we, ourselves, know loving, in this way we will be blessed; get this right and all will follow: such a very simple test. And this test is in the action, not in claims of faith or creed, but in ways we serve each other, meeting one another's need. Verses 3-5 follow Tune: C
Hymn: The Psalmist calls for new songs praising God
Hymn: The Psalmist calls for new songs praising God
by Andrew Pratt
The Psalmist calls for new songs praising God but we prefer familiar words and ways. We hold and cage and mould God to our will, defending customs smothering our praise. A world-wide pool of images and grace informs our faith, re-vitalises hope, and so our view, so narrow and obs
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Easter Saturday Year B
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Easter Saturday Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B EASTER SATURDAY... One of the most popular misconceptions today is the idea that everybody up to about two centuries ago was credulous, gullible, easily taken in by strange stories and odd beliefs. We, however, with our modern ‘scientific’ knowledge,
Mark for Everyone - The Rich Young Ruler