tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87975142010-10-14T07:45:45.020-04:00Pastor Jon Twitchell from Maine posts his thoughts on the Revised Common Lectionary readings each week. Please note that most of these thoughts are presented in draft form, and may not represent the author's final thoughts on the topic. Also, standard disclaimers apply--these posts do not represent the position of any church, denomination, or organization to which the author is affiliated!Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-53928617617477196172010-10-14T07:45:00.001-04:002010-10-14T07:45:45.078-04:00

This blog is now located at http://jontwitchell.blogspot.com/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to http://jontwitchell.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-70478236178701173352008-01-23T07:50:00.000-05:002008-01-23T08:02:28.831-05:00

In conjunction with launching LectionaryChat.com, I've also launched a store full of lectionary resources, Bible commentaries, contemporary ministry helps, worship aids, Bibles, and much more. Come view my featured recommendations, including the complete sets of Word Biblical Commentary, New Interpreter's Bible, Interpretation, New International Commentary, Old Testament, New International

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-13734576168178111382008-01-18T20:11:00.000-05:002008-01-18T20:22:13.032-05:00

Obviously, it's been a very long time since I've made any entries here at my Lectionary Journal blog. This has been due to a number of things, including transitioning to a bivocational status at my local church, as well as some exciting growth over at www.yourchurchweb.net - where I provide affordable web hosting solutions for churches and Christian ministries. On top of that, I've launched an

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1146483131676390022006-05-01T07:32:00.000-04:002006-05-01T07:32:12.460-04:00

May 7, 2006Psalm 23Acts 4:5-12John 10:11-18I John 3:16-24 During the season of Easter, we're focusing our attention primarily on the lessons from First John.  While this letter does testify to the Gospel of Jesus, it is not primarily a doctrinal or theological treatise, but is a immensely practical letter that speaks of how life should be different for those who walk in the light. As such, it is

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1146192183002187862006-04-27T22:31:00.000-04:002006-04-27T22:46:39.560-04:00

The Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene (where I am privileged to serve as pastor), is being featured in the April 27th edition of the Scarborough, Maine "Current." Initially the reporter was interested in writing an article about our sermon podcast, but as we talked about the ministries of the church, she decided that a better story would be about our upcoming ministry at the Wassamki Springs

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1146103606691470702006-04-26T20:53:00.000-04:002006-04-27T07:44:15.606-04:00

April 30, 2006Psalm 4Luke 24:36b-48Acts 3:12-191 John 3:1-7What does the resurrection mean to you? Sure, we speak of how Jesus' victory over the empty grave gives Christians hope of a future resurrection from the dead. Certainly, the message of Easter reminds us that God is victorious over sin and death. Knowledge of the resurrection gives us hope for the future.But is that all? Or is there more

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1146020237746310582006-04-25T22:14:00.000-04:002006-04-25T22:59:41.723-04:00

April 30, 2006Psalm 4Luke 24:36b-48Acts 3:12-191 John 3:1-7I'm intending to spend time in the Epistle Lessons during the season of Easter. However, with one week already gone by (annual meeting), and me planning to take a much needed vacation day at the beginning of May, I may end up adjusting the passages for my actual preaching. However, I'll try to offer commentary on the passages as they

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1145473087160545312006-04-19T14:58:00.000-04:002006-04-19T14:58:07.276-04:00

April 23, 2006 Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 133 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31   This week will be our "Annual Meeting" Sunday, which is always a challenge because I present my "Annual Report" during the morning service.  It is not my intent to eliminate the Proclamation of the Word, and yet I don't want to fabricate a connection simply for the sake of a connection.  Some years I have abandoned the

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1145282418208447752006-04-17T09:55:00.000-04:002006-04-17T10:15:18.383-04:00

This is the manuscript for the sermon that I gave Easter Sunday morning at our 10:00 service. If you would prefer to listen, you can download the sermon here.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!What a week it has been. As we have heard the Narrative of the Passion of the Christ once again, we have contemplated its mystery, and the ramifications that it has for our life. It seems like forever ago that

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1145277175164034412006-04-17T08:32:00.000-04:002006-04-18T13:19:29.146-04:00

For Good Friday this year, we built the service around Peter's speech in Acts 3 where he uses the phrase, "you killed the Author of Life." Based on that picture, we themed the service around the notion of Killing the Song of Light and Life.What follows is the order of service that we developed for our service. I've included a selection of the readings and songs after the order of service. Hymn

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1144879861642998512006-04-12T17:24:00.000-04:002006-04-14T11:25:36.460-04:00

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we find these words:John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.3Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1144717785149282152006-04-10T21:09:00.000-04:002006-04-10T21:09:45.150-04:00

I first came across the story The Ragman during the summer of 2005 at our Teen Camp. Our speaker, Wayne Nelson, presented this story as a monologue/reader's theater. It fit in exceptionally well with our theme of "Extreme Makeover: Life Edition," as the story spoke ofexchanging our filthy, dirty rags for the new clothes that Jesus offers. Wayne made it clear that he did not write the story, and

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1144717719001168742006-04-10T21:08:00.000-04:002006-04-10T21:08:39.006-04:00

I came across this quote in Christianity Today, and thought that it might be very beneficial in your holy week preparation.Passion is a kind of waiting - waiting for what other people are going to do. Jesus went to Jerusalem to announce the good news to the people of that city. And Jesus knew that he was going to put a choice before them: Will you be my disciple, or will you be my executioner?

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1144633830646658182006-04-09T21:09:00.000-04:002006-04-09T21:50:30.770-04:00

Thank you for your patience during my extended blogging break. I've been out of the lectionary for the last several weeks because our church has been on a journey entitled "The Quest." In many ways, you might explain "The Quest" as a sequel to Rick Warren's "The Purpose-driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" While Warren attempts to answer the questions of "what" or "why," Frank Moore is

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1142259137458425612006-03-13T08:41:00.000-05:002006-04-22T17:19:25.593-04:00

In order to tie this post in (however loosely) with church, I'll tell this story to introduce the topic of our new truck. Yesterday while we were sitting around waiting for Sunday School to start, someone looked out the window at all the cars in the parking lot and made a comment about needing to add parking spaces. I reminded them that once the snow was gone, the cemetery association has always

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1141656624186381232006-03-06T09:26:00.000-05:002006-03-06T09:50:25.050-05:00

I'm not one to deceive myself into thinking that I have a huge viewing audience just sitting on pins and needles waiting for a new post from me...However, I imagine that there might be one or two regular readers who have started to simply wonder if I've dropped off the face of the earth... No, I am still alive and well!I won't bother list off all of the lame excuses for why this blog hasn't seen

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1133452078795683132005-12-01T10:31:00.000-05:002005-12-01T13:32:45.696-05:00

I'm a bit behind the curve again this week...seems it just gets busier and busier! :)Here's an Advent 2B sermon that I preached in 2002. I won't be preaching it this week, but will probably focus on what it means for the church to be a voice in the wilderness, calling the world to "Prepare the way of the Lord." So, I'm just providing this sermon as reference for anyone who might find it helpful

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1133016207529686352005-11-26T09:40:00.000-05:002005-11-26T09:46:44.920-05:00

When I was writing this post, I foolishly forgot what got me thinking about the whole concept of light/darkness and hope/despair.It seems counter-intuitive to focus on elements of despair or hopelessness during this season. After all, what we really need is someone to encourage us, to give us hope. We need someone to shine a flashlight into our darkness and let us know that Christ will come again

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1133013617358760302005-11-26T08:06:00.000-05:002005-11-26T09:45:25.683-05:00

What does it mean to celebrate Advent? What is the purpose of Advent, and what distinguishes it from the Christmas season? Should we sing Christmas carols during Advent? How about wreaths, trees, and other Christmas type decorations?I think that we often miss the depth and richness of Advent when we go straight from Thanksgiving into Christmas. I'm not just speaking about the commercialism

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1133009586258228102005-11-26T07:44:00.000-05:002005-11-26T07:53:06.276-05:00

Here is a sermon from 3 years ago. On reflection, the illustration which I used as a hook seems to have little real connection with the rest of the message, other than helping to illustrate the feelings which we experience when caught in the middle. In any case, I've presented the sermon here in unedited form as it was preached in 2002.Grace and Peace,PastorJon******************************Have

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1132438418363204642005-11-19T17:05:00.000-05:002005-11-19T17:13:38.383-05:00

It's hard to believe that I've cycled through the lectionary once already. Time has flown by quickly, and I forget that I've been ministering at this church for nearly 5 years now, with three of those as the lead pastor.Tomorrow I'm not following the lectionary but will be looking at the Great Commission (as a follow up to my last two weeks looking at the two greatest commandments). However, I

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1132406865511825992005-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:002005-11-19T08:32:15.463-05:00

It's been a pretty busy week for me, having put in probably 20+ hours worth of volunteering at the radio station. As I mentioned earlier, it was our Fall Sharathon, an annual event which raises the funds needed to keep the radio station on the air. For three days of radio broadcast, the radio hosts explained the need and asked people to give money to help reach the goal.The goal was $240,000.00

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1132404858561649482005-11-19T07:32:00.000-05:002005-11-19T11:04:08.703-05:00

Those who are pursuing Narnia related themes in their church this December may find ways to weave the themes of the book into the themes of Advent. For instance, the books deal with the theme of "certain hope" as the children and the Narnians await the coming of Aslan. The White Witch has made it "always winter, and never Christmas." When Aslan comes, the power of the White Witch is broken, and

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1132066608335422572005-11-15T09:42:00.000-05:002005-11-15T09:56:48.413-05:00

Today is Praise & Prayer Day at Positive 89.3. It's a day that my friends at the radio station set aside to hear from listeners about what God is doing in their lives. We take phone calls of praise and thanksgiving, as well as prayer requests. Many of these phone calls are played on the air, and listeners throughout New England join together to pray. There are pastors on hand to pray for

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797514.post-1131996629562690692005-11-14T14:30:00.000-05:002005-11-14T14:30:29.623-05:00

Here's hoping I can stay ahead of the curve with lectionary blogging this Advent season! Thanks for joining me on the journey, as we take a look at the Lectionary Texts each week. Here are a collection of thoughts and resources as I begin to think about Advent 1B.Check out Liturgies Online for a suggested liturgy. As I read through the children's lesson in this liturgy, I was reminded that

Pastor Jonnoreply@blogger.com