tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575Thu, 24 May 2012 19:28:00 +0000Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary from Kairos-Milwaukie United Church of Christ, hosted by Rev. Rick Skidmore and Rev. Jim Ogden.http://blog.kairosucc.org/noreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)Blogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-1218927614484650369Thu, 24 May 2012 19:28:00 +00002012-05-24T12:28:00.209-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Some of you may have seen the TV commercials for Kaiser Permanente in which the punch line is “Thrive!” A recent addition to that series has us looking for something we seem to have lost. Where did we put it? Under the bed? Maybe the kids have it. We can find it, perhaps by looking http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/05/thrivingthoughts-on-lectionary-passages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-6720556290879215205Wed, 16 May 2012 21:38:00 +00002012-05-16T14:38:33.350-07:00WHAT NEXT?—THOUGHTS ON THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES FOR ASCENSION DAY OR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—(MAY 17 & 20, 2012)—BY JIM OGDEN Lectionary Scriptures: Ascension Day: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47:1-9, Psalm 93:1-5, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, Psalm 1:1-6, I John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 Human stories usually end with a death, or sometimes with a http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/05/what-nextthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-3471249952627296174Wed, 09 May 2012 22:38:00 +00002012-05-09T15:38:51.534-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98:1-9, I John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17The Gospel and Epistle readings from John and I John continue to elaborate the meaning of God’s love and our love for one another.  Love has often been seen as the focus of Christianity, although it is not always observable in our attitudes and behavior.  If asked to reduce our faith to one word, many would choose the http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/05/focusthoughts-on-lectionary-passages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-1725448778515337012Wed, 02 May 2012 23:48:00 +00002012-05-02T16:51:27.613-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:25-31, I John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8This week’s epistle lesson continues some of the themes of love we have already encountered in previous weeks.  All it has to say about love is rooted in the fact that “God is love.”  (See I John 4:7-10, 16, 19)So—let’s talk about love.  Love is something that reaches out, connects.  It is a relational term.  There is http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/05/where-does-love-endthoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-334425074695100572Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:32:00 +00002012-04-25T10:32:53.492-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23:1-6, I John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18The news is dominated by the “bad” things of life—crime, scandal, disaster, etc.  That’s been the norm through much of the history of journalism.  It’s no surprise that The Christian Science Monitor arose as an alternative, their slogan, to this day, being, “To injure no man, but to bless all mankind.”  There is at http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/04/inspiring-expressions-of-love-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-3121508488626531601Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:33:00 +00002012-04-19T14:33:13.809-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4:1-8, I John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48Margie and I are big fans of Portland’s major league basketball team, the Trail Blazers.  Basketball, in general, offers some strained theological metaphors.  In basketball, what are called “second chance points” are particularly important.  Everybody misses a shot now and then; some, frequently.  The next thing to lookhttp://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/04/second-chancesthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-8946650328254567547Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:33:00 +00002012-04-12T12:33:48.470-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133:1-3, I John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31Although none of this week’s readings focus on the image of “the Body of Christ,” very early many who experienced the power of the resurrection began to realize that they themselves were the visible body of the resurrected Jesus.  (See I Corinthians, chapter 12, and Ephesians, chapter 4, for the most complete http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/04/what-does-risen-christ-look.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-5622686401032310375Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:19:00 +00002012-04-05T15:19:13.654-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Acts 10:34-43 OR Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, I Corinthians 15:1-11 OR Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 OR Mark 16:1-8NOTE: There are many lectionary passages for this “Holy Week” leading up to Easter Sunday, and there are more for Easter Sunday evening.  I’ve chosen to list only those selected for “Easter Day.”Followers of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (among http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/04/keeping-story-alivethoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-2166039376827345374Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:54:00 +00002012-03-29T16:54:27.729-07:00Lectionary Scriptures:Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 188:1-2, 19-29, Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-16Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1-15:47For the coming Sunday, the lectionary offers scriptures for two alternative liturgies—one celebrating Palm Sunday (i.e., Jesus’ “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem); the other, Passion Sunday (i.e., Jesus’ crucifixion http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/03/singing-and-dancing-in-rainthoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-9075399058976554696Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:09:00 +00002012-03-22T11:09:01.236-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12 OR Psalm 119:9-16, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33In many religious traditions, including that of our forefathers and mothers in Judaism, it is through a priest that one receives forgiveness.  Even into the time of Jesus, forgiveness required a sacrifice to be offered on the altar.  We moved on to a time when various forms of confession and http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/03/who-needs-priestthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-615676257184829766Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:06:00 +00002012-03-13T16:06:34.761-07:00Lectionary Scriptures: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21Lent can be seen as a time of wandering in the wilderness, experiencing troubles, getting discouraged, and, one hopes, finding a way to keep on going in the midst of it all.  It is a time for facing our fears and doubts and hesitancies, our woundedness, and finding healing—perhaps in another who “was http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/03/wounds-and-wanderingthoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-1708699293706197628Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:58:00 +00002012-03-07T15:58:25.528-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19:1-14, I Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22What is wisdom?  It may include knowledge but it is more than knowledge.  It is deep experience, at times almost intuition.  It is not just scientific; it is social/relational.  I’m not going to mine the rich meanings of wisdom throughout the Bible.  Let’s just look at a few of the things that are associated http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/03/wisdomthoughts-on-lectionary-passages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-2813320151219115936Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:31:00 +00002012-03-01T14:31:45.213-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-26, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 OR Mark 9:1-9Alternative titles might have been “What Makes It All Worthwhile?” or “What Makes Life Worth Living?”The reading from Genesis is the story of God’s covenant with Abraham.  (Genesis 17:2 & 7)  Note that this version ends with a focus on Abraham’s wife, Sarai (henceforth to be known as Sarah).  (http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/03/things-that-lastthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-4615965132130836359Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:41:00 +00002012-02-23T12:41:46.684-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, I Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 We’ve just come through the season of light (Epiphany) and are entering the season of darkness (Lent).  We have probably experienced a variety of ways of observing Lent.  I’m writing this on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) which is also called Shrove Tuesday.  Shrove is the past tense of Shrive which means “to hear a http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/02/dont-get-stuck-in-darkness-thoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-1886382092680220359Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +00002012-02-16T12:08:16.596-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: II Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, II Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 Sorry the most recent blog entry showed the wrong day. It had the correct scriptures and content for Feb. 12, but was mislabeled (Feb. 5). This week we come to the end of Epiphany, the season of light. It ends with all kinds of pyrotechnics: a whirlwind, a chariot and horses of fire, a miraculous parting ofhttp://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/02/mountaintops-and-mantlesthoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-4127269704145188183Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:13:00 +00002012-02-08T15:13:33.690-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: II Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30:1-12, I Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 Although I got in on the digital age early (qualifying with the programming language, Fortran IV, as one of the required languages for my 1973 PhD), I know that there is a huge gap between the experiences that shaped much of my life and those that shaped many of the texters and twitterers of today. One http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/02/what-ifthoughts-on-lectionary-passages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-2081617535549810869Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:14:00 +00002012-02-01T14:14:23.323-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c, I Corinthians 9:16-23. Mark 1:29-39 One never knows where our Tuesday morning lectionary discussions over breakfast may go. I usually offer some thoughts on possible themes, some scriptural background if I feel so moved. I may share a personal experience or memory or an excerpt from a book in my library. Then it’s off to the races, http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/02/wind-blows-where-it-willthoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-613452094321573698Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:23:00 +00002012-01-25T12:23:04.962-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 11:1-10, I Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 Years ago, I participated in some “sensitivity” training, designed to make us more sensitive to those who might be experiencing life differently than we were. To gain some understanding of the experience of blindness, we had a meal together in a public restaurant blindfolded. My enduring memory of http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/01/who-do-we-listen-tothoughts-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-4501238170606992757Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +00002012-01-18T11:05:41.574-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:5-12, I Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 I’m a tourist—and photographer. There are many other dimensions to my personality, but I enjoy observing the wonders of God’s creation and the variety of expressions and circumstances found in the interactions of the human species (and other species as well). Highways through scenic areas often offer http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/01/finding-viewpointthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-4381814376948092621Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:43:00 +00002012-01-09T15:43:17.692-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: I Samuel 3:1-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, I Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 One of the anthems written and composed by our own Kathy Walden and Dave Parker urges us to “Listen!” If God is the one we are to be listening to, many of us may wonder how we hear. While scripture regularly presents stories where God seems to speak with a clear voice in human language, that doesnhttp://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/01/listenthoughts-on-lectionary-passages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-2238875229820088528Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:27:00 +00002012-01-03T15:27:07.508-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Epiphany (Jan.6): Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 First Sunday After Epiphany - Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 8): Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 29:1-11, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 Friday begins the season of Epiphany in the life of the church. I’m pretty sure it’s one of Pastor Rick’s favorite seasons, so much so that he launched it last Sunday using the http://blog.kairosucc.org/2012/01/ahathoughts-on-lectionary-passages-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-9153454745700725898Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:08:00 +00002011-12-28T13:08:44.972-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: First Sunday After Christmas: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 148:1-14, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 Holy Name of Jesus & other festivals: Numbers 6:22-27, Psalm 8:1-9, Galatians 4:4-7, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 2:15-21 New Year’s Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Psalm 8:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 This week we again are offered three sets of readings. We are still in thehttp://blog.kairosucc.org/2011/12/living-questionsthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-1419024085366654118Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:14:00 +00002011-12-21T10:14:38.181-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Proper I: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96:1-13, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) Proper II: Isaiah 62:6-12, Psalm 97:1-12, Titus:3:4-7, Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 Proper II: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-9, Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12), John 1:1-14 We are given three different sets of reading for Christmas Eve/Christmas. Some churches celebrate, in most years, a Christmas Eve liturgy, a http://blog.kairosucc.org/2011/12/wonder-of-birththoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-3810548693574718486Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:38:00 +00002011-12-14T10:38:53.452-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: II Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:46b-55 OR Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 For some, the wonder of Christmas is in guessing what’s in those colorfully wrapped packages that are under the tree. We may even pick them up and shake them. What’s in them is a mystery and part of the wonder is gone when we have the unwrapped gift in our hands. Some people have ahttp://blog.kairosucc.org/2011/12/whats-in-boxthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14924575.post-2150176935910456139Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:19:00 +00002011-12-06T13:19:13.535-08:00Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126:1-6 OR Luke 1:46b-55, I Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28 Children often seem to have an innate sense of fairness. Who has not heard a child—or an adult—cry out, “It’s not fair!” The Smothers Brothers made an art out of the routine that had Mom always liking you best. Now I didn’t say that children always act fairly. They can be http://blog.kairosucc.org/2011/12/its-not-fairthoughts-on-lectionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rick Skidmore)0