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Progressive Christian

2014-12-22T14:01:04-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Adventurous Lectionary – December 28, 2014 – the First Sunday of Christmas

Last updated on: December 22, 2014 at 2:01 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – December 28, 2014 – The First Sunday of Christmas Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40 In the midst of my Christmas shopping, I noticed an interesting coffee company ad announcing, “Revelation in a cup.” Today’s readings speak of our ability to notice God in our midst. God is abundant, providing hints and revelations everywhere, but do we have senses to notice? If we can notice God in a Bethlehem baby, perhaps we can notice... Read more

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2014-12-21T16:43:54-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Shark at the Manger

Last updated on: December 21, 2014 at 4:43 pm By Bruce Epperly

A Shark at the Manger You’ve heard of the shepherds and the magi, the angel chorus, the fourth wise man, and the little drummer boy; but have you heard of the shark at the manger? This year’s Christmas pageant at South Congregational Church on Cape Cod inspired a shark to give homage to the baby Jesus. Our congregation’s minister of children’s and youth faith formation gathered the church school classes on the first Sunday of Advent to assign roles for... Read more

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2014-12-15T05:46:21-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Adventurous Lectionary – December 21, 2014 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Last updated on: December 15, 2014 at 5:46 am By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 21, 2014 Luke 1:26-55 On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, our eyes turn to the call of Mary of Nazareth and her calling to us. Her response to God and her hymn of praise ring out through the ages and serve as a model for our own spiritual journeys. Accordingly, I believe that the congregation would profit from focusing on the entire Mary Saga, Luke 1:26-55, perhaps as a... Read more

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2014-12-07T09:18:15-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Adventurous Lectionary – Advent 3 – December 14, 2014

Last updated on: December 7, 2014 at 9:18 am By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Third Sunday of Advent – December 14, 2014 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 I Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 Good news is coming! The world is being transformed. God’s way is emerging in a troubled world. God’s Spirit is upon all people and the vulnerable, outcast, and lost will experience healing and hospitality. Such are the words of the prophet Isaiah and our Advent hope. Slightly different from Jesus’ own inaugural speech in Luke 4,... Read more

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2014-11-30T20:19:58-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Adventurous Lectionary – December 7, 2014 – Second Sunday of Advent

Last updated on: November 30, 2014 at 8:19 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Second Sunday of Advent – December 7, 2014 Psalm 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Make haste! A way is being made! The Holy One is coming! Perhaps God’s revealing one is already here. God comes to save and heal. Let us open our hearts to God’s new age. Isaiah 40 continues the theme of preparation, characteristic of the Advent season. Something wild is about to happen, something that will change everything,... Read more

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2014-11-24T07:06:09-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Adventurous Lectionary – November 30, 2014 – The First Sunday of Advent

Last updated on: November 24, 2014 at 7:06 am By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – The First Sunday of Advent – November 30, 2014 Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 I Corinthians 1:1-9 Mark 13:24-37 Advent is a season of awe and wonder. It is a time of waiting, not just for Jesus’ birth, but for the transformation of our lives and the world. Advent reflects the unfinished nature of creation. God brought forth an unfinished universe, requiring our participation in its ongoing history. Jesus the Christ came to earth, healed the... Read more

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2014-11-17T07:30:09-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Adventurous Lectionary – November 23, 2014 – The Reign of Christ Sunday

Last updated on: November 17, 2014 at 7:30 am By Bruce Epperly

Adventurous Lectionary – November 23, 2014 – The Reign of Christ Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Psalm 100 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matthew 25:31-46 The celebration of the Reign of Christ turns us toward justice and relationship. God experiences the world and responds to bring about structures of justice and reconciliation. Our worship of God is grounded in our gratitude for God’s love for the world and for all who suffer from injustice. God’s love truly embraces our experiences. God’s love for the world... Read more

2014-11-10T17:13:19-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Adventurous Lectionary – November 16, 2015 – Pentecost 23

Last updated on: November 10, 2014 at 5:13 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost – November 16, 2014 Judges 4:1-7 Psalm 123 Philippians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30 Today’s passages are challenging to those preachers who wish to include all four readings in worship. If you read the Old Testament/Hebraic scriptures, you must preach about them. Otherwise, you may perpetuate unhealthy and problematic images of God. The parable of the talents is a reminder that opening to divine possibility, even when it means the risk of novelty, awakens... Read more

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2014-11-02T18:23:34-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This Holy Moment: A Response to Sybil MacBeth’s “The Season of the Nativity”

Last updated on: November 2, 2014 at 6:23 pm By Bruce Epperly

This post is part of the blogger roundtable for the Patheos Book Club on The Season of the Nativity by Sybil MacBeth. The Hallmark Channel has just begun showing Christmas movies. Television and radio remind us that Christmas is coming, and entice our children and grandchildren with gifts whose cacophony, violence, and materialism drowns out the message of the Prince of Peace. Only 54 (as I write today) days to Christmas. Hurry, don’t get left behind, find the perfect gift, don’t... Read more

Book Reviews

2014-11-02T15:37:38-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Adventurous Lectionary – November 9, 2014 -Pentecost 22

Last updated on: November 2, 2014 at 3:37 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – November 9, 2014 – Pentecost 22 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Psalm 78:1-7 I Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 Today’s readings focus on the practical implications of following the one true God. The objects of our faith shape our character and relationships with others. Believing in God isn’t enough; the type of God who commands our loyalty may be a matter of life and death. Theology, accordingly, is essential to the life of faith as a way of affirming... Read more

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