Bob the Lector

Paul writes to the novice Christian community in Thessalonica, giving them a pep talk to stand strong in the face of adversity.

Isaiah gives King Cyrus a piece of God's mind, empowering the Israelites to return to Jerusalem from their Babylonian captivity.

Paul writes from prison and shares a secret that a life in Christ can provide contentment and confidence, regardless of physical circumstances.

Your congregation is in for a real treat.  Isaiah gives us a message jam-packed with the very best of God’s Good News.

Isaiah narrates a riveting story told from God’s perspective.  It’s a wild ride with twists and turns, courtroomish drama, and even puns!

Paul writes from prison and exhorts his beloved Philippians with his foundational proclamation of the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding.

Ezekiel gives the Israelites a piece of God’s mind, as a parent would do to their whiny, petulant teenager. 

Paul writes from prison and exhorts his beloved Philippians to live with humility and unity.

Isaiah gives the Israelites, and us, a call to action, and to conversion.

Paul writes from prison and, for all he knows, is facing imminent execution.  As such, he muses philosophically about his own mortality, revealing uncharacteristic vulnerability.

Ben Sira admonishes the Israelites, and us, we must forgive in the measure with which we wish forgiveness.

Paul exhorts us with this simple but powerful truth: We belong to God.

Paul gives us the heart of Christ’s gospel: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Ezekiel is on the receiving end of God’s preaching;  the Lord warns him about his responsibility for the fraternal correction of sinners.

Jeremiah, usually a veritable force of nature, bemoans his complete defeat and utter humiliation, providing us a template for raw and vulnerable transparency before God.

After eleven chapters of overthinking, St. Paul shifts from doctrine to discipleship, describing how we Christians should live in response to God’s mercy. 

Isaiah gives the King’s chief steward a piece of God’s mind, after the fella gets too big for his britches.

After eleven chapters of overthinking, it’s as if St. Paul’s brain is worn out, and his heart bows in worship and wonder.

We have a poetic exhortation from the Book of Isaiah that speaks to inclusion, covenant fidelity, and the universal scope of God’s salvation.

We have a complex and occasionally confusing message by St. Paul, but he finishes with a beautiful and heartfelt message that God’s mercy is for all.

We have a classic Old Testament scene you’ve heard dozens of times, but not like you’re about to.  What’s wild about this passage is not what happens in the reading, it’s what happens before and after.

We have a potentially confusing message by St. Paul, but when we look at the larger message, we see with clarity.

We’re back with our old friend, the Prophet Isaiah, voicing God’s earnest plea for his people to accept the bounteous gifts he gives freely to them.

Paul delivers my absolute favorite of his messages.  He speaks of God’s love in a way that’s compelling to both the hard-hearted and the brokenhearted.

Paul explores some heavy theological musing, but with a nugget or two of joyful promises interspersed.