A Year with Matthew 25

Trinity Sunday, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. How can the church’s mission of baptism and teaching help to make disciples who will address poverty, racism, and congregational vitality? What does the doctrine of the Trinity have to do with these priorities for the PC(USA)? Where must we “go” to do this work? Reader: Carlton Johnson. Musicians: Chi Yi Chen Wolbrink, Tony Lu, Katie Wesley, and P...

Day of Pentecost, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. Got Spirit? In the church’s witness and work toward eradicating systemic poverty, dismantling structural racism, and building congregational vitality, we utterly depend on the work of the Holy Spirit. But here is the good news of the gospel: It is the Spirit who “has” us. Readers: Derek Wadlington and Rachel Sutphin. Musicians: Westminster Presb...

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ racism ] Where do we see love in action? (Part Two.) John 17 describes how Jesus has given the mission of God’s reconciling love to the church. Matthew 22 indicates that, “in the resurrection,” former relationships will be transformed by the power of the living God. Readers: Lisa Schrott and Becky Purcell. Musicians: Westminster Presby...

Ascension of the Lord, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. Where is Jesus now? The story of Christ’s ascension is sometimes misunderstood as his absence; the point is that Christ is sovereign, interceding for us. Especially in Easter, we celebrate the power and presence of the risen Christ with the church at work in the world. Readers: Barry Ensign-George and Sarah Walker Cleaveland. Musicians: Wes...

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ racism ] Where do we see love in action? (Part One.) John 14 underscores Jesus’ new commandment to love one another in the name and image of the triune God. Matthew 21 demonstrates that love in action means rooting out corruption and bearing good fruit. Readers: Kim Wadlington and Derek Wadlington. Musicians: Westminster Presbyterian Chu...

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary,  Year A. [ poverty ] What does abundant life look like? (Part Two.) John 14 promises that there are many dwelling places in the house of God, where Jesus makes room. Matthew 12 shows how Jesus came to provide for human flourishing — feeding, healing, and serving others. Readers: Derek Wadlington and Martha Moore-Keish. Musicians: Westminster Presb...

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ poverty ] What does abundant life look like? (Part One.) John 10 says that it means trusting the shepherd’s voice, rather than thieves and bandits who kill and destroy. Matthew 18 connects heavenly life with welcoming all, eliminating stumbling blocks, and seeking out the lost. Readers: Karl Heimbuck and Kimberly Long. Musicians: Westmi...

Third Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ vitality ] What are the marks of a vital congregation? (Part Two.) Luke 24 teaches us that vitality involves recognizing the presence and action of Christ among strangers. Matthew 16 invites us to consider the “sign of Jonah” — a call to repentance, death, and resurrection. Readers: Jane Rose and Tom Trinidad. Musicians: Westminster Pres...

Second Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ vitality ] What are the marks of a vital congregation? (Part One.) John 20 reveals that vitality involves the work of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness and trust in Christ. Matthew 15 suggests that vitality means a ministry of healing and sharing God’s abundant grace. Readers: David Gambrell and Emily Krause Corzine. Musicians: Westminster P...

Resurrection of the Lord, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. What does it mean to believe in resurrection? For Christians, this is our joyful affirmation that Jesus is risen from the dead. But it is also our call to a new way of life, a new orientation for the people of God. We believe that God is still working to bring new life to the world.  Reader: Byron Wade. Musicians: Westminster Presbyteria...

Palm/Passion Sunday, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. On Palm/Passion Sunday the Scriptures speak for themselves. The irony of the Lenten season culminates in Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The call to die leads to Gethsemane and Golgotha. Reader: David Gambrell. Musicians: David Gambrell and Phillip Morgan. Music: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and "Jesus, Be with Us...

Fifth Sunday in Lent, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. The anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26) and the raising of Lazarus (John 11) strongly foreshadow the great mystery of faith we are preparing to commemorate at Holy Week. How does the church’s work around poverty, racism, and congregational vitality lead us to Christ’s cross? Readers: Andy James and Emily Krause Corzine. Musicians: David Gambre...

Fourth Sunday in Lent, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ vitality ] Who can really claim to see what God is doing? In each of these Gospel stories, those who are dismissed as blind seem to have more insight. What assumptions do we make about people outside the church? How have we failed to see what God is doing with them? Readers: Lisa Schrott and Martha Moore-Keish. Musicians: David Gambrell a...

Third Sunday in Lent, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ poverty ] Ironically, the rich young ruler asks Jesus, “What do still I lack?” (Matthew 19:20). The problem, of course, is that he has too much. In the realm of God, the first will be last and the last will be first. We must learn to depend on the overflowing grace of God (cf. John 4:14). Readers: Linda Lovins and Marcella Glass. Musicians...

Second Sunday in Lent, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [ racism ] Jesus challenges us to rethink our ideas about birthright and family allegiances. Whether in his conversation with Nicodemus (John 3) or the crowds (Matthew 12), Jesus describes new relationships in God. What does this suggest about dismantling structural racism? Readers: Tom Trinidad and Becky Purcell. Musicians: David Gambrell...

Ash Wednesday, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. Where is your heart? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). Lent is an invitation to examine our own hearts and return to the heart of our faith — dying to sin and evil and rising to life in Christ. Reader: Nikki Collins. Musicians: David Gambrell and Phillip Morgan. Music:...

First Sunday in Lent, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. Jesus faces three tests in the wilderness. In this year with Matthew 25, we might ask: How are we tempted to deny God’s providence (systemic poverty), to rely on power and privilege (structural racism), or to worship things other than God (congregational vitality)? Reader: Rachel Sutphin. Musicians: David Gambrell and Phillip Morgan. Music:...

Transfiguration of the Lord, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. How can we see God’s glory? The disciples glimpsed it in the face of Jesus Christ on the mountain of transfiguration. The early church leader Irenaeus said we can see it in “a human being fully alive.” To live into our calling as Jesus’ disciples is to shine with God’s glory. Reader: Gina Yeager-Buckley. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and P...

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. What is the purpose of God’s law? The law can be a mirror: revealing our sin in contrast to God’s holiness. The law can be a fence: restraining us from evil and keeping order in society. For Christian disciples, the law is also a sign: guiding us in a life of faithfulness. Reader: Kelly Abraham. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and Phillip Mo...

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. How do you recognize a disciple? Jesus says we are called to be like salt, seasoning the world with goodness, and like light, shining for all to see. This is how we fulfill the law and follow God’s way. This is how others can “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). Reader: Tony Oltmann. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and Phillip M...

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. What does it mean to be blessed? The Beatitudes suggest that, like Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 12:1–3), we are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. This is a fitting vocation for Christian disciples — baptized into the life of Jesus, in whom God is “well pleased.” Reader: Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and Ph...

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary Year A. How do you fish for people? Sometimes discipleship is like “casting a net into the sea” (Matt. 4:18) — reaching out in new forms of ministry. At other times it may mean “mending our nets” (Matt. 4:21) — tending to the relationships and communities that sustain our service. Reader: Carlton David Johnson. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and Phi...

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary Year A. What is the cost of discipleship? John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ coming; he was later beheaded for challenging Herod (Matthew 14). Andrew and Simon (Peter) were the first disciples called by Jesus (John 1); according to early church tradition, they were both crucified. Readers: So Jung Kim and Barry Ensign-George. Musici...

Baptism of the Lord, Revised Common Lectionary Year A. Where does discipleship begin? In each of the Gospels, Jesus’ ministry begins at his baptism, where he is claimed as God’s beloved child and anointed with the gifts of the Spirit. The same is true for us. Baptism is the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship in Jesus’ name. Reader: Sally Ann McKinsey. Musicians: Meg Flannagan and Phil...

First Sunday of Christmas, Revised Common Lectionary Year A. Matthew's Gospel is distinctive in its treatment of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as political refugees, situating their story in the context of an act of genocide. This is in stark contrast to the message of Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12): that Jesus is good news for the people of all nations. Reader: Maxwell Gambrell. Musician: Phillip Morga...