Mind the Gap: Lectionary Commentary

With no gaps in the upcoming Sunday's readings, we have an exciting interview to share with everyone. Please join us as we talk with Sam Cook, a 13-year-old, about Sam's experiences being a young person at church. Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Special Guest: Sam Cook Music: London Calling by Ryan Andersen FMA Podcast Suggestion by Stephan Siebert from the Free Music A...

Hmmm, some old patterns are showing up again with this gap. Plus, we get to play with light/dark imagery! Want to learn more about the NRSVue? Friendship Press Interview with the Christian Century Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:43 - scripture reading 11:09 - commentary 27:24 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Lent 2C (2025) Genesis 15:13-16 Hosts: Pastor...

Did you know that Sundays don't count in the 40 days of Lent? Listen to our latest episode for details on the role of Sundays in this season of penitence, discussion about favorite hymns, and what it takes to get to the "so what?" of our traditions. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:41 - scripture reading 10:56 - commentary 23:30 - outro sequence Lectionary comment...

This episode marks the second anniversary of Mind the Gap! We talk about wildfires and climate disaster, Christian nationalism, and our deep need for God's mercy. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:37 - Joel scripture reading 12:25 - Joel commentary 24:21 - Matthew scripture reading 27:41 - Matthew commentary 37:49 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for Ash Wedn...

It's a double text episode! We talk forgiveness and reconciliation in the Joseph narrative, and we also get to fangirl over mysticism in the epistle reading. If you're still looking for some sermon prompts and illustrations, we hope you'll listen in on our conversation. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:41 - Genesis scripture reading 09:20 - Genesis commentary 19:1...

Discernment of God's Word happens in a community, not in isolation! We also wonder: what is the platform that you and your faith stand on? Let's talk Nehemiah. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:37 - scripture reading 11:02 - commentary 31:12 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany in Year C (2024) Nehemiah 8:4,7 Hosts: Pastor Annema...

Although many churches will be doing a service of lessons and carols this weekend, the gap in the first reading reminds us not to sentimentalize the nativity, which is important to remember no matter what our worship structure is. The assigned lessons also emphasize that what we wear and how we look are always superseded by our identities as children of God. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:2...

The assigned readings for Advent in Year C have a lack of gaps, so we've invited special guest Rev. Timothy Brown to talk about what it looks like to increase the length of our Advent observance. We talk about historical church practices, why we do what we do, and how the rhythm of the church year nurtures our connection to God, nature, and our deepest selves. Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook...

Friendship, reconciliation, and Reformation... All that and more in this week's episode of Mind the Gap! Check the description for links to websites that can help you make an informed vote in the Tuesday, November 5 election. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:23 - scripture reading 11:47 - commentary 27:13 - outro sequence   Resources for voting: ballotpedia.org vo...

The beauty of creation is a way to talk about experiences of the divine around us even for people that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the institution of Church. This psalm also keeps our attention on a region of the world that desperately needs our prayers and our solidarity for justice. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:23 - scripture reading 10:54 - comment...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:40 - scripture reading (Job) 09:57 - commentary on Job 20:36 - scripture reading (Amos) 22:54 - commentary on Amos 35:25 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) D'Angelo Wallace video Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calling by Ryan Anderse...

This week begins a series of Hebrews readings for the second lesson. We talk about Greek and Christology in this episode, but this gap could actually be very helpful for preaching a difficult gospel passage. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:14 - scripture reading 11:07 - commentary 31:04 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost in...

This is the ONLY Sunday in all three years of the lectionary cycle that has a reading from Esther, so you'd better believe we're going to talk about that. And the Numbers reading reminds us of the calling we all have for ministry, not just religious leaders and authority figures. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:07 - scripture reading from Esther 11:47 - commentar...

See how we disagree with one another in a way that is respectful and productive? Very mindful. Very demure. Honestly, this might be the most fun we've had recording an episode. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:57 - scripture reading from Wisdom 11:13 - commentary on Wisdom 25:37 - scripture reading from James 28:17 - commentary on James 44:13 - outro sequence Lect...

What are modern proverbs that we probably have all heard but don't think of as such? Where does wisdom come from? What cultural wisdoms have we grown beyond? Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:51 - scripture reading 09:18 - commentary 24:31 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) Proverbs 22: 3-7, 10-21 Hosts: Past...

It's our first-ever triple gap episode! Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:35 - scripture reading from Deuteronomy 08:04 - commentary for Deuteronomy 16:11 - scripture reading from Psalms 18:08 - commentary for Psalms 21:19 - scripture reading from Mark 24:49 - commentary for Mark 33:50 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost in Ye...

It's a double scripture week, folks! We'll dig into patterns for prayer, question where God dwells, and wrestle with the difference between salvation history and salvation memory. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:19 - scripture reading from 1 Kings 12:22 - commentary for 1 Kings 25:50 - scripture reading from Joshua 30:08 - commentary for Joshua 44:20 - outro sequ...

Scripture is playing the Game of Thrones in this week's gap! Scripture reveals humanity's distorted relationship with power and God's merciful relationship with humanity. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 07:05 - commentary 22:40 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) 1 Kings 2:13-3:2 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner...

We are so excited to be joined by Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis for a discussion of John's gospel. This gap gives us an opportunity to talk about the Bread of Life discourse in the context of the fourth gospel as a whole, including what it can say to us about belief, betrayal, and Christ's promise that he will never cast us away. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 09:56 - re...

Biblical triangulation, command to rest, manna from heaven, and how we reconcile food insecurity with the abundance of God's creation.  Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:35 - reading the scripture 11:40 - commentary 28:44 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) Exodus 16:5-8 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pa...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:55 - reading the text 10:48 - commentary 27:36 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) Mark 6:35-52 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calling by Ryan Andersen FMA Podcast Suggestion by Stephan Siebert from the Free Music Archive , CC BY-NC

Power, creativity, agency... there's a lot going on in this story, and strong links to some of the other readings for the day! Links referenced in the episode: Stephen Colbert dance video Why Michal Despised David , by Dr. Wil Gafney Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:30 - reading the text 12:34 - commentary 33:27 - outro sequence 34:20 - special guest tease Lection...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 05:49 - reading the text 08:18 - commentary 28:27 - outro sequence 29:22 - special guest tease Lectionary commentary for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) 2 Samuel 5:6-8 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Music: London Calling by Ryan Andersen FMA Podcast Suggestion by Stephan Siebert from the Fr...

Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 06:17 - reading the text from Wisdom 11:01 - commentary for Wisdom 21:42 - reading the text from 2 Samuel 26:37 - commentary for 2 Samuel 34:25 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost in Year B (2024) Wisdom 1:16-2:22 and 2 Samuel 1:2-16 Hosts: Pastor Annemarie Hartner-Cook Pastor Rebecca Truland Musi...

David and Goliath, and David and Jonathan--these two pairs are the most famous connections of King David's life, and this week we get to spend time thinking about their similarities and differences, and why the way we tell their stories matters. Timestamps: 00:01 - title sequence 01:21 - What's on your mind? 08:25 - reading the text 09:45 - commentary 25:05 - outro sequence Lectionary commentary f...