We need some balance in our lives right now. We need
some continuity in our lives right now.
Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.”
That is a verse we all need in times like this.
Knowing that in an upside down out of control world that God is still His
always right side up in control Self.
I would encourage you to hang on to that verse,
especially in the week ahead.
And I want to give you another unchanging resource as
well.
The lectionary.
Vanderbilt Divinity Library defines the lectionary in
this way:
The Revised Common Lectionary is
a three-year cycle of weekly lections used to varying degrees by the vast
majority of mainline Protestant churches in Canada and the United States. The
RCL is built around the seasons of the Church Year, and includes four lections
for each Sunday, as well as additional readings for major feast days. During
most of the year, the lections are: a reading from the Hebrew Bible, a Psalm, a
reading from the Epistles, and a Gospel reading. During the season of Easter,
the Hebrew Bible lection is usually replaced with one from the Acts of the
Apostles. The lections from the Hebrew Bible are sometimes chosen from the
Apocrypha.
The seasons of the Church Year
reflect the life of Christ. Consequently, the gospel lections for each Sunday
provide the focus for that day. The other lections for a given day generally
have a thematic relationship to the gospel reading for that day, although this
is not always the case. In Ordinary Time, the Revised Common Lectionary offers
two sets of readings for the lessons from the Hebrew Bible. One set proceeds
mostly continuously, giving the story of the Patriarchs and the Exodus in Year
A, the monarchial narratives in Year B, and readings from the Prophets in Year
C. In the other set of readings for Ordinary Time, the readings from the Hebrew
Bible are thematically related to the gospel lections. Denominations or local
churches generally use either the semicontinuous readings or the thematic
readings during Ordinary Time. They do not typically move back and forth
between the two over the course of a single season.
The gospel readings for each year
come from one of the synoptic gospels according to the following pattern:
Year A - Matthew
Year B - Mark
Year C - Luke
Readings from the Gospel of John
can be found throughout the RCL.[i]
So,
basically the lectionary is a set of daily Scripture readings, from the Old
Testament, from the Gospel, from the Psalms, and from an Epistle (basically
Acts-Revelation). I wanted to share all this today because I find the
lectionary to be a gift of comfort amid the craziness of the world, especially
right now. The lectionary, in conjunction with our church calendar, give us a
rhythm and routine to life and worship, and that the two are always connected.
A few
years ago I started beginning every day with a reading from the Psalms. Then I
incorporated the daily lectionary reading in as well, Old Testament and New Testament.
And in this ancient scriptural practice I found a beautiful routine that was
comforting, not boring, routine, but not regular.
For
me, the lectionary calendar provides a routine that I desperately need.
In my
first appointment I came thinking of all the ways that we could change up the
worship service, from the music to where I preached from, even to the bulletins
and the order of worship. I wanted to make sure that no one was too
“comfortable”, which I assumed then would lead to “complacent”. As I sat one
afternoon and talked to a recently widowed church member, she said these words,
“I can’t wait to get back to church. My life is so out of control right now. At
least in church I know what to expect. I know what comes next.”
What
to expect.
What
comes next.
Those
are things that we want now, also, I think.
Her
words have stuck with me. I didn’t need to change up an order of worship, there
is something important, there is something comforting, in knowing what comes
next.
As I
sit here this morning writing these words I am looking out my window, and I
can’t see past the road at the end of my yard. I know that there are trees on
the other side of the road. I know that Willie and Barbara live just to the
left. But I can’t see anything past my yard. It doesn’t mean that the trees and
the Gehlen’s house is not there anymore, just because I can’t see it. It just
means that right now there is something blocking the view for me.
The
lectionary is kind of like this for me. I can’t see everything that will
happen, and that’s ok. I can see what I need to see, and I know, at least for
this moment, what will come next.
I want
to encourage you, as we are in this unique time in our lives, to engage in the
lectionary with me. I have posted links to both the daily readings (we are in
Year A right now), and the Sunday readings, on our Telford United Methodist Church website under the
“Ministries” tab (https://webtelfordunitedme.wixsite.com/mysite/ministries-1)
You
can even click here to import all of these readings directly into your online
calendar!! https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/calendar.php
I hope
that the lectionary can be a gift of comfort to you during these days and weeks
ahead. And know that there are so many others around the world reading the same
Scripture with you today.
And if
you haven’t done this yet, you can also sign up to receive a daily devotional email
based on the Scripture readings from the lectionary directly from members of
our Holston Conference. You can sign up to get this daily email here: https://list.robly.com/subscribe?a=86212b741523f9e41a9d3b61c1c0c05a
Things
are different. And they will continue to be. But our God is the same, always
and forever. In the midst of the changing landscape of the world we live in,
know that God’s promises to you in Scripture, His love shown to you in Jesus,
and His presence with you in the Holy Spirit, remains unchangeable and eternal.
Rest
in that knowledge. Be comforted in that truth. And engage in a routine with the
Lord that brings you closer to Him.
Grace
& Peace,
Pastor
Michael
For
those interested, here is my “normal” routine for engaging with the lectionary
readings:
1.
Read a Psalm (actually right now I am not
reading the recommended Psalm for the day, I am reading through the Psalter in
order again, from Psalm 1 to Psalm 150. Sometimes I break up the longer Psalms
into more than one day, do whatever you feel God leading you to).
2.
Read the New Testament passage
3.
Read the Old Testament passage
4.
Read a brief devotional (Sometimes I use the
Upper Room, or sometimes the Holston Conference email devotional that is listed
above—I like this because it goes along with the Scripture I just read. Right
now I am reading this book, https://www.amazon.com/Library-Lewis-Selections-Influenced-Spiritual/dp/0307730824,
which is a collection of short quotes from some of the writers who influenced
CS Lewis.) There are also thousands of devotions through your Youversion Bible
app.
5.
Prayer (I keep a prayer journal of prayer
requests, what I am thankful for, supplications of others), I begin with the
Lord’s Prayer because that helps center me
There is no right or wrong way here, and this
structure works for me right now, but will change perhaps as I continue to
mature and change as well. Find what works for you where you are right now in
your relationship with God. W
We will get
through this because God is with us. Take precautions, stay home if you can,
follow the health and safety guidelines, and engage with your Father. He’s
waiting….
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