A Plain Account

Our texts for this week are here. Our prayer for this week is here.   We recommend this brief article with an overview and further links about trauma-informed preaching.  Consider Romans 12 as a parallel text, especially for talking about forgiveness. Alicia’s discussion of forgiveness is in part influenced by an article by Matt Potts: “Mourning for forgiveness.” Theology 122, no. 3 (May 2019), 180-187. His forthcoming book, Forgiveness: On Accountability and Atonement (from Yale University Press), is *very high* on her to-be-read list. Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts this week are here. We frequently discuss the practices of reading the Bible from the margins, and a “dislocated exegesis.” For further reading, see Reading the Bible from the Margins by  Miguel A de La Torre, The Word Before the Powers by Charles Campbell, and Preaching as Testimony, by Anna Carter Florence. A companion text from Paul’s epistle: “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” - Ephesians 5:5, NLT Megan quotes Stanley P. Saunders from Preaching the Gospel of Matthew: Proclaiming God’s Presence. You can read more from the Solentiname Island community in Lake Nicaragua in The Gospel in Solentiname by Ernesto Cardenal. Our prayer this week is adapted from the Beatitudes. Read the entire prayer here. Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here Our prayer for this week is a poem from Malcolm Guite: “St Peter”  Here is a version of the children’s song with motions "I Will Make You Fishers of Men"  Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. Old Testament references include: Elijah & the Widow in 1 Kings 17:1-16 and Elisha & Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-14 Our prayer for this week from Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Padraig O'Tuama Our Greek word study via StepBible.org: ἐκβάλλω (ekballō) 'to expel' (G1544)  Discussion about "powers & principalities" from Charles Campbell, The Word Before the Powers Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here.  Our prayer for this week from Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Padraig O Tuama Elijah & the Widow– 1 Kings 17:1-16 Elisha & Naaman– 2 Kings 5:1-14 Word Study via StepBible.org: ἐκβάλλω (ekballō) 'to expel' (G1544)  Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. A transcript of this episode will be available on our website.  Our prayer for this week is here. “When the water rushed into the emptiness you were surprised that you were surprised, that you could even feel the sudden wellspring when you thought all had been poured out. And then suddenly the sweetness that stuns you that tells you this was not all, this was not the end that this blessing was saving the best for last.” - Jan Richardson Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. A transcript of this episode will be available later on our website. Our prayer this week is from the Revised Common Lectionary web page– if you haven’t already, check out their calendar feature to add the RCL into your favorite calendar app. A Life of Jesus, by Shusaku Endo Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. The scene Alicia refers to: “You and Tobias are hopping around in the sprinkler. The sprinkler is a magnificent invention because it exposes raindrops to sunshine. That does happen in nature, but it is rare. When I was in seminary, I used to go sometimes to watch the Baptists down at the river. It was something to see the preacher lifting the one who was being baptized up out of the water and the water pouring off the garments and the hair. It did look like a birth or a resurrection. For us, the water just heightens the touch of the pastor’s hand on the sweet bones of the head. Sort of like making an electrical connection. I’ve always loved to baptize people, though I have sometimes wished there were more shimmer and splash involved in the way we go about it. Well, but you two are dancing around in your iridescent little downpour, whooping and stomping as sane people ought to do when they encounter a thing so miraculous as water.” (page 63) Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. A transcript of this episode will be available later on our website. Kelly Latimore icons Malcolm Guite sonnet Josh Ritter Song– “The Gospel of Mary” Liz Vice Song– “The Refugee King” Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. A transcript will be available later on our website.  The excerpt from Oscar Romero's Christmas Eve sermon is here in Spanish and here in English.  Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music.

Our texts for this week are here. A transcript of this episode will be available later on our website.  Poetry Unbound episode featuring Katie Manning’s poem “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”   Our prayer this week is from Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, by Padraig O'Tuama  Also mentioned: The Overshadowed Preacher, by Jerusha Matsen Neal and “Hidden Joys: A Sonnet for the Visitation”, by Malcom Guite Other resources on our website: commentaries, discipleship, liturgics, music