March 2012

Thursday March 8, 2012

If you are following my Read the Bible in a Year plan we have just finished the Gospels, and are beginning this week the Historical Books of the Old Testament. In these books we read the story of the conquest and settlement of the land promised to Abraham and his descendents. Joshua and Judges are particularly bloody. The God of War is prominent. The God of Justice is hard to find.

On Sundays in Lent this year Pastor Bob and I are preaching the Passion Narrative from Mark's Gospel. We have set aside the Common Lectionary readings in favor of this continuous narrative, and if all goes well we will continue this practice, selecting themes or texts to work with during the liturgical seasons. After Easter perhaps we will focus on the post resurrection appearances of Jesus, and then maybe the Book of Acts during Pentecost.

To date I am enjoying the discipline of going more in depth with the story. I look forward to feedback from folks in the pew.

This coming Sunday, the 11th of March, I will be officially installed as Associate Pastor for Prairie Rivers Parish. The rite sounds a bit like something one does to a piece of software, and perhaps there is something to be learned from that analogy. Time will tell.