Preaching and Worship After Pentecost (Year C)

PREACHING CONSIDERATIONS

Preaching in the long period between Trinity Sunday and Advent is often challenging. Though we have come to think of this period as "ordinary time," your preaching need not be ordinary. The Revised Common Lectionary (see The United Methodist Book of Worship, 227-237) during the time after Pentecost is a treasure trove of homiletical possibilities. Many preachers are ready to launch into a series of sermons with a particular focus or to take up themes or topics. The RCL provides some ecumenically considered help for busy preachers.

Understand the Lectionary From Advent to Pentecost, the weekly lections have thematic unity governed by the gospel reading. After Pentecost, however, the readings cease to have thematic relationship. The Old Testament readings, the New Testament readings, and the gospel readings each take separate continuous or semi-continuous tracks. For more information visit the Consultation on Common Texts website.

Selecting a Track* Which readings does the lectionary offer for "ordinary time" this year? After looking over the texts for the period, choose the track that best fits your congregation's needs. Select themes or topics that will help members of your congregation grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Whenever possible, highlight the unity or progression of your selected readings. Group readings together in ways that make sense to you and address the spiritual needs of your congregation.

Examples from the Old Testament Track (4 Weeks)
June 6 -- July 4, 2010: 1 and 2 Kings
Theme: The Prophets Teach About Leadership

1 Kings 21:1-21a Elijah the prophet fearlessly confronted the wickedness of political leaders in the highest office of their land.

1 Kings 19:1-15a Even the most celebrated leaders occasionally grow weary and need encouragement from God.

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Elisha, the junior prophet, stayed close to the elder Elijah; in the end he was doubly blessed for his efforts.

2 Kings 5:1-14 Humility leads to healing. A prideful Naaman would never have been healed from leprosy. Which was his greatest malady: leprosy or pride?

Examples from the New Testament Track (8 Weeks)
June 6 -- August 1, 2010: Galatians and Colossians
Theme: New Life in Christ

Galatians 2:15-21 We are not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ who lives in us. (Theme: Justification by Faith)

Galatians 3:23-29 Belief in Christ nullifies our earthly ways of categorizing people; those who believe in Christ are equals. (Theme: Equality)

Galatians 5:1, 13-25 There are radical differences between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Those who belong to Christ strive to be led by the Spirit. (Theme: Christian Perfection)

Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 Though we may be tempted to grow weary from doing what is right, we are assured that eventually our good works will bear fruit. (Theme: Perseverance)

Colossians 1:15-28 Christ in us is the hope of glory. (Theme: Hope for the Present and the Future)

Colossians 2:6-15 Continue to live your life in Christ, avoiding the trap of useless human traditions. All that we need we find in Christ; our hearts are circumcised in Christ, we are buried with Christ in baptism, we are made alive in Christ. (Theme: The Sufficiency of God, the Futility of Human Solutions)

Colossians 3:1-11 We have a new way of life in Christ, and new, attainable goals for our present lives. Get rid of evil and unproductive ways and be renewed in Christ! (Theme: Christian Perfection, Christian Lifestyle)

Colossians 1:1-14 We are called to lead lives worthy of the Lord, who has rescued us from darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the beloved Son. (Theme: Christian Perfection)

Examples from the Gospel Track (Sundays prior to Labor Day)
June 6 -- August 29, 2010: Gospel of Luke
Theme: Extraordinary Words of Wisdom for Ordinary Times

Luke 7:36—8:3 A woman with an alabaster jar of ointment anointed Jesus' feet while he was a dinner guest at a notable Pharisee's home. When a moral uproar followed, Jesus observed that those who experience forgiveness love much, while those who have no understanding of their need for forgiveness love little.

Luke 8:26-39 The healing of the Gerasene demoniac was a major event that frightened the local people. They were, in fact, so frightened that they asked Jesus to leave them. When the former demoniac, now in his right mind, begged Jesus to allow him to go with him, Jesus commanded him to remain in that town as a witness. What profound lessons do we learn from this?

Luke 9:51-62 No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. There are many ways to look back. Think of the nostalgia that some Christians experience when they reminisce about what they owned or enjoyed before they were Christians.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Like the 70 sent to work the works of Jesus and to proclaim the good news of the coming kingdom, we are also encouraged to rejoice that our names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:25-37 What could any of us possibly do to inherit eternal life? This was the question that a local lawyer used to test Jesus. His answer was to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is not as easy as it sounds when it is easier for us to see strangers as enemies than it is for us to recognize them as future neighbors and friends.

Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha represented legendary polarities. Mary was spiritual and Martha got the job done. Is there a place for us to meet between the two?

Luke 11:1-13 Lord, teach us to pray? Yet many of us do not pray because we fear that our prayers will be ignored or rejected. Why is it so easy for us to assume the basic goodness of some human beings while doubting the unchanging goodness of God? God is good — all the time.

Luke 12:13-21 In an era when so many are possessed by possessions, Jesus continues to warn us against succumbing to greed.

Luke 12:32-40 Christ will return at an unexpected hour. Therefore, invest your energy in God's concerns, stay alert, and live in a state of readiness.

Luke 12:49-56 The Christian life is not always peace and reconciliation. A commitment to Christian values sometimes leads to strained or broken relations with those we love.

Luke 13:10-17 The poor woman in the synagogue had been unable to stand up straight for 18 years. Why couldn't they rejoice when Jesus set her free? Are there times when we refuse to rejoice when our brothers and sisters are released from myriad forms of captivity?

Luke 14:1, 7-14 Invite those who cannot repay your favor. Take the lowest seat at the banquet. It is so undemanding to claim a good position on the social ladder and to enjoy trading favors with our friends. Jesus' words about humility and charity are difficult to hear in any era.

WORSHIP CONSIDERATIONS

Since preaching always has a context in worship, you will want to think clearly about how music, praise and prayer, gestures and movement, acts of response to the Word (invitation and response — see The United Methodist Hymnal, p. 4), Holy Communion, and Sending interface with the sermon, and vice versa. If proclaiming the Word of God is the aim of preaching, then these acts of worship need to be seen as anticipations of or responses to the Word. How sad and contrary it is for preachers and leaders to hinder God's Word from accomplishing its purpose! (Isaiah 55:10-11) The sending forth must connect and call the people to go forth to embody the message of the day in their daily life. If the sermon proclaims God's good news in Jesus Christ, then the communion meal must be celebrated as our meeting with Jesus, the risen and coming Lord! Work with others who make up your worship team to ensure that the preaching text has a vital, Spirit-breathed context.

You will find weekly music, preaching, and worship planning suggestions on Discipleship Ministries' website. The weekly "Worship Planning Helps" will offer a number of worship acts, references to sources, and links to other useful sites.

* One of the continuing questions around the use of The Revised Common Lectionary is whether or not it is a pool from which to select a preaching text. Perhaps it is best understood and used as a system of a fuller reading of the Bible in corporate worship — a kind of vitamin pack — that promotes deeper, fuller listening to the whole range of the Holy Scriptures. Most congregations, if they are not accustomed to it, find that three readings and a psalm response to the first reading is a very big pill to swallow in one sitting. Many (most?) preachers, either because of fear of giving offense, or worry about time, or vanity about their ability to declare the Word of God, are hesitant to include the reading of Bible passages other than the one upon which they will be preaching. Strangely, churches who "pride" themselves about being biblically grounded read very little Scripture! The Revised Common Lectionary's purpose is to set a rich feast of the Bible's treasure before the people each week. The preacher and other worship leaders are charged with providing the forks, spoons, and knives for the people to use in partaking of the feast! What makes for rich reading and hearing of the Bible?

• Trained readers, carefully prepared, willing to live in and with the text, will say, "This is important; listen for the Word of God in these words." "Dumb reading" of the scriptures — mumbling and poor pronunciation, reading rapidly and without pause at the end — only communicates that this is a perfunctory act.
  
• Creative use of drama, visuals, even video and digital graphics can enliven hearing. People "hear" in different ways. To misquote Mary Poppins, "A spoonful of imagination makes the Bible come alive." Who says that the Mary and Martha story has to be read by one reader? Could the text be read by a narrator and a woman and a man to speak Martha's and Jesus' parts? This approach to sharing the Scriptures is something any church can do with a little practice. Don't do it all the time; occasional use will bring variety and drama to the experience of Scripture.
  
• Tell the stories. Who says that the stories have to be read? Try telling it, with or without the Bible in hand. For assistance in developing storytelling the Scriptures, visit the Network of Biblical Storytellers.
  
• Ask readers to read from a lectern Bible or lectionary book that is handsomely bound and of impressive size. One of the afflictions that dulls and makes worship boring in many of our churches is "minimalism" — baptizing with a sprinkle of water, reading from a personal Bible or copied sheet, and using as little bread and juice as possible. Why not create a sense of gathering around a "great book" — our family's book of stories, our "picture" album?
  
• End before you begin the next thing. One of the most demoralizing practices to hearers is for the reader to finish the reading and, without a breath, to launch into the song, prayer, or whichever next thing. "Then the Lord said to [Elijah], 'Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus.' Please turn in your hymnal to number 382, 'Have Thine Own Way, Lord.'" Poof! The reading evaporates. Coach your readers to observe a discipline of timing. At the end of the reading take a breath, keep a moment of silence, and then end the reading with a simple declaration such as, "The Word of the Lord" or "The Word of God among us. The Word of God in us. The Word of God leading us," to which the people can say, "Thanks be to God."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Getting on the Right Track
• Exploring the Revised Common Lectionary
• A Gentle Reminder to Preachers and Worship Planners During the Season after Pentecost

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The readings come from The United Methodist Book of Worship and are adapted from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992), copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), PO Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT.