Rev Chris Roth

  One of the major drivers during the reformation was the sense that the liturgical year had become overrun with feast days, special masses, and saints' feasts. The continuous reading of Scripture that would match the season was constantly being interrupted.  Something similar is happening now. In the church there are 52 Sundays in a year and many of these days are being sought by groups to promote particular issues. In addition to the regular liturgical calendar and saints' feast days, in recent years there have been an increasing number of justice issues that churches are being asked to recognize at Sunday worship. These observances are generally optional, but they often come with liturgical resources, suggested readings, and thematic emphases that can overshadow the appointed lectionary texts. The purpose seems to be to promote awareness in the context of worship.   I want to present a sense of how extensive this could be. Around 30 of the 52 Sundays could be de...

Genesis 1:1 -2: 4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13; Matthew 28: 16-20 When we join the disciples on the mountain at the end of the Gospel of Matthew we read that “some doubted”. It seems like a strange thing to be standing in front of the resurrected Jesus and have doubt.  What is that about?  Well, we read that the “eleven disciples” went to Galilee. When we hear the number 11 we are reminded that the 12th has died by his own hand after betraying Jesus. They know how fragile they are. One of the inner circle betrayed Jesus. Perhaps there is danger within their own number. Things did not unfold as they expected. They know there is definitely danger from outside their circle. The authorities that had brought Jesus forward to be crucified were no friends of the disciples, and they would continue to be a threat. They are a group of beaten-up disciples.  Some of them doubt. They stand in front of the resurrected Jesus, but they are still beaten up. They are still emotional...