Beyond the Lectionary

Lent ~ Palm Sunday ~ Holy Week

Lent 1
February 18, 2018

Amos 2:4-8, 13-16
Psalm 25:16-18
Galatians 5:2-12
Matthew 23:27-36

Lent 5
March 18, 2018

Haggai 1:2-11*
Psalm 141+
Romans 13:1-7
Mark 13:14-23+

Lent 2
February 25, 2018

Jonah 2:1-27*
Psalm 39:4-8a
Titus 2:1-10
Matthew 12:38-42

Palm Sunday
March 25, 2018

Deuteronomy 16:1-3
Psalm 103:15-18
1 John 2:7-11, 15-17
John 16:16-33

Lent 3
March 4, 2018

Lamentations 1:17-22*
Psalm 57:1-3
1 Timothy 2:11-15
Luke 19:41-46+

Maundy Thursday
March 29, 2018

Exodus 11:1-6; 12:29-36
Psalm 69:19-21
1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 27-34 John 15:18-25

Lent 4
March 11, 2018

Lamentations 1:7-8*
Psalm 118:5-9
Romans 1:18-2:11
Mark 10:32-34

Good Friday
March 30, 2018

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 RCL
Psalm 22 RCL
Hebrews 10:16-25 RCL
John 18:1-19:42 RCL

Special Notes: A "*" denotes that I have selected a different lesson not used by Beyond the Lectionary. A "+" denotes that I have expanded the BtL reading for this lesson. A "RCL" denotes that the BtL does not provide for this day, I have listed the lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary.

During the Season of Lent, 2018, my sermons will primarily focus on the Gospel Lesson.

A Message from the Pastor about using an Alternative Lectionary

December 3, 2017: We, are on a yearlong scriptural adventure! There will be some risks as we move forward, but hopefully, there will be many more rewards! We are setting aside the resource known as the Revised Common Lectionary, and replacing it during the coming twelve months with an alternative Lectionary. In order to make certain we are all on the same page, a quick explanation is in order.
The Revised Common Lectionary is a shared resource which stretches across denominations, languages, and nations, as it reaches every corner of Christianity. It is a three year guide which selects the scripture readings for Sunday and Holy Day worship services. Some denominations, such as Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodists, require the use of the four readings, one from the Old Testament, one from the Psalms, one from the Gospels, and one from the Epistles. Others, such as Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, and Baptists, have the option of following the Lectionary.
There are many strengths and few weaknesses in using the Lectionary. The biggest strength is the ecumenical unity expressed when such a significant majority of Christianity is being guided and taught by the same lessons every Sunday. The biggest weakness is that only about 25% of the Bible's verses are read over the course of the three year cycle. Even when the repeated parts of the Bible are set aside, this still leaves out more than 60% of scripture.
Our adventure aims to plug a small percentage of this huge 60% gap. By the time we reach the end of November 2018, we will reach somewhere into the 40-50% threshold. We will explore verses, chapters, and even Books of the Bible which have never been used in our worship services over the course of our more than 30 year history. We will still follow the same seasons of the church calendar, i.e. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time. However, with the exception of passages used on Christmas Eve, the Sunday after Christmas, Holy Week and Easter--- verses and stories, chapters and books, will all be new and fresh to your ears.
We will be on a learning adventure, which will stretch and poke at our well defined horizons, expectations, and assumptions! You need to participate in this adventure as much as I do! Yes, I'm the preacher entering uncharted territory! I've preached the Common Lectionary almost every Sunday for 30 years--- since 1987! But you need to have your ears, your hearts, and your minds tuned into the general focus for each Sunday. You need to let these verses wash over you and have the Holy Spirit interact within your beings, as I wrestle with the passages and seek the Lord's guidance in my preaching each Sunday. We need to do this together--- as a pack. Your preacher is not a lone wolf! If I'm the only one pursuing these new verses--- we will spiritually starve and in the process our congregation will dwindle and weaken.
To assist in your preparation, in each Sunday's bulletin, and edition of our Petros newsletter, the four passages for each Sunday will be printed. You will be able to find these passages listed here on this webpage as well as other resources to guide your preparation and reflection. I hope that each person can set aside time to prayerfully read and reflect on the passages each week. Can we covenant together to do so?
Pastor Bob

Advent

Preacher's Note:
During Advent 2017, the primary focus of each sermon will be on the reading from Revelation and will touch upon Daniel.

Advent 1
December 3, 2017

Daniel 2:24, 31-49
Psalm 38:15-22
Revelation 3:14-22
Mark 11:12-14, 20-25

Advent 2
December 10, 2017

Daniel 3:19-30
Psalm 57:8-11
Revelation 11:15-19
Luke 1:5-20, 57-66.

Advent 3
December 17, 2017

Daniel 5:1-7, 17, 25-28
Psalm 62:1-2
Revelation 15:2-4
Matthew 24:15-22

Advent 4
December 24, 2017

Daniel 6:16-27
Psalm 108:1-5
Revelation 18:1-3
Matthew 23:13-26

Christmas ~ Epiphany ~ Baptism of the Lord

Christmas Eve
December 24, 2017

Habakkuk 3:17-19
Isaiah 54:1-10
Philippians 4:10-14 2:1-20
Luke 1:5-20, 57-66

The Twelve Days
December 31, 2017

At KCPC we have a long tradition of observing the 12 Days of Christmas on the Sunday after Christmas Eve. Join us for a service of 12 Lessons and 12 Carols.

Epiphany
January 7, 2018

Proverbs 3:5-8
Isaiah 56:3-5
Acts 15:1-21
John 7:25-31

Baptism of the Lord
January 14, 2018

Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24
Isaiah 4:2-6
Acts 15:22-35
John 3:22-30

Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time 2
January 21, 2018

Genesis 32:3-7a, 33:1-4
Psalm 44:23-26
Acts 5:33-42
John 8:12-20

Ordinary Time 3
January 28, 2018

Numbers 22:22-35; 23:7-12
Psalm 56:10-13
Acts 8:9-13, 18-25
Mark 4:21-23.

Ordinary Time 4
February 4, 2018

Joshua 2:1-9, 12-16
Psalm 117
Acts 9:23-31
Mark 8:22-26

Fat Sunday
February 11, 2018

KCPC observes on the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday, "Fat Sunday," when we create our own version of a Mardis Gras Celebration.