Caring for the Neighborhood: Sunday October 23-29 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Heart-shaped opening trimmed into a leafy green hedge

Caring for the ‘Hood – Dennis Ormseth reflects on loving all that God loves. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday October 23-29, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Psalm 1 I Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46 “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your […]

Reformation Sunday (October 25) in Year A (Martin23)

Wisps of smoke rising into a spotlight beam against a dark background

Reforming the Reformation – Tom Martin reflects on iconoclastic homiletics for Reformation Sunday. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the Reformation Sunday, Year A (2023, 2026) Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36 Stories of Beginnings are, like the fields of force reaching out from the quantum void, vehicles […]

O Sing to YHWH a New Song! Sunday October 16-22 in Year A (Schifferdecker14)

Mountain meadow with a winding stream, evergreen forest and snow-capped peaks

O Sing to YHWH a New Song! – Kathryn Schifferdecker reflects on letting all creation praise by not polluting. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday October 16-22, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 45:1-7 Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13] 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22 In this week’s Gospel reading […]

Sunday October 9-15 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Charcuterie spread with cheeses, meats, bread and fruit on an outdoor table

Participating in the Banquet – Dennis Ormseth reflects on joining with the Servant of Creation in the unending care of creation. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday October 9-15, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 25:1-9 Psalm 23 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14 This is the Feast of […]

Sunday October 2-8 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Clusters of dark grapes hanging on the vine backlit by the sun

A Parable about Caring for Creation – Dennis Ormseth reflects on being grounded in the earth. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday October 2-8, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:7-15 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 The readings for this Sunday after Pentecost remind us that, […]

Sunday September 25 – October 1 in Year A (Santmire14)

White egret standing on a pile of plastic waste and debris

Things Fall Apart: One Center Holds – Paul Santmire reflects on a counter-cultural alternative to a consumer economy. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 25 – October 1, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 Psalm 25:1-9 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32 Some of the most […]

Sunday September 18-24 in Year A (Santmire14)

Aid worker helping a child drink from a water bottle

In Praise of Generosity – Paul Santmire reflects on a kairos moment for Americans. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 18-24, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 In the liberal state of Massachusetts, a woman phoned into […]

Sunday September 18-24 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Rows of grapevines stretching across a sunlit vineyard

Acceptance in an Economy of Grace – Dennis Ormseth reflects on the workers in the vineyard. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 18-24, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 The readings for this Sunday after Pentecost invite […]

Sunday September 11-17 in Year A (Carr23)

Weeping Together – Amy Carr reflects on mutual vulnerability and forgiveness in a changing climate. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 4 – 10, Year A (2023, 2026) Genesis 50:15-21 Psalm 103:[1-7], 8-13 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 Our scripture readings this week point to an inescapable feature of […]

Sunday September 11-17 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Milky Way stretching over a dark mountain ridge at night

A Reconfigured Parable – Dennis Ormseth reflects on the unlimited economy of grace. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 11-17, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Genesis 50:15-21 Psalm 103:[1-7]8-13 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 With a compelling primary theme of forgiveness, the readings for this Sunday after […]

Sunday September 4-10 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Love Your Neighbor! – Dennis Ormseth reflects on cultivating a sense of place, where love for one another includes all of life. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday September 4-10, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Ezekiel 33:7-11 Psalm 119:33-40 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 With the texts for […]

Season of Creation Year A: Land Sunday — Paarlberg

Care for Creation Sermon for the Season of Creation By John Paarlberg, First Church, Albany, NY The Second Sunday in the Season of Creation in Series A Land Sunday Genesis 3:14-19; 4:8-16 Psalm 139:7-10 Romans 5:12-17 Matthew 12:38-40 The Glad Soil Rejoices A sermon preached on Thanksgiving Sunday, 2003, at the First Church in Albany, […]

Season of Creation Year A: Land Sunday — Astudillo

Care for Creation Sermon for the Season of Creation By Neddy Astudillo, ordained minister, Presbyterian Church (USA), Northern Illinois The Second Sunday in the Season of Creation in Series A Land Sunday Genesis 3:14-19; 4:8-16 Psalm 139:7-10 Romans 5:12-17 Matthew 12:38-40 The Right to Love the Land This sermon was preached in the rural town […]

Sunday August 28 – September 3 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Bare dead tree standing among ancient ruins under a partly cloudy sky

Following Jesus as Servant of Creation – Dennis Ormseth reflects on self-centered reasons and altruism. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday August 28 – September 3, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Jeremiah 15:15-21 Psalm 26:1-8 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 In our comment on the lections for last […]

Season of Creation Year A: River Sunday

Readings for Year A: 2013-2014 Care for Creation Sermon for the Season of Creation by Nick Utphall, pastor at St. Stephen’s ELCA, Monona, WI The Fourth Sunday in the Season of Creation in Year A River Sunday Genesis 8:20-22; 9:12-17 Psalm 104:27-33 Revelation 22:1-5 Matthew 28:1-10 It’s been noted that trees frame or outline the […]

Season of Creation Year A: Wilderness Sunday

Care for Creation Sermon for the Season of Creation By Marcy Wieties, Emmaus Lutheran Church, Racine, WI The Third Sunday in the Season of Creation in Series A Wilderness Sunday Joel 1:8-10 Psalm 18:6-19 Romans 8:18-27 Matthew 3:13-4:2 or Mark 1:9-13 One of my all-time favorite movies is A River Runs Through It. It’s based […]

Sunday August 21-27 in Year A (Ormseth11)

Layered stone quarry wall with greenery growing from the rock face

The Best Title for Jesus?  He is the Lord and Servant of Creation! – Dennis Ormseth reflects on who the Gospel of Matthew tells us Jesus is. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday August 21-27, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 […]

Sunday August 14-20 in Year A (Carr23)

Lone olive tree standing in a plowed field under a partly cloudy sky

An Outsider’s Wit and a Grafting God: Playing for a Change – Amy Carr reflects on honesty and play as eco-justice resources. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary  Readings for Sunday August 14 – 20, Year A (2023, 2026) Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Psalm 67 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:[10-20], 21-28 All sorts […]