Sunday August 7-13 in Year A (Thompson20)
All-Encompassing, Hopeful, and Embodied Faith Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday August 7-13, Year A (2020, 2023) 1 Kings 19:9-18 Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33 Introduction It’s no secret that the United States’ narrative of individualism and self-sufficiency has and is devastating our environment and many communities who […]
Sunday July 31 – August 6 in Year A (Carr20)
Incline Your Ear and Listen Carefully – Amy Carr reflects on our response to grief, anguish, and the temptation to despair. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 31 – August 6, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 55:1-5 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 Lutheran ethicist Cynthia […]
Sunday July 3-9 in Year A (Carr20)
Taking on Rationalization – Amy Carr reflects on donkeys facing war horses. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 3-9, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Zachariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-14 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 There is both utopic political imagination and Machiavellian rationalization at play in today’s scripture readings. […]
Sunday June 26 – July 2 in Year A (Mundahl20)
Fake News – Tom Mundahl reflects on the alternative. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday June 26 – July 2, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42 While there have always been questions about the accuracy of journalism, only in the past […]
Sunday June 19-25 in Year A (Mundahl20)
It Can’t Happen Here – Tom Mundahl reflects on prophetic voice and lament. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday June 19-25, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Jeremiah 20:7-13 Psalm 69:7-10 (11-15) 16-18 Romans 6:1b-11 Matthew 10:24-39 When I read Camus’ novel The Plague during my freshman year in college, […]
Holy Trinity Sunday in Year A (Mundahl20)
Survival Is Insufficient – Tom Mundahl reflects on the Trinitarian model of “making room.” Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for The Holy Trinity, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Matthew 28:16-20 This week the church begins the season known as Ordinary Time. […]
First Sunday of Christmas in Year B (Utphall20)
Divorced, Together – Nick Utphall reflects on connections in the family of creation. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for First Sunday of Christmas, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3Psalm 148Galatians 4:4-7Luke 2:22-40 For creation connections, it doesn’t get much clearer than the Psalm for the day, Psalm 148. […]
Fourth Sunday of Advent in Year B (Mundahl20)
Courage – Tom Mundahl reflects on beholding versus seeing. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:46b-55 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 While there is no doubt of the significance of Davidic pedigree (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16), […]
Third Sunday of Advent in Year B (Mundahl20)
Rejoice? – Tom Mundahl reflects on joy in the midst of grief. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 The Third Sunday in Advent has traditionally been called “Gaudete Sunday,” […]
Second Sunday of Advent in Year B (Mundahl20)
Thinking the Unthinkable – Tom Mundahl reflects on our communal lament and hope for wholeness. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Few themes sound more powerfully during Advent than the […]
First Sunday of Advent in Year B (Mundahl20)
Let’s Just Start Over! – Tom Mundahl reflects on the start of Advent in the midst of pandemic, climate crisis, and racial violence. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Advent marks […]
Sunday June 12-18 in Year A (Mundahl20)
A Community to Serve the Whole Earth – Tom Mundahl reflects on support, endurance, and hope for the challenges we face. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday June 12-18, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Exodus 19:2-8a Psalm 100 Romans 5:1-8 Matthew 9:35-10:8 In 2020 the arrival of the novel […]
Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year A (Utphall20)
Needing New Life: Nick Utphall walks through a mental exploration with the Shepherd. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026)Acts 2:42-47Psalm 231 Peter 1:19-25John 10:1-10 Editor’s Note: In his commentary for the Sundays before and after Earth Day 2020, Nick Utphall reflected […]
Second and Third Sundays of Easter in Year A (Utphall20)
Needing New Life – Nick Utphall reflects on Easter Season and Earth Day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Second Sunday of Easter, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026)Acts 2:14a, 22-32Psalm 161 Peter 1:3-9John 20:19-31 Readings for Third Sunday of Easter, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026)Acts 2:14a, […]
Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Eve) in Years A, B, and C (Utphall20)
Displaced and Found by God – Nick Utphall reflects on the place of baby Jesus in a pandemic. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Christmas Eve (Nativity of Our Lord), Years A, B, and C Isaiah 9:2-7Psalm 96Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] At worship planning in early November, some members of my […]
50 Covenants for 50 Years of Earth Day
Some Lutherans Restoring Creation have decided to take on a challenge of inviting at least 50 Congregations in their synod to make a Covenant with Creation in honor of Earth Day turning 50! Want to take take the challenge? Follow these steps below and let us know how it goes! Print out this invitation letter […]
Connections Call: Gifts of restoration for YOU too!
On a recent Connections Call we asked folks to share some readings and resources that give them strength. Here are some links and downloads per their suggestions. (To listen to the call, just click here.) Thanks to all the Green Shepherds on the call and bless your work! We Were Made for These Times, Essay […]
Creation Care Ambassador Program
Since 2020 ELCA and ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow have trained over 300 members to reach out to their faith community in order to activate congregations to work towards climate solutions in their areas. There are dozens of certified Ambassadors ready to share their new skills and resources with your church and community. All “Certified Ambassadors” who […]