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 reflectedRead More →
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,Read More →
Bigger than That – Nick Utphall reflects on our politics and the eternal results of the Cosmic Christ. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Christ the King Sunday, Year C (2022, 2025) Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 The lectionary readings today start with a notion that ourRead More →
A New Song – Nick Utphall reflects on the voice of the forest in concert with us. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday November 13-19, Year C (2022, 2025) Malachi 4:1-2 Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 Well, the department stores have been at it for months now.Read More →
Saints Below and Here – Nick Utphall reflects on God’s presence beyond and within the lives of the saints. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for All Saints Sunday in Year C (2022, 2025) Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31 This week, a typical search through the lectionaryRead More →
Looking Past the Fortress – Nick Utphall reflects on the river that makes God glad and flows with grace. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Reformation Sunday (October 30), Year C (2022, 2025) Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36 Reformation Sunday. Usually this is the time to focus onRead More →
Restoring Right Relationship – Nick Utphall reflects on breaking the perpetual cycle of scapegoats and violence. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday October 16-22, Year B (2018, 2021, 2024) Isaiah 53:4-12 Psalm 91:9-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45 From top to bottom this week, the lectionary readings seem ready-made for sacrificial substitutionary atonement.Read More →
Where Most of Us Stand – Nick Utphall reflects on finding our place in the struggle to care for the world’s family. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday October 9-15, Year B (2018, 2021, 2024) Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 Psalm 90:12-17 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 I have a “green letter” edition of theRead More →
God’s Plan – Nick Utphall reflects on the order(s) of the universe and a baby. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for Second Sunday of Christmas, Years A, B, and C Jerimiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12 Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom 10:15-21 Ephesians 1:3-14John 1:[1-9] 10-18 “What has come into being in him was life…butRead More →
Divorced, Together – Nick Utphall reflects on the connections in the family of creation. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for First Sunday of Christmas, Year B (2020, 2023) 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.Read More →