Esther: A True Hero of the Faith
A well-beloved ambassador arrives in many churches throughout the country this Sunday via the RCL (Track #1) lectionary: Esther. The inspiration for the Jewish feast of Purim, she is one of only a handful of biblical women who regularly crosses the divide between religious and secular worlds. Memorialized in books and films, she is beautiful, brave, kind, patient and smart. Remarkably...
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The Woman in Proverbs 31: Yikes!
Okay. There’s a woman in the Bible that leaves me feeling a little, well unnerved. And she comes up in this Sunday’s lectionary (RCL, Year B, September 20). Described in Proverbs 31, she’s known as the “capable wife.” Unfortunately, we’re missing a few verses in Sunday’s lectionary, which makes a huge difference. Here’s how it starts on Sunday: “A good wife who...
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The Syrophoenician Woman: Debate Team Champion!
I'm on vacation this week. But I can't help write about this Sunday's Gospel, for it's about a women who will not give up—even when she is turned away by the disciples, and when Jesus seems cold and rude. She loves her daughter so much that she takes Jesus to the mat—and her daughter is healed. It is a stunning story,...
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The Shulammite Woman: Arise, My Love, and Come Away
Passionate. Sensual. Provocative. Eloquent. Erotic. It’s all there, in the Bible, in the beautiful collection of poems known as the Song of Solomon, otherwise known as the Song of Songs. In this Sunday’s lectionary reading (RCL), we hear the main character in the Song—an unnamed woman—eloquently describe how much she yearns to be with her lover—and how she will fully...
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7 Women-and-God Stories Coming Up!
The RCL (Revised Common Lectionary) stars line up in remarkable fashion for women in these next few month. LOTS of great stories about women and their relationship to God--which means, hopefully, some great possibilities for Sunday sermons. Here’s a quick list. More thoughts to come each week. Sunday, August 30 “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the...
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Mary, Mary…NOT Contrary
This Saturday, on August 15th, Christians around the world will celebrate the life and witness of Mary. What do we know about her? Why does she matter? She is Jesus’ mother. Everything we know about her springs from that relationship. Well known are her life events: her encounter with the angel Gabriel; the haste with which she fled to see Elizabeth; the birth of Jesus...
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Athaliah: Granny the Ripper
A friend of mine often posts photos of her baby granddaughter on Facebook. “Beautiful eyes!” we ring in. “Adorable!” we say. With dozens of other women across the country, I am now a cyber auntie, feeling the joy so evident in my friend’s soul. And that’s the way it should be—for grandmothers hold open the door to both future and past....
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Mary and Martha: Warrior Women of Heart and Soul
Biblical warriors are usually seen as armed with swords or bows or spears. But Martha and Mary of Bethany were warriors of the heart and soul, using tools of exhaustive hospitality and fierce love to engage Jesus as brother, friend and soulmate. Standout figures in the New Testament, the women provided Jesus with a place of healing and respite, one to...
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Mary Magdalene: Once broken, twice healed; she showed up
"Jesus died and rose from the dead." While not exactly a ho-hum expression, we often take it for granted. Think then, of the resurrection from another angle: What if no one had been there when Jesus walked out of that tomb? Would he have slogged through the streets of Jerusalem, perhaps winding up at Peter’s house? Would he have made his way to...
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