Writing a children’s sermon on John 17:1-11 brings the same challenges as many other passages of John’s Gospel. Rather than telling stories, John really likes to present long speeches of Jesus. They are theologically rich, but they are complex and abstract. No story, complex, and abstract — that’s basically three strikes against any children’s sermon! […]
A Children’s Sermon on John 17:6-19
On the 7th and last Sunday of Easter season each year, the Revised Common Lectionary appoints a portion of John 17. It’s a little strange to me when the Gospel readings in Easter are on passages prior to the resurrection, but so it goes. My task this year is to write a children’s sermon on […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Easter 7, John 17:1-11
If it feels like you heard Sunday’s lectionary Gospel in church recently, maybe you are having a flashback to this time last year. Or the year before. Or any other year. On the 7th Sunday of Easter, the lectionary always gives us one chunk or another of John 17. It is a chapter of Scripture […]
Monday Meditation — RCL Year B, 7th Sunday of Easter, John 17:6-19
In Between Next Sunday’s Gospel text comes at a unique moment in the Church year. We had 40 days of Lent in preparation, culminating with Holy Week and the events of the Passion. Then the great even itself, Easter Sunday, which begins a new season of 50 days ending at Pentecost with the outpouring of […]