HARP Zoom Forum: In case you missed this announcement last week, as we begin Ordinary Time with its unbroken string of Sunday Lukan gospel readings, it’s a good time for a summer and/or fall study group or preaching series!  To help resource such, I will convene a twice-monthly zoom forum, beginning on Wed July 2,…
The second half of May, between travel and conferencing at Kirkridge, were demanding and exhausting, so I wasn’t able to get a blog posted last week for Ascension Sunday. So I’ll include a few comments on that before I focus on Pentecost (a longer reflection on the Ascension will appear in this month’s Partner’s Circle…
Twenty-five years ago, BCM began helping build popular schools to nurture radical theological and social movement literacy. This vision arose from conversations with friend/mentor Bill Wylie-Kellermann, who shares a parallel “genealogy of faith” with me. Over the next decade, the Word & World project curated spaces around the country for intersectional community, conspiracy and collaboration…
Danielle Strickland and James Sholl interview Ched on their “Right Side Up” Podcast, and possible Ordinary Time Zoom forum The Revised Common Lectionary takes an Eastertide detour through John’s gospel this month; I’ll resume my Lukan reflections on Ascension (week of May 26) and Pentecost Sundays (week of June 2). We then begin Ordinary Time,…
  Luke’s Epilogue to his gospel—the amazing Emmaus Road journey—culminates with the scattered, traumatized community of Jesus-followers regathering at a Jerusalem safe house, still trying to reckon with the execution of their rabbi (Lk 24:33-47). There, the beleaguered disciples must struggle with an even more shocking prospect, both joyful and astonishing, as the Risen Christ…
On this day, many Christians ritually perform mutual foot washing, after the example of Jesus in John 13:1-12. It is powerful theater, which means to deconstruct hierarchy and division. There is a very different tradition about foot washing in Luke 7:36-50, which is also a demonstration of solidarity that subverts patriarchy, invisibility and domination. Unfortunately,…
The post discusses Palm Sunday as a significant closure to Lent, emphasizing its historical and contemporary implications of public liturgy for justice in society. It reflects on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem as subversive against occupying powers and shares modern practices of reclaiming Palm Sunday through public demonstrations and calls for social justice.
The gospel reading of the Prodigal Son illustrates contrasting economic concepts of reciprocity. The story exemplifies generalized reciprocity’s generosity compared to the balanced reciprocity of the firstborn son. Such dynamics reflect ancient economic practices, emphasizing cooperation and sharing that dominate traditional societies, offering insights into Jesus’s economic teachings.
  Happy St. Paddy’s Day. In lieu of posting a blog last week, we sent out a regional email inviting SoCal folks to our upcoming book party on April 5th at All Saints Episcopal Church Pasadena. If you’re anywhere in striking distance, please join us (details on the front page of this site).   So here…
Today is Ash Wednesday. Since the Thomas Fire of 2017 in our bioregion, we have used ashes from our beloved Grandmother Oak to symbolize the invitation to personal and political repentance. Some friends in Pasadena are doing the same in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire two months ago. May our Lenten journey help us…