Tuesday Lectionary Leanings: "Deep End of the Pool" Edition

Sunday's lectionary texts can be found here .

In our corner of Christendom the coming Sunday is considered a "teachable moment" in which worship planners and preachers can review the significance of Holy Baptism according to our tradition. And that may be the direction you're going in your sermons and special worship elements.

On the other hand, there are other intriguing themes in our lessons: the surprising action of the Holy Spirit; the contrast between John the Baptist's anticipated Messiah and the one who actually shows up to be baptized by John; what it means for Jesus to be a "Beloved Son" in whom God is "well pleased."

Or you may be preaching on something else entirely.

As always, you are invited to jump into the discussion here -- the water is fine -- with your thoughts as you ponder your preaching and other worship planning this week.

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings: "Begin at the Beginning" Edition

Lessons for this coming Sunday are found here .
This coming Sunday we're going to be preaching and praying about beginnings.

We begin at the beginning, so to speak, with the soaring poetry of the first Genesis creation story. We continue with a Psalm to the Creator, in the wake of the awe inspired by the power of nature. Our Epistle lesson visits the beginning of some early believers' lives in the Body of Christ as they are baptized. And we meet Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry, as his cousin John baptizes him in the Jordan.

Beginnings are also about change -- and there's certainly a lot of change going on in our lessons: the development of the created world; a transition in understanding of what baptism is in the context of Christianity; and a literally heaven-rending, cosmic change in the course of history as Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth is revealed as Son of God.

Where are Sunday's texts -- or any other texts you may be using instead as themes -- taking you as you plan, pray, discuss and write your way toward Sunday worship?