by Janice MacLean | Jan 16, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:13 My first service after I was ordained was in my home church in Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton. With our Celtic roots, I...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 13, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
A BIG SURPRISE by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading in the Lectionary this week is John 1:43-51. When I turned my attention to the Reading and considered it in my way, it seemed as though one sentence, spoken by Nathaniel, was printed in bold: “Can anything good come...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 9, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 Seeing yourself on Zoom is disagreeable, but seeing yourself with mirror image...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 2, 2021 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
HALLELUJAH ANYWAY by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm Selection designated for this Sunday is Psalm 147:12-20 This Psalm is from a section of Psalms called “Praise Psalms,” and this portion of it opens with a burst of praise, “Hallelujah . . . praise your God.” This is a...
by Janice MacLean | Dec 5, 2020 | Reflections
A COMFORTING CHRISMAS by Hugh Farquhar The Old Testament Lectionary Reading designated for the Second Sunday in Advent is Isaiah 40:1-11. The first verse caught my attention: “Comfort, O comfort my people” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 40:1)...
by Janice MacLean | Nov 19, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
MIXED METAPHORS by Hugh Farquhar The Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures assigned in the Lectionary for this coming Sunday, Reign of Christ Sunday, is Ezekiel 34:11-15, 20-24. I remember the occasion when Queen Elizabeth presented a medal to my father. He had helped to...
by Janice MacLean | Nov 13, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
LET’S KEEP OUR EYES OPEN by Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Epistle Reading for this Sunday is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. I find myself drawn to verse 6, “So then let us not fall asleep as others do but let us keep awake.” During my years of leadership at St. Paul’s...
by Janice MacLean | Nov 5, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
STORY: LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm Reading in the Revised Common Lectionary this coming Sunday is Psalm 78:1-7. I always consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a home where stories abounded. I think my mother read stories to me when I was...
by Janice MacLean | Oct 30, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
By Hugh Farquhar The Psalm prescribed in the Lectionary for this Sunday is Psalm 107. It begins on a high note: “O give thanks, for God is gracious, God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Among my most prized possessions is a gift that was given to me by a student in...
by Janice MacLean | Oct 21, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
By Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading prescribed in the Lectionary for next Sunday is Matthew 22:34-40. It contains some of Jesus’ most memorable words, including: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Whitney Houston had a big hit that stayed on the charts for...