So now we move, finally, into Ordinary Time. When I think of worship as intimacy with God, I think of the three movements of intimacy – listening (your story), sharing (my story) and time (history). The first half of the Church Year can be thought of as the "listening" movement – God’s Story. Now, this second half is the "sharing" movement – Our Story – where we focus on how to live out what we have encountered through the first half. As we do this year after year, we build a History with God, which takes us ever deeper into intimacy with God. What a privilege this journey is, and, as we focus on hospitality this week, what a wonderful way to start this new movement in the year.

Note: While I am aware that the Lectionary makes provision for two sets of Old Testament readings (a "continuous" selection and a "related" selection), I find it helpful to explore all of the readings to find connections and draw out a single shared theme. I recognise that not all Lectionary practitioners subscribe to this way of using the Lectionary, but I find it opens up the readings in the best way for me to offer resources that can be used and applied irrespective of which readings may be used in the local context. I hope you find this helpful, but I am happy to hear any suggestions or feedback that may make this blog even more useful for you.

May our worship lead us into deeper connection with God, and into greater Christ-likeness in our daily living.

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Following on from last week’s focus on hospitality, the Lectionary shifts this week to Christ’s invitation, and our role in taking that invitation to the world. The challenge is that what is often thought of in terms of words and ‘evangelism’, is, from the perspective of the Lectionary, more about action and inclusion.

May we find a welcome again in Christ, and the wisdom and courage to take that welcome out into our lives as we worship this week.

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The word of God, unfortunately, is a battle-ground in the Church at times. As a result, Christians are perceived to fall into two camps – those who take the word literally, and exalt the word almost to the level of an idol, and those who seem to almost ignore the word completely. This caricature misses the great variety and richness of the various approaches to and understandings of God’s word that we have in the Church, though, and so I hope we can avoid the stereotypes altogther.

My prayer for this week is that, as we explore these Lectionary readings about God’s word, we will find a life-giving and liberating way to honour the Word in our worship.

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This week’s readings may appear at first glance to be rather judgmental and possibly triumphalist, but I believe this is a misreading. Rather, what we find is a celebration of the God who is moving the universe toward a good purpose, and who, in the meantime, strengthens us with hope and invites us to include all – allowing whatever judgement that may come to be in God’s hands, not ours.

My we find renewed hope, and a new commitment to welcoming all, as we worship this week.

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