Faith
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Thinking the Faith, Praying the Faith, Living the Faith is written by the PC(USA) Office of Theology and Worship.
Thinking, praying, and living the faith is at the core of ministry in the Office of Theology and Worship. In the following videos, learn more about what thinking, praying, and living the faith means to the leadership of the Office of Theology and Worship. Discover why it matters and what difference it makes in our lives, work, and worship.
Charles Wiley
Barry Ensign-George
David Gambrell
Christine Hong
Karen Russell
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Give Them Somthing To Eat
"But [Jesus] answered them, 'You give them something to eat.'" (Mark 6:37)
I’m going to let you in on a secret about the lectionary.
Not many of us know or remember that the Revised Common Lectionary was designed to be a eucharistic lectionary. That is to say, the readings for Sundays and festivals of the Christian year were selected with the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper in mind. That’s the pattern of worship in many of the partner denominations with whom the lectionary was developed, and increasingly in PC(USA) congregations as well.
When you’re clued in to this, sacramental themes start to leap off the pages of Scripture. For example, look at the last verse from the Gospel reading for this Sunday, July 1. Jesus has just raised the daughter of Jairus, and the crowd is “overcome with amazement.” Here’s how the passage ends: “He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:43)
That’ll preach, won’t it? The Lord’s Supper is, after all, a feast of gratitude for having being delivered from death by Jesus Christ, our great thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. Jesus says, “Get up!” And we lift our hearts in thanks and praise.
Speaking of new life and thanksgiving, I’m grateful for those Font and Table subscribers who took the time to fill out last month’s brief survey about weekly Eucharist in Easter, and encouraged by the signs of sacramental renewal it shows. Of the 89 responses we received, 37% celebrated the Lord’s Supper each week this past Easter season, with a largely enthusiastic response from their congregations. (You can see the rest of the results here.)
May you be fed by Christ through Word and Sacrament, and arise to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
- Posted at 10:00 a.m.
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