Between the Lines: Trinity Sunday: June 3, 2012

Text: Psalm 29

Lebanon Cedar
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

Where in your own life right now is your forest stripped bare?  What, in your religious or political or family life breaks the cedars or flashes forth flames of fire?  What do you know of the shaking of the wilderness?  Take a piece of paper and some art supplies and quickly give some form to the breaking of cedars and the shaking of the wilderness?  Sit with the chaos for a moment in silence.

Where in all this is the voice of the Lord?  What might God be saying to you in all this?

What blessings of peace might be a part of the chaos?

- Beth Harrison

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“Between the Lines” is excerpted from BibleWorkbench, a weekly resource for engaging the biblical story in a new way published by the Educational Center in Charlotte, NC. BibleWorkbench includes a series of open-ended questions focused on a reading in the Common Lectionary aimed at drawing readers into the story and making connections with the world around them and the world within. Also included are “Between the Lines” reflections, Parallel Readings from literature, poetry, and the news, and Critical Background on the text and its setting. For details and subscription information, go to www.educationalcenter.org.

Between the Lines: Easter 7: May 20, 2012

Text: Psalm 1

Psalm 1, Verse 1 and 2
in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.

Many years ago, the teacher of my sixth-grade Sunday School class made a bargain with her young charges. If we would memorize Psalm 1 and recite it in front of the class, she would give us a special prize- a bookmark, as I recall. We worked hard at the unfamiliar words—the King James Version with its “walkeths” and “standeths” and “sitteths” was the standard of the day. The introduction to this Sunday’s session notes that this Psalm was likely composed as an introduction to the entire book of Psalms. For me, and the other students this teacher had over many years, it served also as a kind of introduction to Christian faith itself. Imagine that you did not know anything about Christianity (or Judaism) and were given this psalm as a summary of the tradition. What does it affirm? What does it assume? What questions might come up for you as you hear it?

- Andy Kille

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“Between the Lines” is excerpted from BibleWorkbench, a weekly resource for engaging the biblical story in a new way published by the Educational Center in Charlotte, NC. BibleWorkbench includes a series of open-ended questions focused on a reading in the Common Lectionary aimed at drawing readers into the story and making connections with the world around them and the world within. Also included are “Between the Lines” reflections, Parallel Readings from literature, poetry, and the news, and Critical Background on the text and its setting. For details and subscription information, go to www.educationalcenter.org.

Between the Lines: Easter 4, May 15, 2011

Text: Psalm 23

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I am struck by the image of the prepared table.  Last week (in the story of the road to Emmaus) it was at the table in the breaking and blessing of the bread that their eyes were opened to a new way of being in the world.  Here, the table is prepared before me, in the presence of my enemies.

BWB: Epiphany 8: February 27, 2011

Text: Psalm 131

The “Songs of Ascent” in the Psalms are thought to have been song sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem (since Jerusalem and the Temple were built on top of a hill, one always went “up” to the Temple). These Psalms (120-134) frequently mention Jerusalem or the Temple, and are short, perhaps easily memorized by pilgrims.

What do you know of singing a song that captured a moment, or lifted your expectations, or reminded you of past joys? Perhaps a carol, or a solemn processional hymn, or something you heard on the radio that touched you deeply and goes with you on your way?

How does a song work on you to change your mood, to raise your anticipation, to help you bond with others on the same journey? What song echoes in your heart and mind today?

- Andy Kille