First Reading

Shining Faces Lectionary Date: February 27, 2022 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year C] Rachel offers some creative approaches to using the Hebrew Bible text on Transfiguration Sunday.

Forgiveness, But Also Grief Lectionary Date: February 20, 2022 [7th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Rosy points us toward a more complex reading of the Joseph story.

Resources for Resilience Lectionary Date: February 13, 2022 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Tim finds some hope hidden in Jeremiah's doom-n-gloom.

Seeing God and Reimagining Trauma Lectionary Date: February 6, 2022 [5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year C] This week, we’re grateful to have Dr. Ethan Schwartz with us to look at Isaiah's prophetic call. Dr. Schwartz is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Villanova University. His research focuses on the prophetic literature of the Hebrew Bible, so today’s passage is right in his wheelhouse. Ethan loves to bring biblical studies into productive conversation with contemporary religious life, in synagogues, institutes, and churches. If you’re interested in more of his work, find him on the "Politics of Scripture" blog at politicaltheology.com. Ethan’s career has reached a new high today in being the first guest scholar to appear twice on First Reading!

Jesus and Elijah Lectionary Date: January 30, 2022 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Rachel drops the first reading to pick up OT references in the Gospel reading this week.

The Ideal and the Real in Worship Lectionary Date: January 23, 2022 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Ezra models the six-hour sermon?!

My Delight is in Her Lectionary Date: January 16, 2022 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Sometimes we just need to hear that God sees us and loves us.

Go Baptism! Lectionary Date: January 9, 2022 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C] Why go to the Old Testament for "Baptism of our Lord" Sunday?

God Delights in You Lectionary Date: January 2, 2022 [2nd Sunday after Christmas Day, Year C] A dip into Hebrew poetry for this first Sunday of 2022.

Hannah's Roar Lectionary Date: December 26, 2021 [1st Sunday after Christmas Day, Year C] It's a party episode! --> All 3 First Reading co-hosts together to chat about Hannah's song!

Mary and Consent Lectionary Date: December 19, 2021 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year C] Rachel rounds out Advent this year with a reflection on the problem of consent in Mary's story.

"Pure" Grace Lectionary Date: December 12, 2021 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C] Rachel starts in the Gospel and works back to the Good News in the Old Testament.

The Medium is the Messenger Lectionary Date: December 5, 2021 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C] Rachel highlights the power of the covenant this Advent.

To You, I Lift My... Throat? Lectionary Date: November 28, 2021 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year C] Rachel introduces Advent with an extended reflection on (surprise, surprise) the "nefesh."

Am I Great, or What?! Lectionary Date: November 21, 2021 [Reign of Christ Sunday, Year B] On "Christ the King" Sunday, how about a sermon from the Hebrew Bible on what makes for Godly leadership?

Preaching Hannah's Story Lectionary Date: November 14, 2021 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Hannah, the woman from the margins, shows up at the center of Israelite society with a request for God.

First Reading Takes On the Bechdel Test Lectionary Date: November 7, 2021 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] It's a big week for First Reading! As we dive into the resolution to the Book of Ruth, we have invited a guest to help us unpack the context of this story—special for its unusual focus on female protagonists. Ashley M. Wilcox is a Quaker minister and the author of The Women’s Lectionary: Preaching the Women of the Bible throughout the Year, a handbook for feminist preachers. You (yes, you!) can hire Ashley as a preaching coach through her online resource, Preaching with Confidence. Ashley has been traveling around the country to speak, preach, and lead workshops on women and spirituality for more than a decade. For the past four years, she has been teaching preaching to students at the Candler School of Theology. You can connect with Ashley and learn more about her work at her website. This week also marks the debut of our newest cohost, Rosy Kandathil! Rosy is a PhD candidate in Heb

Halloweenreformation Day Lectionary Date: October 31, 2021 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] And when better to preach from Ruth, the story of two saints perched on the precipice of death?!

God's Consolation Lectionary Date: October 24, 2021 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Job is a long book that only gets a small showing in the Revised Common Lectionary. So we invited a scholar to help us unpack this week's conclusion to the book in the context of the themes raised by the whole. Dr. Will Kynes is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Samford University. His research focuses on wisdom and suffering in the Hebrew Bible viewed from the varied perspectives of various biblical texts and their readers across history. Dr. Kynes is currently working on a book on how different cultures have found hope in the biblical tradition of wrestling with God. He is also the cohost (with Rony Kozman) of a great new podcast, "The Two Testaments," which you can find over at www.thetwotestaments.com. So (after you listen to First Reading), head over there and give them the First Reading bump!

Melchi-who? Lectionary Date: October 17, 2021 [21th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim opts for the Second Reading (Third Reading?) since it has lots of OT in it.