At first blush, the three readings for today (Zephaniah 3, 1 Timothy 4, and Mark 1) don’t seem to have much in common. Actually, that doesn’t change even a second or third time through the readings. And certainly, the same could be said of the readings from any number of weeks. 

Perhaps then, the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney — author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year W, and our textual translator for the season* — put these scriptures together to help us find not a common theme, but our common humanity in God’s love. 

*For more on Dr. Gafney and her book, please see the separate announcement elsewhere in this e-News. 

We tend to idealize our past and worry about our future. Meanwhile, Zephaniah declares God is in our midst right now. How can we change our perspective on time? Or our perspective on that which is shameful? Or our perspective on those forces that oppose or oppress us? And who counts as “us” anyway? 

We are in the Season of Epiphany, so let’s see what insights — what light bulb moments — we might encounter together. Pastor Dave will do all he can to make that happen this Sunday, January 23rd, in his sermon, “This Present Paradox.” 

All are welcome as we worship together Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in person and online via our Woodridge UMC YouTube channel.