This Sunday begins a schedule of sermons and scripture readings known as the Narrative Lectionary. The Narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of scripture readings following the larger sweep of the biblical story, from Creation through the early Christian church. The portions of scripture include major episodes in which we are able to see God's salvation as a story that has coherence and a dynamic movement from the beginnings of the Old Testament all the way through the Pentecost movement in the New Testament and beyond. We are glad to have you join us as we learn more about our own story within this larger story of God's people!
Selections from Genesis 1 & 2 (The Voice)
In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below. Here’s what happened: At first the earth lacked shape and was totally empty, and a dark fog draped over the deep while God’s spirit-wind hovered over the surface of the empty waters. Then there was the voice of God.
God: Let there be light. And light flashed into being. God saw that the light was beautiful and good…
God: Let there be a vast expanse in the middle of the waters. Let the waters above part from the waters below. So God parted the waters and formed this expanse, separating the waters above from the waters below. It happened just as God said…
God: Let the waters below the heavens be collected into one place and congregate into one vast sea, so that dry land may appear. It happened just as God said… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good.
God: sprout green vegetation! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants and all sorts of fruit-bearing trees. It happened just as God said.
God: Lights, come out! Shine in the vast expanse of heavens’ sky dividing day from night to mark the seasons, days, and years. Lights, warm the earth with your light. It happened just as God said… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good…
God: Waters, swarm with fish and sea creatures. Let birds soar high above the earth in the broad expanse of sky. So God created huge sea creatures, all the swarm of life in the waters, and every kind and species of flying birds… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good…
God: Earth, generate life! Produce a vast variety of living creatures—domesticated animals, small creeping creatures, and wild animals that roam the earth… It happened just as God said. .. God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. And God paused.
God: Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity--made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness. And let Us grant them authority over all the earth—the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, the domesticated animals and the small creeping creatures on the earth… So God did just that. He created humanity in His image, created them male and female… The crown of God’s creation is a new creature, a creature that can sound the heartbeat of its Creator. That creature, made male and female, reflects God’s own relational richness. The human family is to join God in the ongoing work of creation. The earth below and the sky above with all their inhabitants are too beautiful and too good to be left alone. They need the tender care and close attention that only God’s favored creature can give… And it happened just as God said. Then God surveyed everything He had made, savoring its beauty and appreciating its goodness… So now you see how the Creator swept into being the spangled heavens, the earth, and all their hosts…
In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below. Here’s what happened: At first the earth lacked shape and was totally empty, and a dark fog draped over the deep while God’s spirit-wind hovered over the surface of the empty waters. Then there was the voice of God.
God: Let there be light. And light flashed into being. God saw that the light was beautiful and good…
God: Let there be a vast expanse in the middle of the waters. Let the waters above part from the waters below. So God parted the waters and formed this expanse, separating the waters above from the waters below. It happened just as God said…
God: Let the waters below the heavens be collected into one place and congregate into one vast sea, so that dry land may appear. It happened just as God said… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good.
God: sprout green vegetation! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants and all sorts of fruit-bearing trees. It happened just as God said.
God: Lights, come out! Shine in the vast expanse of heavens’ sky dividing day from night to mark the seasons, days, and years. Lights, warm the earth with your light. It happened just as God said… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good…
God: Waters, swarm with fish and sea creatures. Let birds soar high above the earth in the broad expanse of sky. So God created huge sea creatures, all the swarm of life in the waters, and every kind and species of flying birds… And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good…
God: Earth, generate life! Produce a vast variety of living creatures—domesticated animals, small creeping creatures, and wild animals that roam the earth… It happened just as God said. .. God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. And God paused.
God: Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity--made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness. And let Us grant them authority over all the earth—the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, the domesticated animals and the small creeping creatures on the earth… So God did just that. He created humanity in His image, created them male and female… The crown of God’s creation is a new creature, a creature that can sound the heartbeat of its Creator. That creature, made male and female, reflects God’s own relational richness. The human family is to join God in the ongoing work of creation. The earth below and the sky above with all their inhabitants are too beautiful and too good to be left alone. They need the tender care and close attention that only God’s favored creature can give… And it happened just as God said. Then God surveyed everything He had made, savoring its beauty and appreciating its goodness… So now you see how the Creator swept into being the spangled heavens, the earth, and all their hosts…
