Second Sunday in Lent

John 3:1-17

Text Resources by Jenee Woodard

Links for February 17, 2008: Lent 2

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The indexing work at "The Text This Week" is being sponsored this week
by:

RELIGION AND THEOLOGY JOURNALS - ATLASerials (ATLAS) Online Collection -
Free 30-day trial and major discounts - ATLA
http://www.atla.com/trial/textweek.html

SERMONWRITER Resources for Lectionary Preaching. FREE SAMPLES on request.
(http://www.sermonwriter.com/free_samples.htm) Sent weekly by
email: Exegesis, Sermons, True Stories, Thought Provokers, Hymns. Now
including children's sermons. SermonWriter: http://www.sermonwriter.com/

Cokesbury.com Version 5.0. More products. More services. Same discounts.
Cokesbury: your partner in ministry. Visit us today! www.cokesbury.com

journeywithjesus.net - A weekly webzine for the global church - Lectionary
essays, books, film, and poetry http://www.journeywithjesus.net/

Lectionary.org. FREE exegesis and sermons at http://www.lectionary.org.
Exegesis available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Drew University DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
http://www.drew.edu/theo-content.aspx?id=1568 - Concentrations in:
Global/Online, Church Growth & Congregational Development, Worship,
Spirituality & Preaching, and more - APPLY ONLINE FREE
http://www.drew.edu/theo-content.aspx?id=1540

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This direct link to the weekly resources page for Lent 2, Year A (February
17, 2008):
http://www.textweek.com/yeara/lenta2.htm
will point you toward a number of resources for general study of the
lectionary texts, and worship and liturgy resources. Many of these general
resources are available close to the date of the lectionary week, and are
posted at The Text This Week after they are up at others'
sites.

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I've compiled pages of links to artwork depicting the following
themes:

Trinity
http://www.textweek.com/art/trinity.htm

Nicodemus
http://www.textweek.com/art/nicodemus.htm

Pentecost/Holy Spirit
http://www.textweek.com/art/pentecost.htm

Transfiguration
http://www.textweek.com/art/transfiguration.htm

Abraham
http://www.textweek.com/art/abraham.htm

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Commentary, Exegesis & Sermon Preparation

Comments (commentary)
http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/alnt2m.shtml
and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study),
http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/alnt2l.shtml
Lent 2, Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

Commentary and Spiritual Perspectives, Lent 2, 2008. Commentary, historical
background, poems and readings. Center for Liturgy, St Louis University.
http://liturgy.slu.edu/2LentA021708/main.html

Preaching This Week at WorkingPreacher.org, Luther Seminary. Commentaries
on lectionary readings by Frank M. Yamada, Sarah Henrich, and Karoline
Lewis.
http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=2/17/2008

Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary, Lent 2, by Paul Nuechterlein &
Friends.
http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/lent2a.htm

SAMUEL, Lent 2, 2008, at ucc.org: lectionary citations, sermon seeds,
weekly theme, lectionary texts, commentary and bulletin back page.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/february-17-second-sunday.html

Gathering, Lent 2, 2008, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon
seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral
suggestions etc.
http://www.united-church.ca/sales/magazines/gathering/2008/lep/

Preaching Peace commentary, Lent 2, Jeff Krantz & Michael Hardin.
http://www.preachingpeace.org/yeara/lent2.htm

Preaching Helps (Lent 2, 2008). United Methodist Church General Board of
Discipleship.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45951&loc_id=733,
32,48

Process and Faith Lectionary Commentary, Lent 2, 2008, Rick Marshall,
"...bringing process-relational thought to people of faith."
http://www.processandfaith.org/lectionary/YearA/2007-2008/2008-02-17.shtml

Readings, Analysis of Text and Preaching Paths, Lent 2, Christian Resource
Institute. (Church of the Nazarene.)
http://www.cresourcei.org/lectionary/YearA/Alent2nt.html

Sermon Nuggets, Lent 2, 2008, Lindy Black. Illustrations, humor, questions,
quotations.
http://home.twcny.rr.com/lyndale/Lent2A%202008.htm

Rumors, February 17, 2008, Ralph Milton, "Sermon helps for preachers with a
sense of humor."
http://ralphmiltonsrumors.blogspot.com/2008/02/preaching-materials-for-febru
ary-17.html

The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological
Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas.
http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/thisWeek/index.php

Text Studies, Lent 2, Dan Nelson. (Lutheran)
http://sio.midco.net/danelson9/yeara/lent2a.htm

"The Radicalness of Faith," The Practice of Jesus, Bill Fletcher,
Aotearoa-New Zealand, 2008.
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/bfletch/a117.html

Starters for Sunday, 17 February 2008. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn
Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of
Scotland.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpstarters.htm

Lectionary at Lunch: MP3, Windows Media, and Real Audio files of lectures by
professors at Concordia Seminary, St Louis, MO (LCMS).
http://www.csl.edu/Resources_AudioVideo_LectionaryatLunch.aspx

Social Justice Lectionary, Lent 2A, list of links by Rev. Dr. Bruce Sweet,
United Church of Canada.
http://www.socialjusticelectionary.com/yearainfo.htm#2NDLENT

Lists of recommended articles are available with ATLAS subscription
http://www.atla.com/trial/textweek.html for these texts:

Genesis 12:1-4
http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/gen12b.htm#ATLAS_Journals

Psalm 121
http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm121.htm#ATLAS_Journals

Romans 4:1-17
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/rom4a.htm#ATLAS_Journals

John 3:1-17
http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn3a.htm#ATLAS_Journals

Matthew 17:1-9
http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt17.htm#ATLAS_Journals

Lectionary Reflections, Discussions & Weblogs:

Blogging toward Sunday, Edwin Searcy, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian
Century, 2008.
http://www.theolog.org/

The Good Word, A Blog on Scripture and Preaching, America, The National
Catholic Weekly.
http://www.americamagazine.org/blogs/client/

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings, RevGalBlogPals lectionary discussion, 2008.
http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/

"Step into the Wind," Laurel A. Dykstra, "A Season of Repentance," Living
the Word, Sojourners Online, 2008.
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0802&article=
080249

>From Transfiguration to Lent, Reflections on the Lectionary for February,
2008, Rev. Dr. Keith A. Russell, The Living Pulpit.
http://www.pulpit.org/articles/February08Lectionary.asp

"Called Out," Holly Hearon, Charles W. Allen, Michael Miller, Helene Tallon
Russell, Out In Scripture: An Honest Encounter Between Our Lives and the
Bible, Human Rights Campaign, 2008. (LGBT perspective)
http://www.hrc.org/scripture/week.asp

"On Edge," Larry Patten. And Yet: "Faithful & Foolish Reflections Served
Weekly," 2008.
http://www.larrypatten.com/index.html

Daily Reflection, Lent 2, Larry Gillick, S.J., Creighton University, 2008.
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021708.html

This Sunday's Readings, Lent 2A, John Pridmore, Church Times, 2008.
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=51215

Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Lent 2. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks
at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church,
2005.
http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/02/second_sunday_i.html

Lenten Blog, United Church of Christ, Abington, MA, commentary, discussion
of weekly texts.
http://abingtonunited.blogspot.com/

Homiletical Hot Tub, preaching blog at Lectionary Homiletics, 2008.
http://www.goodpreacher.com/blog/

The Preacher's Exchange - First Impressions, Volume 2, and Homilias
Domincales / Homilias Breves. Jude Siciliano, O.P., 2008
http://www.op.org/exchange/

Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion. "A place of conversation regarding
Progressive Christianity, 2008.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/

Education for Justice Lectionary Reflections, 2008, Fr. John Bucki, SJ,
"Promoting Global Justice and Peace Since 1971".
http://educationforjustice.org/bin/view.fpl/1413.html

COSLC Grace Notes, Pastor Dan Bollerud, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church,
Anchorage, AK. Meditations & poetry, 2008
http://www.coslcgrace.blogspot.com/

Reflections of the Spirit, Gary Sims, First United Methodist Church,
Albuquerque, NM. Daily studies & devotions on the lectionary texts, 2008.
http://www.fumconline.org/devotionals.php

Common Reading, Anthony B. Robinson, 2008.
http://www.anthonybrobinson.com/reading.htm

"Leave Your Country," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B.
Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2005.
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20050214JJ.shtml

The Saturday Night Theologian, Exegesis of Word and World, Tod O.L. Mundo,
Progressive Theology Weblog, 2005.
http://www.progressivetheology.org/SNT/SNT-2005.02.20.html

"Claimed by Grace," Willis Jenkins, Proclaiming Gospel Justice: Reflections
on the Scriptures and Progressive Spirituality, The Witness, 2005.
http://www.thewitness.org/article.php?id=682

"How Can This Be?" Nedi Rivera, Proclaiming Gospel Justice: Reflections on
the Scriptures and Progressive Spirituality, The Witness, 2005.
http://www.thewitness.org/article.php?id=684

Lectionary Analysis, Lent 2, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada. At
Richard Fairchild's Sermon & Sermon - Lectionary Resources.
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-le02-js.php

"Late-Night Seminar," Patricia Farris, The Christian Century, 2002.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2260

"Pick it up, Read it!" Richard Lischer. Commentary from The Christian
Century's "Living by the Word," February, 1999. At Religion Online.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=606

"Remembering Who We Are," by Kari Jo Verhulst. Living the Word
lectionary-based scripture commentary from Sojourners Online, 2002.
http://www.sojo.net/magazine/index.cfm/action/sojourners/issue/soj0201/artic
le/020149.html

Desperate Preacher's Site: sermons, discussions, liturgical material and
other resources.
http://www.desperatepreacher.com/bodyii.htm

Sunday by Sunday, Reflections on Stewardship based on the RCL Gospels, Year
A. Prepared by the Reverend Michael Pollesel, Stewardship Education
Coordinator, Diocese of Ontario.
http://www.ontario.anglican.ca/docs/SundayBySundayA.pdf

Sermons

Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a
team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors, 2008.
http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/aktuell.php

Stewardship Sermon Starter, Stewardship at the Heart of the Lectionary.
ELCA.
http://www.elca.org/stewardship/sermon.asp

"Born of the Wind," the Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall, Day 1, 2000.
http://www.day1.net/index.php5?view=transcripts&tid=225

"But May Have Eternal Life" - Lent 2 - 20 February 2005, Samuel Zumwalt,
Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a
team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050220-5-e.html

Reminiscere, Lent 2, Arnold Hilpert, from the Lenten Series, "Songs for the
Lenten Journey." Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based
on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050220-pr-e.html

"A Kingdom People," a sermon for Lent 2, Rev. Debra Bowman. At Richard J
Fairchild's Sermon & Lectionary Resources.
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-le02bowman.php

Selected sermon, Lent 2, by the Rev. Angela V. Askew, in Worship that
Works, ECUSA, 2005.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6087_57984_ENG_HTM.htm

"A View from the Mountaintop," John R Donahue, SJ, America: The National
Catholic Weekly, 2002.
http://www.americamagazine.org/SundayScripture.cfm?articletypeid=40&textID=1
576&issueID=361

Group Studies & Discussion/Reflection Questions:

Lectionary Notes, Lent 2A, Rev. Beth Quick and the Lectionary Chat Group
Bible Study of St. Paul's UMC, Oneida, NY.
http://www.bethquick.com/lent2anotes.htm

Banquet of the Word, Bible Study Based on the Sunday Readings, by Rev.
Thomas Welbers.
http://www.olaclaremont.org/education/adult/bow/bowla02.htm

"Discipleship: An Instrument of Pardon and Faith," John and Robin
McCullough-Bade, Daily Discipleship Bible Study, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, 2008.
http://www.elca.org/evangelizingchurch/dailydiscipleship/Year_A/2_Lent_A.pdf

Proclaiming Faith, Lent 2, 2008 - exploring the Sunday and Holy Day
readings - reflections and young people's activities. Sadlier Publishing.
http://www.cyberfaith.com/proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=178&language=eng&
book=0

Lesson Plans for Small Congregations, Adults, Lent, Year A, The Episcopal
Church, 2008.
http://ecusa.anglican.org/50534_50646_ENG_HTM.htm

Bible Study - Lent 2 - verse by verse Roman Catholic lectionary commentary
at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS.
http://www.scborromeo.org/biblestu/a_lent_2.pdf

Light on the Lessons, Lutheran Bible Ministries. .doc file leaders guide and
participant guide for group study of the weekly lectionary readings.
http://www.bibleministries.org/

Complete Liturgies & General Worship Planning Resources:

Worship Planning Helps (Lent 2, 2008): Worship & Preaching Notes, Hymn
Suggestions and Worship Resources from the United Methodist Church General
Board of Discipleship.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45934&loc_id=733,
32,48

Gathering, Lent 2, 2008, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon
seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral
suggestions etc.
http://www.united-church.ca/sales/magazines/gathering/2008/lep/

LCA Worship Resources, Lent 2A, includes liturgy, hymn suggestions, notes
on the readings, visuals, drama, "Talking with Children," etc. Lutheran
Church of Australia.
http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow/batch%201/e-YearALenttoTrinity/03-A,%20L
ent%202.rtf

Mustard Seeds, "Going Places," Lent 2, 2008. A lectionary-based ideas
resource for leaders of contemporary worship, Ann Scull, Gippsland,
Australia.
http://seedstuff.blogspot.com/2008/01/lent-2-february-17-going-places.html

Liturgies Online, by Rev Moira Laidlaw, Uniting Church in Australia.
http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow/batch%201/e-YearALenttoTrinity/03-A,%20L
ent%202.rtf

"Mystery and Mercy: Born of Spirit," Lent 2, Metropolitan Community
Churches, 2008.
http://tinyurl.com/2nyjux

Worship Resources, Lent 2, Free Resources, Cokesbury Worship Connection.
http://www.worshipconnection.cokesbury.com/content.aspx?dyn=1507

"Darkness Is Overcome!" The Practice of Jesus, Bill Fletcher, Aotearoa-New
Zealand, 2008.
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/bfletch/a217.html

Worship and Liturgy Resources, Lent 2, by Rev David Beswick, Uniting Church
in Australia.
http://www.beswick.info/rclresources/L2A96OS.htm

Sermons and Liturgies for Year A, Richard J. Fairchild, United Church of
Canada.
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/year-a-sermons.php

Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc:

Laughing Bird Liturgical Resources, by Nathan Nettleton, South Yarra
Community Baptist Church, Melbourne, Australia. Prayers, blessings,
Eucharistic prefaces and scripture paraphrases.
http://www.laughingbird.net/ComingWeeks.html

Resources: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Prayers, Collects and
Litanies by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia.
http://home.alphalink.com.au/~nigel/DocA/21lent2.htm

The Billabong by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in
Australia: Hymn suggestions and paraphrases of lectionary Psalms.
http://thebillabong.info/

Prayers of the People, Lent 2, General intercessions for Sundays and Feasts,
by Ormonde Plater, Archdeacon of the [Anglican/Episcopal] Diocese of
Louisiana.
http://members.cox.net/oplater/IntercessionA-Lent2.pdf

Calls to Worship, Barbara Jamieson, Flint Hill UMC, Virginia.
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/flinthillumc-va/CallsToWorship.html

"God Calls, and We Respond," Weekly Invitations to the Offering, 2008.
Worship Ways, United Church of Christ.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/pdfs/seasonal-calls-to-offering.pdf

A Prayer for Lent 2, Stephen Brown, A Place for Prayer.
http://revsbrown.tripod.com/aplaceforprayer/id21.html

Offertory Prayers for February, 2008, David S. Bell, United Methodist Church
GBOD.
http://www.gbod.org/stewardship/article.asp?id=45921&source=church

Prayers and Musical Ideas, Lent 2, 2008. Commentary, historical background,
poems and readings. Center for Liturgy, St Louis University.
http://liturgy.slu.edu/2LentA021708/main.html

"Liturgy: prayer reflection", Transfiguration Reading
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/reflection/565b.html
John 3 Reading
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/reflection/618c.html
reflections on the collect at the Eucharist, Rev. Bosco Peters, New Zealand.

Starters for Sunday, 17 February 2008. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn
Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of
Scotland.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpstarters.htm

21st Century Africana Liturgical Resources, Lent 2, 2008, Ciona D. Rouse,
United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45947&loc_id=733,
32,48

21st Century Worship Resources, Lent 2, 2008, participants in a workshop
conducted by the Rev. Heather Williams, United Methodist Church GBOD.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45989&loc_id=962,
1174,1184

Prayer of the Church, Lent 2, 2008, Let Us Pray, Lutheran Church Missouri
Synod.
http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/enews/messagetext.asp?MsgId=6100

World in Prayer, the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi,
California. Prayers. Prayers and litanies based on each week's world news.
http://www.worldinprayer.org/

Graphics and Multimedia:

Matthew 17:1-9, Lectionary Clipart, Hermanoleon Clipart.
http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/sem/a/cua/02/index.htm

Clip Art Images: Matthew 17:1-9, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.

http://www.mscperu.org/images/graficoslit/cuaresma_pascua/02_cua_a.htm

Lent 2 at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Follows Latin
American Roman Catholic gospel reading, though most gospels texts/themes are
found in the index. Liberation emphasis.
http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/dibujosA/15CuaresmaA2.jpg

Bulletin Covers, www.scholia.net. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Emmett,
Idaho. Scroll down for Year A index.
http://www.scholia.net/bulletins.htm

CHURCH PowerPoint, Lent 2, Rev. Dorothy Okray. Free PowerPoint slides for
Worship Services.
http://churchpowerpoint.com/Home.html

Mustard Seeds, "Going Places," Lent 2, 2008. A lectionary-based ideas
resource for leaders of contemporary worship, Ann Scull, Gippsland,
Australia.
http://seedstuff.blogspot.com/2008/01/lent-2-february-17-going-places.html

SundayGraphx, Don Silva. Bulletin Covers / Cubierta de Boletín and
PowerPoint backgrounds, English and Spanish.
http://sundaygraphx.blogspot.com/

Scripture Pics, Weekly RCL-related image.
http://www.scripturepics.org/

Free Downloadable Bulletin Covers & Clip Art, (primarily UMC and PCUSA),
Kerr Resources.
http://www.kerrresources.com/

Agnus Day, Lectionary cartoon by James Wetzstein.
http://www.agnusday.org/

La domenica con Gesù, weekly image tied to gospel lesson.
http://www.santegidio.org/it/amici/voce/domenica.htm

Bulletin Inserts:

SAMUEL, Lent 2, 2008, at ucc.org: lectionary citations, sermon seeds, weekly
theme, lectionary texts, commentary and bulletin back page.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/february-17-second-sunday.html

Lectionary Introductions (background & context), Rev. Bosco Peters, New
Zealand.
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/lectionary/alnt2.html

Hymns and Music: (see also "Hymns & Music" linked at individual
scripture pages, below)

Original Hymns, Settings and Songs:

"How Can It Be?" TEXT: Mark Ryman (2005) based on John 3:1-17. TUNE:
"Rossetti." New Hymns for the Lectionary.
http://www.edoxy.com/hymns/Lent2A_Gospel.html

"Take Up Your Cross," Brenton Prigge, New Hymn.
http://www.newhymn.com/004TakeUpYourCross.htm

Hymns of the Spirit Three, Lent 2A, Richard E. Hurst, Universalist National
Memorial Church.
http://www.hos3.com/hos3/archives/lent_2a/

Hymn/Song/Choral Piece Lists:

Lectionary Hymns, Lent 2, 2008, United Methodist Church GBOD.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionaryhymns/021708hymns.asp

Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary (with lyrics and sound files)
from the Oremus Hymnal. (Click "Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday
Lectionary.")
http://oremus.org/hymnal/

Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
http://www.hymnsite.com/lection/index.shtml

Hymn Suggestion First-Line Generator for Voices United (United Church of
Canada). Type in numbers of hymns and get a list of first lines. Peter
Chynoweth, Yellowhead Presbytery. (scroll down)
http://yellowheadpresbytery.org/news_info.htm

Worship Resource Manual, The Moravian Church, Southern Province. Worksheets
for planning music in worship: hymns, anthems, solos, organ repertoire
suggestions for RCL texts.
http://www.mcsp.org/resources/wrm/res_wrm_preface.htm

The Billabong, by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: Hymn
suggestions and paraphrases of lectionary Psalms.
http://thebillabong.info/

Gathering, Lent 2, 2008, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon
seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral
suggestions etc.
http://www.united-church.ca/sales/magazines/gathering/2008/lep/

Together to Celebrate, February 17, 2008, David MacGregor, Uniting Church
in Australia. Contemporary Christian Music resources.
http://www.togethertocelebrate.com.au/17februaryLENT2_2008.htm

Prayers and Musical Ideas, Lent 2, 2008. Commentary, historical background,
poems and readings. Center for Liturgy, St Louis University.
http://liturgy.slu.edu/2LentA021708/main.html

Starters for Sunday, 17 February 2008. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn
Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of
Scotland.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpstarters.htm

Children's Bulletins

Lectionary Puzzles, Lent 2. Word search puzzles in RTF or plain text, by Reg
McMillan, St.Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough, Ontario.
http://www.efree.mb.ca/lectionarypuzzles/in-awmp.htm#top

Gospel Puzzles for the Lectionary, Lent 2A, Mark Ryman, edoxy.com.
http://www.edoxy.com/puzzles/Lent2A_Gospel.pdf

Children's Activity Sheets: Activities for Children, based on the Revised
Common Lectionary, by Dorothy A. DeBisschop, Great Hill UMC, Seymour,
Connecticut. At Bass Mitchell's homiliesbyemail.com.
http://www.homiliesbyemail.com/leaf/cas/current.html

Coloring Pages/Puzzles. Charles Kirkpatrick, Object Lessons & Children's
Sermons, Coloring Pages, Puzzles. Sermons4Kids.com. (Scroll to bottom of
page.)
http://www.sermons4kids.com/

CatholicMom.com: Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, and Word
Search based on weekly gospel text.
http://www.catholicmom.com/coloring_pages.htm

With Children (see also listings "With Children" at individual
scripture pages, linked below):

"Sermon of the Week,"
http://www.sermons4kids.com/
"Mensajes para ninos,"
http://www.sermons4kids.com/mensajes_para_ninos.htm
Sermons 4 Kids, Charles Kirkpatrick, Object Lessons & Children's Sermons,
Coloring Pages, Puzzles. Sermons4Kids.com.

Gathering, Lent 2, 2008, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon
seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral
suggestions etc.
http://www.united-church.ca/sales/magazines/gathering/2008/lep/

Lesson Plans for Small Congregations, Younger Children & Older Children,
Lent, Year A, The Episcopal Church, 2008.
http://ecusa.anglican.org/50534_50646_ENG_HTM.htm

Proclaiming Faith, Lent 2, 2008 - exploring the Sunday and Holy Day
readings - reflections and young people's activities. Sadlier Publishing.
http://www.cyberfaith.com/proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=178&language=eng&
book=0

"Risking and Trusting with God," Children's Time, in Sermons and Liturgies.
Richard J. Fairchild. (Scroll down in liturgies to find Children's Time.)
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-le02-99.php

Story for Children's Worship and Family Activity, at word-sunday.com: A
Catholic Resource for the Lectionary by Larry Broding.
http://www.word-sunday.com/index.html

Ideas and Talks for Lent, Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale,
Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
http://talks2children.itsforministry.org/t2c/seasonal.asp?SeasonID=5L
_______________________
_______________________


John 3:1-17
http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn3a.htm

"First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Lent 2,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtLent2.htm
"...Nicodemus is a believer in Jesus who believes the wrong way and so does
not see what Jesus is on about."

Lectionary Commentary and Preaching Paths (Lent A2), by Jirair Tashjian, at
The Christian Resource Institute.
http://www.cresourcei.org/lectionary/YearA/Alent2nt.html
"Nicodemus represents people who carefully and cautiously must examine the
new things that God may be doing and subject these to painstaking scrutiny
in light of past traditions and experiences before jumping in and embracing
them. We must allow people to respond to God in a variety of ways rather
than prescribing a single mode."

"The New Birth," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and
Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual
notes.
http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/trinitybag.html

Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Lent 2. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks
at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church,
2005.
http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/02/second_sunday_i.html
"In many ways, saying that anyone could join God's people by establishing a
blood tie to Abraham, who was called out of Ur by God, was pretty radical."

Nicodemus and Born Again, Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor
Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed
background and exegesis.
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_nicodemus_and_born_again_GA.htm
"The purpose of God and the purpose of Jesus and the purpose of Christians
is to save the world. That is, people and institutions around us that have
fallen away from the Lord God and the godly values of love, justice and
goodness and their consequence of peace."

"Discipleship in John: Four Profiles," Mark F. Whitters, Word & World:
Theology for Christian Ministry, Volume XVIII, Number 4, Luther Northwestern
Theological School, 1998.
http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/18-4_Matthew/18-4_Whitters.pdf
"Reviewing Jesus' encounter with four potential disciples in John's Gospel
can help us understand our own discipleship -- potential and real."

"God So Loved," William Willimon, The Christian Century, 1982. At Religion
Online.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1292
"We kneel not as miserable worms but as those brought to their knees by
sheer wonder at the gift. It was not to condemn us that our Lord bid us bear
his cross, but to save us. We are not here as the lost but as the found."

"Stay for Tea, Nicodemus," Barbara Brown Taylor, The Christian Century,
1996.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n6_v113/ai_18042032
"Believe in me. That was Jesus' dare to Nicodemus. Turn your cup upside
down. Turn your mind inside out. Step into the air. Ride the wind. Be born
anew, a live."

"Wind Blown," Bill O'Brien, The Christian Century, 2003.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2713
"No church or movement can claim ownership of the Spirit, which is
interactive with the Father and the Son in the overall missio Dei."

"Born Anew," Sandra M. Schneiders, Theology Today, 1987.
http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1987/v44-2-symposium4.htm
"Encounter with the Nicodemus text is a perennial challenge to be born
again, to enter ever more fully into the mystery of divine revelation and
thus to appropriate anew our identity as disciples."

"Love's Double Victory," commentary by Susan B.W. Johnson from The
Christian Century, 1997. At Religion Online.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=671
"We cannot be fishers of men and women if in our hearts we are haters of
them."

"A Curious Man," Margaret B. Hess, The Christian Century, 1997. At Religion
Online.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=668
"Nicodemus, patron saint of the curious, we see you in the flickering
lamplight, your face an arresting mixture of confusion and interest."

"Pick it up, Read it!" Richard Lischer. Commentary from The Christian
Century's "Living by the Word," February, 1999. At Religion Online
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=606
"One of the disadvantages of being both a Lutheran and an academician is
that you hear so few good conversion stories."

"Late-Night Seminar," Patricia Farris, The Christian Century, 2002.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2260
"The rabbis had taught that the Torah was best studied at night when it was
quiet and the distractions of the day had subsided. Nicodemus uses his
precious study time to expand his search beyond the standard texts."

"Born Again -- A New Heart," Marcus Borg. From The Heart of Christianity:
Rediscovering a Life of Faith - How We Can Be Passionate Believers Today,
2003.
http://www.explorefaith.org/borg/faithbk1.html
"For Jesus, the primary quality of a life centered in God is compassion."

"New Birth as a New People: Spirituality and Community in the Fourth
Gospel," Gail O'Day, Word & World, 1988.
http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/8-1_Spirituality/8-1_O'Day.pdf

Sermons:

"God Is Here For You Today," Trinity Sunday, 11 June 2006, David Zersen,
Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a
team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-8/060611-5-e.html

"Slow Grace," Carol Perry, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club,
2006.
http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/perry_4914.htm

"A Serpent in the Desert," Phyllis Tickle, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday
Evening Club, 2005.
http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/tickle_4906.htm

"Born of the Wind," the Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall, Day 1, 2000.
http://www.day1.net/index.php5?view=transcripts&tid=225

"Born Again,"
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_born_again.htm
"For God So Loved the World,"
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_for_god_so_loved_the_world.htm
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington -
Sermons from Seattle.

"Who's Who?" the Rev. Dr. Calvin Morris, Executive Director, Community
Renewal Society in Chicago. 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club,
2002.
http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/morris_4213.htm

"How Can This Be?" Dean William Willimon, Duke Chapel Sermon Archive, 1999.
http://www.chapel.duke.edu/worship/sunday/viewsermon.aspx?id=60

_____

Matthew 17:1-9
http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt17.htm

_____

Genesis 12:1-4a
http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/gen12b.htm

Genesis 12:1-4a, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series A, Ralph W.
Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/lenteast.htm#Lent2

The Old Testament Readings (Lent 2A): Weekly Comments on the Revised Common
Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson,
Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne,
Australia.
http://hwallace.unitingchurch.org.au/WebOTcomments/LentA/Lent2.html
"This text is a turning point in the biblical story in general and the
Genesis story in particular."

Commentary, (Lent 2A), Background, Insights from Literary Structure,
Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting
Church in Australia.
http://oldtestamentlectionary.unitingchurch.org.au/2008/February/Lent2Gen12_
08.htm
"This form of unconditional/promissory covenant comes again in slightly
different format through the tribes who lived in the Southern Kingdom of
Judah and was picked up again in the exile."

"Leave Your Country," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B.
Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20050214JJ.shtml
"Our ultimate journey is to move from a self-regarding heart curved in on
itself to an other-regarding openness to the love of God, a love for others,
and a love for all His world. That, of course, is a journey that lasts a
lifetime."

"The Blessing of Abram," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic
Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/A/2-Lent-a/FR-2Lent-a.html
"These verses begin the high point of Genesis: the story of Abraham."

"Birth of a Covenant," Torah Commentary by Rabbi Shai Held. BeliefNet.
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/50/story_5002_1.html
"God tells Abram to leave the comforts of home and go out to repair
himself--and the entire world."

"The Call of Abraham," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and
Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual
notes.
http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyot/lent2aot.html

"Mission among Muslims: Another Chosen People," Herbert Zorn, Word & World
Texts in Context, 1996.
http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/16-2_Islam/16-2_Zorn.pdf
"Fifty years ago, Mission among Muslims would have been described as mission
to Muslims..."

"Abraham: The Father of Us All," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself,
Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20050530JJ.shtml
"In his journey into the unknown, Abraham embraced ignorance, relinquished
control, and chose to live with confidence in God's promise to bless him in
a new and strange place."

"Commentary on Genesis 12:1-9: Second Sunday After Pentecost," by Dennis
Bratcher at the Christian Resource Institute.
http://www.cresourcei.org/lectionary/YearA/Aproper5ot.html
"This chapter recounting God’s call and promise to Abraham, and Abraham’s
response, is the pivotal event in the book of Genesis, the theological hinge
between sin and grace."

"Call and Promise," program highlights, discussion & reflection questions
and more from the Bill Moyers PBS series Genesis: A Living Conversation.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/genesis/highlights5.html
"'What really matters is not whether Abraham is good or bad or cowardly or
heroic, but that God pursues His design for the welfare of the human family
with people like that -- in other words, people like us.' - Lewis Smedes."

"The Meaning of Vocation," A.J. Conyers, (other resources at) "Vocation,"
Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University,
2004.
http://www.baylor.edu/christianethics/VocationarticleConyers.pdf
"'Vocation' is distorted by two disastrous misunderstandings: a secularized
idea of 'career' and a monastic concept of the religious life."

"Biblical Perspectives on the Land," Dennis T. Olson, Word & World, 1986.
http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/6-1_Land/6-1_Olson.pdf

"The Ancestor in Danger: But Not the Same Danger," David J.A. Clines.
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/biblst/DJACcurrres/Eve/Eve3Ancestor.p
df

"Abraham and Sarah," a discussion between Robert Alter, Father Alexander A.
DiLella O.F.M., and Kenneth A. Mathews at Genesis Reconsidered by Time.com.
http://www.time.com/time/genesis/passage2.html

"A Thrice-Told Tale: Genre, Theme, and Motif," David L. Petersen, Biblical
Research, 1973.
http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/petersen.htm
"We must pass beyond a preliminary label "episode in the patriarchal saga"
to a fuller understanding of a text by studying plot, character, setting,
and theme."

"The Family in the Bible," James A. Sanders, Biblical Theology Bulletin,
2002.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0LAL/3_32/94330696/p1/article.jhtml
"The whole of the Bible and of Jewish and Christian tradition can be
viewed within the tension between the Bible's focus on family, or community
worth and responsibility, and its struggle toward affirmation of individual
worth and responsibility within the larger family...The current cultural
tensions between Islam and the West, and even in the so-called culture wars
in this country, are illumined by a socio-cultural reading of the Bible as a
whole."

Abraham and Sarah, from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the
Bible.
http://www.ronaldecker.com/anda.htm#ABRAHAM

Sermons:

"Abraham: The Father of Three Religions," from an Old Testament Sermon
Series, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_father_abraham.htm

"The Influence of Influence," 30 Good Minutes, Rabbi Herbert Bronstein,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1995.
http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/bronstein_3834.htm

_____

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/rom4a.htm

"First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Lent 2,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/AEpLent2.htm
"No priestly manipulations, no religious powerbrokers, no secret or
ceremonial rites, no works prescribed in biblical law are required. It just
needs us to believe in this love."

"Abraham Was Justified by Faith," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes.
http://www.lectionarystudies.com/lent2aae.html

"The Basis and Benefits of Justification (Romans 3:27 - 5:21)," by Robert
Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2287

"Abraham: The Faith of our Father (Romans 3:27 - 4:25)," by Robert
Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2297

"Justification by Faith: The Case of Abraham and David (Romans 4:1-8)," by
Hampton Keathley IV at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1158

"Abraham and the Righteousness of God," Lloyd Gaston, at the
Jewish-Christian Relations site.
http://www.jcrelations.net/en/?id=752
"The interpretation in Romans is then something like Ramban's second
explanation."

"Justification as Healing: The Little-Known Luther," Ted M Dorman, PhD.
Quodlibet Online Journal, 2000.
http://www.quodlibet.net/dorman-luther.shtml
"The nature of justifying faith must be seen as a wholehearted confidence
in God which manifests itself in ongoing obedient trust in God's promises of
a future 'most complete cure' of all the remnants of sin which so afflict us
in this life...This is 'faith working itself out in love' -- a faith which
counts on God for everything, from initial justification through spiritual
healing to final glorification."

_____

Psalm 121
http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm121.htm

______________
______________

May the Peace of Christ be with you all, and may your study be prayer,

Jenee

Jenee Woodard -- Jackson, Michigan
mailto:jeneewd@dmci.net
http://www.textweek.com - The Text This Week