Rembrandt: The King Uzziah Stricken with Leprosy (1635) Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Isaiah 6:1–8 The Odd and Overwhelming Otherness of God   The odd and overwhelming      otherness of God —In which Isaiah stands as if      he's some divining rod Who's found the source of life     and all creatIon's power— Is followed by so deep a self-      awareness, he just cowers In his inadequacy:      Woe! Lost! And unclean! And he is doomed, for all      the majesty that he has seen; But God has means, it seems ..read more

Acts 2:1-21   4th Century B.C.E. Thracian urn on display Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak, Bulgaria   A Brief History of Bulgaria                   or Ode On A Thracian Urn   The Thracians with their works of gold, And then Bulgarians of old, The Byzantines of Empire East, Then Bulgars once again increased, Then people under Turkish "yoke" (A word old hatred still evokes) Revival that was long delayed, Turks overthrown with Russian aid, A culture trying to transpose Until the Communists impos ..read more

Election  These days, if you're elected to the council or the session It's hardly thought to signify apostolic succession; And yet, although now church slates rarely come to be contested, Matthias' choice to fill the slot back then has long attested To how the hand of God is still at work in churchly calling: Remember who chose whom, when you to office they're installing!  Scott L. Barton In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit throu ..read more

                                     John Singleton Copley: The Ascension (1775)                                                Museum of Fine Arts, Boston   Rejoicing in His Absence   ..read more

These poems for Year B are all in my book published by Wipf and Stock, Lectionary Poems, Year B: More Surprising Grace for Pulpit and Pew. It will give you not just all the poems for the year, including five new hymn texts, but also an index of all 128 biblical references, plus a title index. Just $12 now (check or Venmo)(and cheaper than Amazon) and includes  mailing for a signed/inscribed copy for yourself or a giftee. Buying multiple quantities reduces the cost even more! Let me know what I can send you: Write to me at  scott.l.barton["at" symbol]gmail.com.    And now ..read more

Acts 8:26–40 Rembrandt: The Baptism of the Eunuch (1626) Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht   Ethiopian Eunuch   The eunuch of the Candace*, Although the Nubian queen's trustee, Could not quite trust God's love extends To one cut off; since life would end. While wond'ring who Isaiah meant About the one who underwent Humiliation he, too, knew, Then, Philip, through the words cut through To tell how Jesus was good news To anyone by life so bruised. The eunuch found himself beguiled, And baptized, smiled to be love's child.   Scott L. Barton (Compare the end of verse 33 ..read more

  PIETER BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER: THE GOOD SHEPHERD (ca. 1600)   Psalm 23   The Shepherd King   The shepherd king provides for all my needs, It is by grace (or think, "dumb luck!") I feed Upon the love from people in my life, My home, my meals, my mostly lack of strife;   The shepherd king protects me when I'm prone To think I daily go through life alone; In face of need, before me lies a spread— Saved from devouring enemies, instead;   The shepherd king pursues me my life long, And tracks me down to know I still belong By grace to one who'll never let me go, And ..read more

Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319) Jesus' Appearance While the Apostles Are at Table   Acts 3:12–19   Resurrection Intersection   It seems to me that Peter uses this occasion To show the Jewish crowd there was a correlation Between the death of Jesus by a crucifixion And wounds of guilt which Peter speaks in malediction.    But though the crowd's denial must have felt familiar, He also realized that life is now transfigured When woundedness and healing form the intersection Of what is still the power of Jesus' resurrection.   Scott. L. Barton   When Peter s ..read more

 Acts 4:32–35         Vie de Jesus MAFA: Jesus Appears to Thomas   Practicing Resurrection   Perhaps they thought they didn’t have much time, Which made the way they acted so sublime; The property they owned, they did not keep, But, giving all, they made the have-nots weep To see the real conviction they proclaimed: “Now Christ the Lord is risen! Love’s untamed!” Thus, having no more need for self-protection, They still show how to practice resurrection.   Scott L. Barton Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and s ..read more

(A tribute to the late Richard  L. Manzelmann, who many years ago used this as a Palm Sunday bulletin cover at the New Hartford, New York Presbyterian Church, which I then used in three or four congregations over the years.)   Philippians 2:5-11   Real Fundamentalism   Paul calls each Christian have the mind Of Jesus, who was disinclined To use the status he possessed To save himself from danger, lest The raison d'être for his life Would fade at once in face of strife.   Instead, he did not fade, but grew In hearts and minds 'til he accrued The name that is above all ..read more