Author: Ken Burton

“Committed to the Jesus Way” by David Lloyd

Ken Burton

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 24, 2023

Have you noticed that our Seekers Church member’s commitment statement doesn’t include a profession of faith? Whether committing for the first time or recommitting, I merely affirm “my relationship with this Christian community in the tradition of the Church of the Saviour, linked with the people of God through the ages.”

Our omission of a profession of faith has helped a number of people over the years who didn’t initially name themselves as Christians become members of Seekers. Some described themselves as spiritual rather than as religious. A few described themselves as Buddhists or as Christian Buddhists.…

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“Walking on Dry Ground” by Jacqie Wallen & John Morris

Ken Burton

Sixeenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 17, 2023

John and Jacqie come up to the podium and look at each other with concern

Jacqie:  Um…

John:     Er…  Well, let’s get started.  Remind me how we are going to do this.

Jacqie:   We decided to take a kind of lectio divina approach to the scripture readings.  We each would pick some ideas or phrases that resonated with us and we would talk about them.  Then, because we are coming up on Recommitment Sunday, we would somehow tie it all to commitment.

John:  The first phrase that caught my attention was “He clogged their chariot wheels…”…

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2023 Recommitment Lectionary: Seeking God in All This

Ken Burton

Revised Common Lectionary

Recommitment 2023

My starting point is that we’re already there. We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness. Little do we realize that God is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things. 

Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, p 27-28

Where is God in All This?

23-Lectionary-Recommitment-FINAL-1Download
September 10
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20		October 8
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Psalm 19
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
September 17
Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-3528
October 15
Recommitment Sunday
Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
September 24
Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16		October 22
JUBILEE
Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
October 1
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32

Readings are available on the internet at https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//…

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2023 Recommitment Liturgy: Seeing God in All This

Ken Burton

GATHERING

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

Our starting point is that we’re already there. We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness. Little do we realize that God is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things.” 

Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, p 27-28…

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“Recommitment Week 1” by Marjory Bankson

Ken Burton

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 10, 2023

Text: Matt 18:15-20

Today marks the beginning of our Recommitment Season, which will end on the third Sunday of October – when we will have the opportunity to stand and speak aloud our commitment as a Member of Seekers. Then some of us will make an additional commitment as Stewards.

The Member’s commitment is open to anyone who wants to be intentional about their spiritual growth. The Steward’s commitment adds two important aspects: belief in the Trinity and care for the whole community. We also expect additional commitments of time and money from Stewards, but that core group is open to anyone who is called to invest in the overall health of the Seekers community.…

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