Church Anew Blog

Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn

The Bible on “No Kings!” (Part III)

Here and now—in the “in between” time of human governance—God’s rule is bracketed. The Lord’s kingship in the past has been rejected and the Lord’s rule in the future is not yet. In this “in between,” God’s rule feels absent, if not altogether impossible. This “in between” is nothing less than a God-shaped vacuum, into which step more and more petty, power-hungry kings and kinglets, queens and queenlets, replete with their entourages made up of foolish, vulgar advisors, all of whom want to fill that vacuum, assume God’s position, arrogate to themselves that kind of authority.

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Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn

The Bible on “No Kings!” (Part II)

The closeness of the royal palace to the Temple was (and is!) unacceptable to God. That situation can stand no longer. Idolatry, of gods and of powerful human beings, must be put away. The only way for God to reside among the people forever is by enacting “No Kings!” for the same interminable duration.

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Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn Ministry, Personal Reflection, Lectionary Rev. Dr. Brent A. Strawn

The Bible on “No Kings!” (Part I)

 America’s revolutionary rejection of oppressive rulers is no doubt why “No Kings!” has been applied to many a political leader ever since the 18th century. But whatever one thinks of this slogan—its aptness or inaptness with reference to politicians, whether current or long gone—those of us who care about Scripture should think immediately, first, and foremost of the Bible when we hear it.

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Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler

Lectionary Musings from the Church Anew Blog: June 7 and 14 (Ordinary Time)

Each week, we’ll offer a curated selection of blog posts that speak to the upcoming lectionary texts to help spark your imagination and serve as a thought partner for you. We hope these musings meet you right where you are with a fresh, bold, and faithful witness.

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Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler

Lectionary Musings from the Church Anew Blog: February 15, 22, and Ash Wednesday

Each week, we’ll offer a curated selection of blog posts that speak to the upcoming lectionary texts to help spark your imagination and serve as a thought partner for you. We hope these musings meet you right where you are with a fresh, bold, and faithful witness.

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Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary Rev. Emmy Kegler Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary Rev. Emmy Kegler

Resources for Right Now

Resources for Right Now is a living resource crafted amid the January 2026 escalation of violent immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In this collection, we hope to equip the church’s leaders with diverse ways to speak into this moment, in sermon prompts, short illustrative stories, songs new and old, and liturgy and prayers. 

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Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler

Lectionary Musings from the Church Anew Blog: January 25 and February 1

Each week, we’ll offer a curated selection of blog posts that speak to the upcoming lectionary texts to help spark your imagination and serve as a thought partner for you. We hope these musings meet you right where you are with a fresh, bold, and faithful witness. 

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Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler Ministry, Preaching, Lectionary, Lectionary Musings Rev. Emmy Kegler

Ministry Amidst Cataclysm: Epiphanytide Reflections

Each week we at Church Anew provide you with Lectionary Musings, a collection of previous posts related to the lectionary texts for the coming Sundays and feast days. This post is not that. This post is for my fellow ministers and church leaders staring down Sunday and wondering: How do I lead in a time like this?

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Walter Brueggemann