Thematic Preaching- July is Genesis

I'm offering the outline of readings we'll be using in July in place of the lectionary, we're doing thematic preaching during these "ordinary days" between Pentecost and Advent, and the July theme is Genesis. Since I'm new to the whole thematic preaching thing, I'd love comments:

July 1- Creation (and evolution)

Genesis 1, read responsively by lector and congregation

Lector: chapter 1, v. 1-2, 6-8, 11-13, 20-23, 27-31
Cong: chapter 1, v. 3-5, 9-10, 14-19, 24-26
All: Chapter 2:1-3
Pastor: 2:4-25 (read after the psalm)

Psalm for this day is Psalm 8, read or sung responsively from the hymnal

July 8- The Fall

Lector: Genesis 3:1-12
Psalm 1 read responsively from hymnal
Pastor: Genesis 4:1-16


July 15- The Flood

Three different readers recruited for this Sunday, they will stand at three microphones and read a section each, back-to-back

Genesis 6:5-22
Genesis 7:1-24
Genesis 8:1-22

We'll read Psalm 11 responsively between these readings and the sermon

July 22- Babel

Lector: Genesis 11:1-8
Psalm 150
Pastor: Revel 7:9-17

July 29- Abraham and Sarah

Lector: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 105:1-11
Lector: Genesis 18:1-15
Pastor: Genesis 21:1-21

On not looking at the ball

Perry is correct- you juggle by feel and keep your eyes on the road. In fact, I have found that my juggling pattern runs so close to my body and just a bit below my eye level, so there really isn't a way to watch the balls at all. Most juggling is like this. Your brain knows where the balls will be after you throw them, not your eyes.

Thanks to all for well-wishes. I completed the run in record time (for me), 3 hours 8 minutes for the 20 miles, even with the addition of three miles of joggling. Over $1500 raised for refugees. Yay! If you'd like to learn more about LIRS and its ministry, visit their web site.

Joggling for Darwin

Perry over at Just Your Average Joggler was kind enough to post about my fund-raising joggling. Thanks, Perry. Perry runs a LOT farther than I do while joggling- he joggles marathons.

He wonders why no one joggles for Darwin. Personally, as a Christian I don't see any reason why joggling for Jesus needs to be in opposition to Darwinian theory. Lutherans and Catholics, for example, tend to believe good science and good faithful theology compliment each other more often than they are in opposition.

On the other hand, I wonder what social Darwinism would have to say about care of the refugee and the sojourner in our midst?

Joggling

So far donations for the Syttende Mai run this year have totaled $1180, which means I'll be joggling two of the 20 miles. $320 donated by Friday will increase my joggling miles to three (I'm joggling one mile for each $500 folks donate).

I'm excited about this, because this means that for the year we've raised a total of $6000 to establish a rolling security deposit account for newly arriving refugees in Milwaukee! Thanks to all who have contributed.