During this weekly series, Dean Heather Vacek sits down with members of the PTS community to discuss Lenten practices, Lectionary passages, and their work at the Seminary. This year's series was cut short due to the pandemic.
From Lent through Easter is both an important and an especially busy time for pastors and Christian leaders. In these pages, some of Pittsburgh Seminary's faculty and program directors offer fresh insights and practical ideas to foster the spiritual nourishment of your congregation—and yourself. The informal remarks of these pastor-theologians have been excerpted from "Conversations with the Dean" (a video series developed last year) on a variety of topics relevant to Christian ministry and witness at this reflective and celebratory time in the church year. May they enrich your ministry and your soul.
DOWNLOAD THE LENTEN REFLECTIONS EBOOK
The Seminary's 2020 “Big Book of Lenten Devotionals” gives you a valuable resource for personal and corporate Spiritual formation during the Lenten season. From Day 1 through Easter, each section includes multiple biblical passages from the daily lectionary, reflections based on those passages, and accompanying prayers based on each reflection. Seminary alumnae/i, faculty, staff, Board members, and students have contributed to this resource to help enrich your Lenten worship for many years to come.
DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF LENTEN DEVOTIONALS (WORD Doc)
The Miller Summer Youth Institute Hymnal for Wind Instruments coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal and the 2013 Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal. This resource contains three charts for each song, and each chart shows the vocal lines from the hymnals transposed for a collection of instruments—the ones that the youth in your congregation learn to play for marching and symphonic band. Involve your kids and young adults in an upcoming service! Have them accompany your choir, perform special music in a small group, or play a solo on their flute, saxophone, trumpet, or other wind instrument.
ACCESS THE SYI HYMNAL FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS
As you move through Lent and celebrate Easter, learn from New Testament professor Dr. Edith M. Humphrey how Old Testament texts elucidate New Testament passages on these themes via her blog and podcast, A Lamp for Today: Understanding the Old Testament with Jesus and the Apostles, which examines Scripture from an Eastern Christian perspective.
Lent: What about Melchizedek?
In this 15-minute talk, Dr. Humphrey considers the strange figure of Melchizedek in Hebrews 4:14-5:10 read in the light of Mark 8:27-9:1, Genesis 14, Isaiah 53, and Psalm 44/45. Why is the figure of Melchizedek compared with our Lord, and how must we go beyond this comparison to embrace the cross?
For a written version of Dr. Humphrey’s talk, with the same title, see her blog.
Easter: The Lightning of His Godhead
In this 15-minute talk, Dr. Humphrey considers the astonishing resurrectional hymns in the second tone and understands their dramatic language in the light of the book of Job, the prophecy of Isaiah, and the Transfiguration narratives.
For a written version of Dr. Humphrey’s talk, with the same title, see her blog.
Consider using the Rev. Carolyn Cranston’s ’99 sermon reflecting on John 13 in your Maundy Thursday service this year—or in a Lenten or Holy Week gathering featuring foot washing. Carolyn is the Seminary's director of alumnae/i and church relations.
From the office of the World Mission Initiative, the Rev. Bala Khyllep shares his sermon “Are You Watching?”—based on Luke 21:25-26—to encourage Christians to live uprightly and confidently amid turbulent times while we anticipate the Risen Christ’s return.
Consider the extravagant expression of gratitude shown in Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet in this 14-minute audio version of a chapel sermon by the Rev. Dr. Leanna Fuller, associate professor of pastoral care. The accompanying service bulletin provides a suggested liturgy for your use.
Old Testament professor the Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell provides a Lenten reflection, Palm Sunday Bible Study lesson, and Easter invitation to celebrate the Risen Lord in this “Tuell-kit” for Lenten worship.
To bookend your Lenten and Easter service planning, these PTS chapel bulletins, offered by Chapel Coordinator the Rev. Kendra Buckwalter Smith ’12/’13, give inspiration for your Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday worship. They include musical selections, Scripture readings, prayers, responsive readings, and, for Ash Wednesday, worship notes that elucidate our understanding of the associated observances.
DOWNLOAD ASH WEDNESDAY BULLETIN
DOWNLOAD CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION BULLETIN
For additional Lenten resources, visit Seasonal Resources - Lent.
Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of students for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.
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