@nshwilliams.bsky.social
I couldn’t have told you what I was looking for in a public theologian for this moment, but obviously it turned out to be John Darnielle.
"they don't deserve our fear" is a profound thing to say imo & I'm grateful for it
distrust yes caution yes. fear God maybe (proverbs 9:10 though I have long-winded thoughts about the fear of God). these men terrorizing citizens may be a lot of things but they don't know the first thing about God
distrust yes caution yes. fear God maybe (proverbs 9:10 though I have long-winded thoughts about the fear of God). these men terrorizing citizens may be a lot of things but they don't know the first thing about God
because they don’t deserve our fear
January 26, 2026 at 4:21 AM
I couldn’t have told you what I was looking for in a public theologian for this moment, but obviously it turned out to be John Darnielle.
Petitioning to translate “again/from above” in John 3:3 as “from the top” and the first “so” in 3:16 as “thus.”
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/a...
A Funny thing: John 3
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 3:1-21, the Narrative Lectionary for January 25. Where are we? Photo by Tom Fisk, Pexels John’s gospel has this structure of Sign-Dia…
ecologian.wordpress.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Petitioning to translate “again/from above” in John 3:3 as “from the top” and the first “so” in 3:16 as “thus.”
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/a...
How many Gotham City construction workers have done clearly identifiable #Batman work on the grounds of Wayne Manor? Like percentage-wise?Surely even the billionaire vigilante knows he needs to hire some experts when it comes to underground construction.
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
How many Gotham City construction workers have done clearly identifiable #Batman work on the grounds of Wayne Manor? Like percentage-wise?Surely even the billionaire vigilante knows he needs to hire some experts when it comes to underground construction.
The temple protest in John 2:13-25 doesn’t suggest that anybody is stealing (contrast the synoptics), but Jesus still isn’t happy about it.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/a...
A Funny thing: John 2:13-25
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 2:13-25, the Narrative Lectionary for January 18. Where are we? Christ cleansing the Temple. Pieter Aertsen, 16th c. After Jesus wowed his …
ecologian.wordpress.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:47 PM
The temple protest in John 2:13-25 doesn’t suggest that anybody is stealing (contrast the synoptics), but Jesus still isn’t happy about it.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/a...
The real feast of #Epiphany is a wedding buffet with an open bar.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/a...
A Funny thing: John 2:1-11
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 2:1-11, the Narrative Lectionary for January 11. Where are we? Wedding at Cana. Mary Jane Miller, 2008. We’ve just spent four days he…
ecologian.wordpress.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:50 AM
The real feast of #Epiphany is a wedding buffet with an open bar.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/a...
Jesus in John 1:35-51 knows people by names they don’t even have yet, but he can’t figure out why everyone is impressed enough to follow him around.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/a...
A Funny thing: John 1:35-51
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 1:35-51, the Narrative Lectionary for January 4. (Remember to write your annual report!) Where are we? Five dancing angels. Giovanni di Pao…
ecologian.wordpress.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Jesus in John 1:35-51 knows people by names they don’t even have yet, but he can’t figure out why everyone is impressed enough to follow him around.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/a...
My Presbyterian tradition doesn’t have much practice of testimony, probably in part because we think it means talking about ourselves. John testifies precisely by pointing away from himself. #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
A Funny thing: John 1:19-34
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 1:19-34, the Narrative Lectionary for December 28. Where are we? Be Thou My Vision. Mike Moyers. John’s gospel begins with an overtur…
ecologian.wordpress.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:12 AM
My Presbyterian tradition doesn’t have much practice of testimony, probably in part because we think it means talking about ourselves. John testifies precisely by pointing away from himself. #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
Christmas is a way of showing us what we can’t know while the light shines into the world.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
A Funny thing: John 1:19-34
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 1:19-34, the Narrative Lectionary for December 28. Where are we? Be Thou My Vision. Mike Moyers. John’s gospel begins with an overtur…
ecologian.wordpress.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Christmas is a way of showing us what we can’t know while the light shines into the world.
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
#NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/a...
The darkness can’t apprehend the light, but the powers of darkness will receive the light by the light’s own volition. The world does not know the one through whom it came into being, but that one knows the world.
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/a...
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/a...
A Funny thing: John 1:1-18
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with John 1:1-18, the Narrative Lectionary (and Epic Lectionary) for December 21. I’m saving this for Christmas Eve (when we will also read …
ecologian.wordpress.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The darkness can’t apprehend the light, but the powers of darkness will receive the light by the light’s own volition. The world does not know the one through whom it came into being, but that one knows the world.
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/a...
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/a...
For the third Sunday of Advent, Isaiah tells us that maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store…
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/a...
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/a...
A Funny thing: Isaiah 55
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Isaiah 55:1-13, the Epic Lectionary and Narrative Lectionary for December 14. (I’m using this text on the 21st, because Advent.) For some …
ecologian.wordpress.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
For the third Sunday of Advent, Isaiah tells us that maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store…
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/a...
#NarrativeLectionary #EpicLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/a...
The Advent promise is not just incarnation, but resurrection and restoration. (And as I’m sure I said four years ago, bodies coming back to life are merely a metaphor for the resurrection.)
#EpicLectionary #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/a...
#EpicLectionary #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/a...
A Funny thing: Ezekiel 37
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Ezekiel 37:1-14, the Epic Lectionary for December 7 (my text for November 30 instead, because Advent is always complicated). This is also the Na…
ecologian.wordpress.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The Advent promise is not just incarnation, but resurrection and restoration. (And as I’m sure I said four years ago, bodies coming back to life are merely a metaphor for the resurrection.)
#EpicLectionary #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/a...
#EpicLectionary #NarrativeLectionary
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/a...
For the beginning of Advent, the #EpicLectionary will promise an enduring covenant that God’s own righteousness guarantees. Notes on Jeremiah 33:(10-13) 14-18 (19-26).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/a...
A Funny thing: Jeremiah 33
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Jeremiah 33:(10-13) 14-18 (19-26), the Epic Lectionary text for November 30. (I’m preaching it on 11/23, as I’ve been running a week…
ecologian.wordpress.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
For the beginning of Advent, the #EpicLectionary will promise an enduring covenant that God’s own righteousness guarantees. Notes on Jeremiah 33:(10-13) 14-18 (19-26).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/a...
God’s call to renewed faithfulness reveals the state of our hearts, but the longing for faithfulness is already written at the depth of our being. The #EpicLectionary has selections from Jeremiah 36 and 31 (in that order because Jeremiah).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/a...
A Funny thing: Jeremiah 36, 31
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Jeremiah 36:1-8, 21-23, 27-28; 31:31-34, the Epic Lectionary for November 16 and my preaching text for November 9. The choice to take the verses…
ecologian.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:20 AM
God’s call to renewed faithfulness reveals the state of our hearts, but the longing for faithfulness is already written at the depth of our being. The #EpicLectionary has selections from Jeremiah 36 and 31 (in that order because Jeremiah).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/a...
Reposted
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
God dwells among God’s people, not because we built a fancy house but insofar as we do justice with one another. We know this truth in theory, but in real life it’s pretty unpopular.
The #EpicLectionary begins a series of readings from Jeremiah on 11/9.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/26/a...
The #EpicLectionary begins a series of readings from Jeremiah on 11/9.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/26/a...
A Funny thing: Jeremiah 1, 7
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11, the Epic Lectionary for November 9 and my text for November 2. (I’ll be one week ahead of the Epic through Novemb…
ecologian.wordpress.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 AM
God dwells among God’s people, not because we built a fancy house but insofar as we do justice with one another. We know this truth in theory, but in real life it’s pretty unpopular.
The #EpicLectionary begins a series of readings from Jeremiah on 11/9.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/26/a...
The #EpicLectionary begins a series of readings from Jeremiah on 11/9.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/26/a...
The #EpicLectionary aligns with the #NarrativeLectionary this week. Solomon built the Lord not so much a house as a call box. Where do we focus our attention (and where is God’s attention focused) that connects us with a God who is boundlessly everywhere?
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/a...
A Funny thing: 1 Kings 8
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with 1 Kings 8:1-13, 27-30, 41-43, the Epic Lectionary for October 26. This is one of the weeks when we more-or-less align with the NL, which has 5:1…
ecologian.wordpress.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The #EpicLectionary aligns with the #NarrativeLectionary this week. Solomon built the Lord not so much a house as a call box. Where do we focus our attention (and where is God’s attention focused) that connects us with a God who is boundlessly everywhere?
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/a...
The #EpicLectionary spends two weeks with the temple, building it this week and dedicating it next week. Solomon, the first heir to David’s royal house, gets to build the house for God’s name, and in the meantime he provides for the house of King Hiram.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/a...
A Funny thing: 1 Kings 5-6
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with 1 Kings 5:1-12; 6:1-13, the Epic Lectionary for October 19. The NL gives us the beginning of chapter 5 twice, both times in connection with the …
ecologian.wordpress.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The #EpicLectionary spends two weeks with the temple, building it this week and dedicating it next week. Solomon, the first heir to David’s royal house, gets to build the house for God’s name, and in the meantime he provides for the house of King Hiram.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/a...
The #EpicLectionary begins a three-week narrative arc focusing on Solomon (plus a fourth week bridging into the terrible kings on the way to Jeremiah). We get Solomon this year because of the way John’s gospel cares so much about how the temple relates to transcendence and incarnation.
October 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The #EpicLectionary begins a three-week narrative arc focusing on Solomon (plus a fourth week bridging into the terrible kings on the way to Jeremiah). We get Solomon this year because of the way John’s gospel cares so much about how the temple relates to transcendence and incarnation.
The #EpicLectionary finishes its Abraham/Sarah/Hagar arc with Genesis 22:1-19, in which Abraham shows that he will sacrifice anyone anytime anywhere for the promise.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/a...
A Funny thing: Genesis 22
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Genesis 22:1-19, the Epic Lectionary for October 5. This text was this year’s Abraham episode in the NL and appears in the RCL Proper 8A. …
ecologian.wordpress.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The #EpicLectionary finishes its Abraham/Sarah/Hagar arc with Genesis 22:1-19, in which Abraham shows that he will sacrifice anyone anytime anywhere for the promise.
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/a...
The #EpicLectionary lingers with the story of Sarah and Abraham, including the very first laughter in the Bible (Genesis 17:17 and 18:12).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/a...
A Funny thing: Genesis 17-18
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Genesis 17:15-22; 18:1-15, the Epic Lectionary texts for September 21. This combination of texts differs from the Narrative Lectionary. We’…
ecologian.wordpress.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The #EpicLectionary lingers with the story of Sarah and Abraham, including the very first laughter in the Bible (Genesis 17:17 and 18:12).
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/a...
The #EpicLectionary starts four weeks with Abram and Sarai (names subject to change). Abram builds altars and walks away from them; how do we live today in service of a generation whose future we cannot see?
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/a...
A Funny thing: Genesis 12
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Genesis 12:1-9 (10-20), the Epic Lectionary reading for September 14. The main text was in the Narrative Lectionary for 2022 and the RCL for Ord…
ecologian.wordpress.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The #EpicLectionary starts four weeks with Abram and Sarai (names subject to change). Abram builds altars and walks away from them; how do we live today in service of a generation whose future we cannot see?
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/a...
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/a...
The litany of creation in Genesis 1 is about how to organize time. (And it suggests a great weekly liturgy of praise, if you can celebrate humanity on Friday afternoons.)
This week the #EpicLectionary lines up with the #NarrativeLectionary!
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
This week the #EpicLectionary lines up with the #NarrativeLectionary!
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
A Funny thing: Genesis 1
A Funny thing happened on the way to the pulpit with Genesis 1:1-2:4a, the Epic Lectionary and Narrative Lectionary reading for September 7. (I’m actually pretty convinced that verse 2:4a is …
ecologian.wordpress.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The litany of creation in Genesis 1 is about how to organize time. (And it suggests a great weekly liturgy of praise, if you can celebrate humanity on Friday afternoons.)
This week the #EpicLectionary lines up with the #NarrativeLectionary!
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
This week the #EpicLectionary lines up with the #NarrativeLectionary!
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
Reposted
‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Deuteronomy 27:19
Deuteronomy 27:19
August 29, 2025 at 2:43 AM
‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Deuteronomy 27:19
Deuteronomy 27:19
Reposted
“If you want to have loving feelings, do loving things.” - Anne Lamott
August 8, 2025 at 1:48 AM
“If you want to have loving feelings, do loving things.” - Anne Lamott
Did I write a liturgical prayer based on a section of the #pcusa constitution? Yes I did.
Am I proud of myself?
Honestly, yes I am.
#liturgy #church
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/f...
Am I proud of myself?
Honestly, yes I am.
#liturgy #church
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/f...
Faith, Hope, Love, Witness: Prayers of the People on F-1.0301
I love the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity in the PC(USA) Book of Order. To conclude my People of Mission summer worship series on that section, I adapted F-1.0301 “The Church Is the Body …
ecologian.wordpress.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Did I write a liturgical prayer based on a section of the #pcusa constitution? Yes I did.
Am I proud of myself?
Honestly, yes I am.
#liturgy #church
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/f...
Am I proud of myself?
Honestly, yes I am.
#liturgy #church
ecologian.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/f...