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St. James Presbyterian Church – Harlem, NYC Bible Study Companion Guide Lectionary Texts for May 03, 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year A) Theme: Where Does God Dwell When Life Is Under Pressure? Entering the Week This week does not begin with explanation. It begins with a cry—a voice reaching toward God from within uncertainty, a life placed into hands that cannot always be seen yet are trusted. These scriptures do not offer distance; they offer proximity, drawing close to places where pressure is real, where questions remain open, where faith is not abstract. A witness stands in the face of violence and still sees. A scattered people are told they still belong to something living. Jesus speaks into troubled hearts with language that does not resolve every question yet refuses to leave them alone. This is not a week to move quickly. This is a week to remain, to listen, to notice. The question beneath every text is simple and searching: Where does God dwell when life is under pressure? And within that question rests another: Can that dwelling be found here, in this life, as it is? A Cry of Trust That Begins the Journey (Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16) The psalm begins with refuge, with a reaching toward safety that is not guaranteed by circumstance, spoken from within vulnerability. “Into your hand I commit my spirit” becomes more than poetic language; it becomes a decision, a placing of one’s very life into the care of God. To commit is to release, to release is to trust, and trust often arrives before certainty. The words do not wait for everything to make sense; they move forward anyway, creating space for faith to exist even within unresolved conditions. Let the psalm slow your pace and settle into your breath, allowing its language to hold what feels unsteady without demanding immediate clarity.
Seeing in the Midst of Pressure (Acts 7:55–60) Stephen stands within a moment that does not soften itself for faith. There is no protection around him, no removal from harm, only a reality that is sharp, immediate, and undeniable. And yet he sees—not escape, not rescue, yet presence. He sees the glory of God in the very place where life is being threatened, embodying a kind of vision that does not deny suffering, yet refuses to let violence define the limits of what is real. This is a way of seeing that reaches beyond circumstance without ignoring it, holding both truth and transcendence at the same time. Remaining with this text requires patience, allowing its weight to be felt without rushing toward resolution.
Formed Together Into Something Living (1 Peter 2:2–10) The text speaks to people who are scattered, people who might easily believe they are alone, and yet they are named as something collective, something being built together into a living structure. The image of living stones holds both stability and movement, grounding and growth, suggesting that faith is neither static nor solitary. This is not future language; it names a present reality in which something is already taking shape, even when it cannot be fully seen. A single stone cannot become a house; it requires others, revealing that connection is not optional to formation. This challenges any assumption that life can be carried alone, inviting a deeper recognition of shared becoming.
Dwelling as Presence That Remains (John 14:1–14) Jesus speaks into hearts that are already unsettled, offering words that do not remove uncertainty, yet reframe it: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” These words arise within a moment of impending loss, grounding themselves not in changed circumstances, yet in sustained presence. The promise of dwelling—“in my Creator’s house there are many dwelling places”—has often been interpreted as something distant, though it speaks with equal force into the present moment. Dwelling is not relocation; it is relationship, an experience of being held, of remaining, of not being abandoned within what cannot yet be understood. The invitation is not to solve the mystery, yet to live within it, trusting that presence continues even when clarity does not.
A Practice of Noticing Each day offers moments that often pass without recognition, and this week invites a shift toward noticing as a form of prayer. Noticing does not require full understanding or immediate meaning; it begins with simple attention to where presence reveals itself, whether in quiet moments, in interaction, in resilience, or even in longing. This practice invites a gentle awareness that what is seen shapes what becomes possible to see again, forming a pattern of attentiveness over time. Each day, pause and ask:
Closing Prayer for the Week Creator, meet me here, within what is unfolding and within what remains uncertain, within questions that do not resolve and places that feel unfinished. Teach me to see beyond what is immediate, to trust beyond what is clear, and to become a place where your presence can dwell, even within the ordinary and the unresolved. Amen. 
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St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem
Bible Study Companion Guide 131st Anniversary Sunday — April 26, 2026 Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A) Opening Frame This week’s texts do not ask us simply what we believe about resurrection. They ask something deeper: What kind of life does resurrection create? Across Acts of the Apostles, Psalms, First Epistle of Peter, and Gospel of John, we are given a portrait not of an idea, but of a people—formed by trust, guided by presence, sustained through struggle, and gathered into abundant life. On this 131st Anniversary Sunday, we are invited to consider not only what this church has been, but what life God has been shaping here—and what is still unfolding among us. First Reading: Acts 2:42–47 — The Shape of a Living Community This passage offers one of the most beloved images of the early church, yet it is not a romantic ideal—it is a response to resurrection. “They devoted themselves” signals intention, not convenience. Teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer become the rhythms of a people reshaped by new life. What follows is not forced sameness but a transformed relationship to ownership, need, and belonging. Resurrection has reordered their priorities, and the result is a community where care is shared and life is held in common. Resurrection does not create isolated believers; it forms interdependent people. For St. James, 131 years is not simply longevity—it is sustained devotion across changing times, conditions, and needs. Psalm 23:1–6 — The Presence That Sustains “The Lord is my shepherd” is not passive comfort but active guidance. The psalm moves through green pastures, still waters, right pathways, and even the valley of deep shadow, yet the constant is presence. The text does not deny hardship; it insists that we are not alone within it. “You are with me” becomes the center of the psalm’s witness. Faith here is not the absence of danger but the refusal to believe that danger has the final word. For St. James, this is a lived testimony. Valleys have come—financial strain, cultural shifts, institutional pressures—and yet the community remains, not because the valley disappeared, but because presence endured. Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19–25 — The Cost of Faithfulness This is a difficult text that must be held with care. The writer of First Epistle of Peter speaks to communities under pressure, navigating systems that do not honor their full humanity. This is not a call to accept harm, but an acknowledgment that faithfulness in an unjust world carries cost. Yet the passage does not end in suffering; it turns toward return and restoration: “You were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd.” Faithfulness here is not passive endurance but active alignment with a different way of being. For St. James, and for the Black Church more broadly, this tension is deeply familiar—holding faith in the face of resistance, and continuing, nonetheless. Gospel: John 10:1–10 — The Voice That Calls Us to Life In Gospel of John, Jesus does not simply instruct—he reveals relationship. “I am the gate,” he says, and “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The sheep know the shepherd’s voice not through force or fear, but through familiarity and trust. This is a relationship built over time, where recognition becomes the pathway to life. Abundant life here is not about survival or scarcity, but fullness—life shaped by connection, trust, and ongoing guidance. For St. James, the question becomes: what does it mean, after 131 years, to still hear that voice and follow it into new expressions of life? Bringing It Together Across these texts, a single movement emerges: a community formed, a presence that guides, a faith that endures, and a voice that leads to life. What we witness is not abstract belief, but lived reality—something that takes shape over time, through people, through practice, and through persistence. What we celebrate is not only what has been, but what has been formed among us and what continues to unfold. Three Practices for the Week 1. Practice Devotion (Acts 2) Choose one spiritual rhythm this week—prayer, study, or shared meal—and commit to it intentionally. 2. Practice Awareness of Presence (Psalm 23) In moments of stress or uncertainty, pause and ask: Where is presence with me right now? 3. Practice Listening (John 10) Pay attention to what is calling you—what leads to life, and what diminishes it. Reflection Questions Where have you experienced community that sustains you? What does “the valley” look like in your life right now—and where do you sense presence within it? What voices are shaping your decisions—and how do you discern which one leads to life? What might “abundant life” look like—not in theory, but in your daily living? Closing Prayer Gracious Creator, we thank you for the life you have built among us—for every year, every hand, every voice that has carried this community forward. Continue to guide us by your presence, shape us by your love, and lead us into the abundant life you promise. Amen. Prepared by Rev. Derrick McQueen Ph. D. ©2026 ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Bible Study Companion Guide Third Sunday of Easter — Year A April 19, 2026 Opening Frame The Easter season continues, and the readings begin to shift. The surprise of resurrection is no longer the central focus. Instead, we begin to see what resurrection sets in motion — how people respond, how communities form, and how lives begin to change. These passages move from event to response. The question is no longer simply what happened, but what happens next. We begin to notice how resurrection is experienced not only as a moment, but as an unfolding reality shaping relationships, gratitude, and community. Acts 2:14a, 36–41 Peter speaks to a gathered crowd about what has taken place. The listeners respond with a simple and direct question: “What should we do?” The passage then describes people joining together and becoming part of a new community. The focus shifts from hearing to responding, and from individual experience to shared life. Reflection • What stands out to you about the crowd’s response? • What do you notice about how community begins to form? • What changes seem to take place in this passage? Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19 This psalm reflects on being rescued from distress and responding with gratitude. The speaker remembers difficulty, calls for help, and then gives thanks. The movement of the psalm shifts from personal experience to communal worship, showing how gratitude becomes something shared. Reflection • What emotions do you notice as the psalm unfolds? • What actions of gratitude are described? • How does personal experience become shared thanksgiving? 1 Peter 1:17–23 This passage reflects on new life and how it shapes relationships. The emphasis moves beyond belief toward how people live together. New life is described as something that affects community, encouraging sincerity, care, and deeper connection. Reflection • What language suggests change or transformation? • How does this passage describe community? • What stands out about how people relate to one another? Luke 24:13–35 Two travelers walk together discussing recent events. A stranger joins them, and understanding develops gradually. Recognition comes later, through conversation and shared experience. The travelers then return to share what they have experienced with others. Reflection • What do you notice about how recognition develops? • Why might understanding come gradually in this story? • How does the experience move from private to shared? A Thread Through the Readings Across these passages, we see people responding to what has taken place. A crowd becomes a community. A voice of distress becomes gratitude. A letter encourages new ways of living together. A journey leads to recognition and sharing. These readings invite us to notice how transformation unfolds over time. The Easter season continues not only as remembrance, but as a way of seeing how lives and communities begin to change. Practice for the Week • Notice moments when understanding develops gradually • Pay attention to ways community forms around shared experience • Reflect on how gratitude and transformation appear in everyday life Closing Prayer Holy One, you meet us in the unfolding of understanding. As we continue in this Easter season, help us notice the ways transformation grows in our lives and communities. Guide us as we continue this journey together. Amen.  ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Bible Study Companion Guide Second Sunday of Easter – Year A April 12, 2026 Opening Frame Easter does not end in a single morning. The resurrection begins something that continues to unfold, in quiet rooms, in conversations, in moments of recognition, and in the gradual deepening of belief. These readings invite us into that unfolding. Some voices speak from settled trust. Others speak as belief awakens. Still others speak to communities learning to hold belief through uncertainty. And in the Gospel, we encounter belief being born in a moment of intimate encounter. Across these passages, faith is not presented as a fixed destination. Instead, belief appears as something that grows, deepens, and emerges through experience, relationship, and time. As we read together, we may notice places where belief has settled in our own lives, places where it is still awakening, and places where we are learning to hold onto it even when clarity has not yet arrived. Psalm 16:1–11 Belief That Has Settled Psalm 16 speaks with a quiet confidence. The psalmist does not argue for belief or attempt to persuade others. Instead, the language reflects a trust that has grown over time. "Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge." "I have set the Lord always before me." "You show me the path of life." These words reflect a faith that has moved beyond uncertainty into a steady sense of presence. The psalm acknowledges life’s complexity, yet the voice remains grounded in trust. Belief here feels settled — not because life is simple, but because the psalmist has learned to trust through experience. Reflection Where in your life has trust grown quietly over time? Acts 2:14a, 22–32 Belief Being Awakened In Acts, Peter speaks to a crowd trying to understand what has happened. The resurrection is still new, and the community is searching for meaning. Peter retells the story of Jesus — his life, death, and resurrection — and connects it to familiar scripture, including Psalm 16. He invites listeners to see how what once felt distant is now unfolding in their own time. This is belief in motion. Some who listen may already trust. Others may be hearing this story in a new way for the first time. The community is being invited into belief together. Reflection What helps belief begin to awaken in you — conversation, experience, or reflection? 1 Peter 1:3–9 Belief Being Sustained This letter speaks to a community learning to hold onto belief over time. The writer acknowledges that faith can exist alongside difficulty and uncertainty. "Although you have not seen him, you love him…" This passage recognizes that belief sometimes continues even when direct experience feels distant. Faith is described as something refined, strengthened, and deepened through life’s challenges. Belief here is not dramatic or sudden. Instead, it is steady and resilient, growing quietly within the life of the community. Reflection What helps you hold onto belief during times of uncertainty? John 20:19–31 Belief Being Born The Gospel reading brings us into a room filled with uncertainty. The disciples gather behind closed doors, unsure of what comes next. Jesus appears among them, offering peace. Later, Thomas is not present for this first encounter. When he hears the others’ experience, he struggles to understand what they describe. When Jesus appears again, he offers Thomas an intimate invitation: "Put your finger here… Reach out your hand…" Yet Thomas does not touch. Instead, he responds with one of the most profound declarations in the New Testament: "My Lord and my God." Belief here is not forced. It is invited. It emerges in the presence of relationship and encounter. Reflection What moments or encounters have helped belief take shape in your life? A Thread Through the Readings Across these passages we see belief in different stages. The psalm speaks from settled trust. Acts invites belief to awaken. 1 Peter encourages belief to endure. The Gospel shows belief being born through encounter. Faith appears not as a single moment but as a journey — moving from awakening to growth to trust. These readings remind us that belief may come quietly, gradually, or unexpectedly. It may deepen through experience, community, and relationship. Reading Together Scripture is often best read in community. When we gather and listen together, we hear perspectives that deepen our understanding. As you read these passages this week, notice where belief feels settled, where it may be awakening, and where it is still growing. Listen for the ways faith continues to unfold in your own life and in the life of the community. Practice for the Week
Risen Christ, you meet us in every stage of belief — in our certainty, our questions, and our growing trust. Walk with us as faith continues to unfold in our lives. Help us recognize your presence in quiet moments, shared conversations, and unexpected encounters. Guide us as we continue this journey together. Amen. Please visit our YouTube Page for a live recording of our group Bible Study.  |
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