The Forgotten Followers

A.J. Pell is rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Diocese of New
Westminster, British Columbia.

Like so many books of sermons, this volume was born as a sermon series,
in this case at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario.
It was called “The Women Around the Cross” and utilized women
preachers speaking about the women we encounter in the four gospels. The
preachers were ecumenical, from Anglican to Lutheran to Presbyterian to
United Church. Carol Schlueter, a professor of New Testament theology at
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, has gathered these sermons, plus a few
additions, into this book.

Like any book of sermons, there is a commonality to the sermon styles,
in this case a storytelling style. This gives a sense of vitality to the
life and faith of the often nameless women found in the New Testament.
The struggles, the faith, and the difference Jesus’ touch makes to
their lives shines through. Reading about these women warms the
spiritual heart.

Yet there are two flaws in these sermons. First, a few preachers (e.g.,
Daléne Rogers) hide the grace of the gospel by overemphasizing the
negative side of patriarchal culture. Second, and more serious, is the
“written” rather than “spoken” nature of these sermons. Except
for those by Judith Janacek and by Mary Mae Schwartzentruber, these
sermons follow the common pattern in our culture of being essays read
aloud rather than spoken words put into print. Despite these flaws,
there is a wealth of material for meditation here for any reader.