A week from Sunday Yours Truly will be preaching at one of the churches in our presbytery. The pastor who asked me to come wants me to talk about our presbytery's vision statement: Growing congregations that passionately engage their communities in making disciples.
I've never preached before, though I have often served as a lay leader. (For my non-PresbyReaders, in the PCUSA both elders and pastors can preach in worship.) Although I am comfortable speaking in public, when I teach adult Sunday School classes I use an interactive, Socratic style rather than a lecture. It will be a challenge to come up with a 15 to 20 minute sermon that doesn't sound like an attorney's closing statement!
If I hadn't been asked to preach on this specific subject, I would have followed the lectionary and used one of those texts as the theme of the sermon. But that's not an option, so I have to come up with the scriptures. And the hymns. And some other liturgical stuff. But I don't have the go-byes that pastors have, so I'll be all over the 'net looking for appropriate calls to worship, benedictions, charges etc.
This is sure to deepen my appreciation for you pastors who do this every week. And I'll get to join the Saturday Preachers' Party at RevGals, not as a lurker, but as Preacher For A Day!
17 comments:
I'm sure you'll do well, and it'll be a blessing!
Yay! I'm glad they have asked you to do this, and I can't wait to have you at the party!
You will do very well indeed! After the Ava Maria I think this would be easy
Ditto all the above!
If it's recorded or if the church does podcasting, let us know. I want to hear you preach.
Elastigirl--It would be a lot easier for me to sing than to preach :-)
PG--don't know if they record. If they do I'll let you know.
Again - definite assurance that ou will do great! You may even find you have a taste for it! M
Hooray! It's about time. You'll do well.
I wondered the same thing as PG. Way cool ! -- and I hope we get to hear you.
yes, you'll do fine. But assigned topics are difficult, more so than the lectionary (which is also an assigned topic, come to think of it). Blessings to you.
:-) Yay!
Good on you! We elders need to do more preaching from the pulpit. Can't let the clergy have all the fun.
Don't discount the possibility that the lectionary might work.
Not that it's all about using the lectionary--but I've been pleasantly surprised sometimes when the lectionary actually did fit the "special occassion" for a particular gathering or event.
My thoughts like PCIT; the lectionary might work. I'm sure you'll do well.
The gospel this week is the parable of the sower; I can see connections. You could also do the Great Commission in Matthew. Follow your heart.
A little slow, but we're on vacation.
The shortest/easiest sermon: "Knock it off. You know what I'm talking about."
It's Thursday -- how is the sermon going? Once when I was away from my pulpit, the supply preacher burst into song during her sermon! It's a thought.....
Of course, I was sure my congregation was forever disappointed that I never followed suit.
May God fill you with THE WORD on Sunday.
Thanks, Rev Di!
Actually the sermon will be NEXT Sunday. I'm too Type A not to get prepared early. Our GP was kind enough to vet my draft for me, so now I have lots of time to tinker with it.
And about the singing...What about a few verses of The Impossible Dream?
Tee-hee.
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