The season of Easter is drawing to a close, just two weeks until Pentecost. For six weeks we have had lesson on love from the Gospel of John. The love message of John intertwined with the mixed messages of the struggles of the early church in Acts, which were often "un-loving" in nature. The love message of John mirrored in the Psalms. And, the love message of John challenged by the thoughts conveyed in 1 Peter. All this preaching on love is leaving some of us preachers yearning for ordinary time and the message of law abiding Matthew. (or, not...as the case may be). Personally, I love the Gospel of John and rarely tire of his message of unrelenting, comprehensive, expansive love. And likewise, I find it a difficult transition to move into Matthew. (But, I digress. For more on this theme check out the comments in Tuesday's Lectionary Leanings...
This week I'm using the Gospel reading and a story from MSNBC on the a herd of goats and sheep who lead and protect a blind horse, all of whom live on a rescue ranch in Wyoming. I'm looking at the idea of not being abandoned, and of love abiding within, and that through the challenges of life our call is to be the love of God in this world.
Or something like that.
What about you? Where are your thoughts and ideas taking you this week? I have a delicious spread of coffee and tea, breads, yogurt, cereal, fruit - to get us started. Pull up a chair and sit awhile. We'll be here all day to help you when you get stuck, to laugh when you need to lighten up, to offer a hug when you need some lovin'. After all, there can really never be too much love, IMHO.
I'm first - and I'm not preaching this week! Took a rare Sunday off. But I will be checking in and praying for all of you preachers.
ReplyDeleteHad one phone interview this week, another cancelled b/c of weather, and an inquiry from another. Maybe the Spirit is finally moving over the chaos of my life!
Blessings!
I am hanging out with John with a a dab of Paul in Athens. At first I rolled my eyes at the theme being love again, but isn't that exactly the point? God's love is unrelenting love and we are supposed to do likewise (follow the commandments).
ReplyDeleteI may tie it in with my father who would tell his teenage daughter how beautiful she was and that he loved her and much like I do with John, I would roll those eyes. But what did it mean growing up - and even now that he is gone - to a young girl/young adult/adult to know that her father loved her? Everything.
I have a particular story in mind, but I'm not sure I can tell it without tears nor do I want to manipulate the text and so I'm up early with just one more commentary to dabble in and then I'll try to write.
Busy day ahead too, but the details can wait since I believe I have already written a small novel.
HI. I'm not preaching either. trying to actually get a few other things done this weekend, including visiting my dad.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have been thinking about 1 Peter the last few days but here I am in another city getting ready to do a wedding so John may rule the day after all. I've got my FOTW with me and will check out what they have to say. I mostly know that I don't want to do Paul in Athens again.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, I need to shower and go find a cup of tea. So I'll be back later to see what everyone has come up with.
Tomorrow we baptize a five-year-old girl and her infant cousin, both members of a multi-generational family that included a much-grieved grandpa after whom the baby boy is named. I'll be focusing on what it means to be called to love these young ones as a church family/community, that it means loving them as they grow, even when they don't agree with our ideas, our music, our fashion sense or our hopes for them. It means letting them KNOW we love them, and that the source of that love -- that unrelenting love, as kzj put it -- is Jesus. Otherwise, we can be splintered, shattered, estranged just like other people, fighting in court over who put duct tape over a little girl's mouth and why. Okay, I probably won't go *there*. The TODAY show is on in the other room...
ReplyDeleteFirst, coffee.
I would add that the love of Jesus is not a historical fact, it is living and active - that's where the Advocate/Holy Spirit comes in.
ReplyDeleteOr something...
I've never preached this text from Acts before. I have videos to show just where Paul was standing and how close he was to the Forum and Parthenon (love my little church's media capabilities). I'm talking about his warning about judgment day, and comparing it to the warnings we heard in the last week weeks about judgment day. I'm also talking about the smugness of some people over "knowing" when the rapture will happen and who will be saved and who won't. As Christians, what is it we are called to do knowing Christ will return at God's appointed hour?
ReplyDeleteI'm preaching on John, with everything else in the text emanating from the phrase "because I live, you also will live." Because of this, there has been a tape playing on a loop in my head of the old Gaither's song "Because He Lives." I'm going to incorporate that into the message and when I finish preaching we'll all sing the chorus together a few times through. Here's a link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l-cWzTYNK2o#at=12
ReplyDeleteI am preaching from Acts, and since Scotty McCreery's win on American Idol is a HUGE deal in my neck of the woods, I'm calling it "Athenian Idol Tour." I'm proud of that one!
ReplyDeleteWe've retrieved our groceries from the church (25 hour power outage) including the creamer - yay!
ReplyDeleteCoffee then write, write, write...
Good Morning!
ReplyDeleteRevTSB, blessings on your search process - I know how you feel having lived through a good chunk of chaos myself.
KZJ - I get that, a good story but not wanting to muddle it with my own tears...sigh - hope that you find just the words you are looking for
Diane, enjoy the weekend, and a visit with your Dad.
Margaret, hope the wedding goes well and you find that cup of tea. I have Earl Grey, and herbal varieties - even "Tension Tamer" if anyone needs...
Songbird, what a lovely day - baptismal Sunday's always delight me and I love the opportunity to preach about baptismal life.
Jill, will you use a video clip in your service/sermon? I think you have an important approach to the text.
Good Morning, Ivy and Chilly, welcome to the party! And, blessings on your work today.
ReplyDeleteI'm not preaching tomorrow but have a wedding homily to finish. So, I'm going to get coffee and work on that task. Not that I have any illusions of anyone listening to wedding homilies but I would like it to have some intelligible content.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only I Peter? I sure would like to read someone else's, since I'm a little on edge. This will be the first Sunday in my home church pulpit since my son died nearly three years ago; I've preached in many other places since, but not in the place where his funeral service was held. In fact, I stayed far away from my church for many months; it was far too incongruent to be in that joy-filled place and see in my mind that urn of ashes up front.
ReplyDeleteI'm preaching on "account for the hope that is in you" which, in my case, is a hard won hope. You all know that I was one of those people who absolutely did not feel the comfort or assurance or even the remote possibility of God's presence for a very long time afterward. And now, finally, instead of preaching ahead of myself, I'm preaching from a place I've reached.
I am preaching on how we express hope. It's not all about me (really? how can that be?) but I am talking at one point about how listening to someone in despair is a way of accounting for the hope we possess.
In other news, I have two of the teeniest nibbles in the call process. So microscopic that I shouldn't even mention them. But I'm celebrating anyway.
Robin, you standing in that pulpit and saying anything preaches hope.
ReplyDeleteSo am I the only one who has basically one wedding homily with a few interchanging parts?
ReplyDeleteSmart?
Lazy?
Robin - amen to your what kzj said. Will hold you in prayer as you stand in that space tomorrow and preach hope, hard won indeed. Also, prayers for those call-nibbles to become bites and perhaps a meal that sustains.
ReplyDeleteVicar, I have one standard wedding homily, short, that I always preach, fluffed up a bit with some personal tidbit from the couple. It's an instruction, if you will, about the various types of love that abide in our relationships with others and how the love in marriage is intended to build the other up and help the other become the fullest person they can be, while not minimizing the self. Or something like that...
Robin, I think that's the best news I've heard in a really long time. I don't usually read sermons before mine is done, but if you want to send it to me, I promise to look at it.
ReplyDeletekzj, I definitely have that kind of wedding homily, though I also wrote a brand new one last summer in a time of great emotion, when the old one(s) didn't seem to say enough.
I'd tell you my plans with Hoagie for this morning, but only if dogs are allowed at the Preacher Party. ;-)
Kathryn -- I don't have one, but at this point I have a few wedding sermons, with interchangeable parts...
ReplyDeleteRobin -- I love the 1 Peter text but haven't preached it for awhile. I find "the hope that is in you" to be such a strong and personal word for where-ever we are.
And I liked that it is a "defense" rather than "offense". In some circles I used to belong to, I felt that believers went on the offensive....
Robin, I know I'll want to read whatever you write...
Oh, kzj, I almost cried when I read that.
ReplyDeleteMy brother who is not a church goer is coming into town for this, so I guess he's my main congregation.
Songbird, dogs are definitely allowed at the preacher party. My three would love to play with Hoagie, but first we're going for a walk on a rare cloudy but no.rain.yet day
ReplyDeleteI don't usually make the party (although I am a champion lurker) but got called in to preach tonight as my colleague is at a family funeral. His title was "Talk is Cheap," and I think where he was going was that Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments." He is not a works righteousness guy which is where that could end up QUICK if a preacher wasn't careful, so I'm trying to sort it out or maybe just put my own spin on. I am also playing with "I will send you another comforter," and Anna Carter Florence has a great sermon on the Advocate. Crap. I usually start this process on Monday.... ;)
ReplyDeletechickpastor! Good to see you!!! How's your family?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Festival of Homiletics story is from five years ago. I was walking through the Peachtree UMC with St. Casserole and saw a young gal sitting on the floor with some friends and her baby, wearing a RevGalBlogPals t-shirt. We stopped and cried out, "We are they!!!" I still have a chickpastor magnet on my fridge.
Hoagie would like to go somewhere, and I'm contemplating the dog park. I've only taken him once (trying not to drive on unnecessary trips these days), but it was a week day, and there was no one to play with. Saturday will, of course, be better for that.
But I should probably at least write the opening that is in my head first.
Oh and (serial poster! bad manners! sorry!) I only have one wedding sermon too. Not lazy, just the way of things. Tailor it a bit for the couple and let it ride.
ReplyDelete1 Peter is SO GREAT! I haven't felt this way about it, ever! But I preached the heck out of it last week, so I feel like John will do it for me.
Robin...wow. I just pray for the Comforter to be with you this weekend, and I do think that inspires hope just that you are preaching again.
Robin, there are people in that congregation who also have not felt God's presence when they were in crisis. You're going to be a thread of hope for them just by being there.
ReplyDeleteTerri, I'm using the video clips before reading the text so they can picture the context. Then I have a video pre-May 21 (of Harold Camping and others predicting the end of the world) that I will use during the sermon. I didn't preach last week and with Paul's talk of judgment day, it fit.
Well, my sermon writing day is starting with a funeral sermon. Service starts in 2 1/2 hours and my page is blank right now. Not a big worry since it's mostly in my head and I just need to get it on screen.
ReplyDeleteSunday sermon has a lot on paper in the form of an outline, so i'll get it on screen way late tonight. Totally out of character for me I'm dealing with Memorial Day in a way. It's sort of my way in, looking at memorials and monuments as storytelling devices along with the Acts passage. We'll look at images of the Vietnam War memorial and the WWII memorial in DC, also an image of the national cemetery near us in MN. What story do those memorials and these images tell. What story did the plethora of memorials/images/statues in Athens tell? What does Paul say is the appropriate memorial for our faith? I hesitate to use the word memorial in this last move, so will move toward reminder with the answer being that our God is honored and embodied not in statues of gold, sliver, or stone, but with the living memory enacted by Christ's followers. Our lives should reflect that we are God's offspring. Our lives should tell the story of God who lives and gives assurance to all.
After the hymn after the sermon I'm going to have everyone use pipe cleaners to make a reminder of their faith in God, something that can help them tell their own story of their relationship with Christ. We did this in high school on Memorial Day weekend and almost 20 years later I still have mine. Folks will have a time to "build" then share their stories if they want.
Definitely not, kzj. I've basically got 3 wedding sermons from passages I suggest when couples don't quite know what to choose. It usually works.
ReplyDeleteI also have a bag of funeral ones although today I'm feeling the need to add to that bag because I feel like I'm getting close to repetitive.
Robin, amen to what kzj said!
ReplyDeleteI am preaching John but focusing on "if you love me you will keep my commandments" and what that might mean to us here and now And yes, I'm tired of John and Matthew is my favorite gospel, so ready to move on!
I can't *really* complain about the weather since we've been spared the horrible storms/tornadoes/floods that have afflicted so many, but I am so ready for the sun to be out more than once a week--and I think we had our sunny day yesterday.
chickpastor, re the whole "works righteousness" thing, my take is based on discussions I had with some rabbi friends talking about why the law isn't burdensome--obeying the law flows out of LOVE. So we follow Jesus' commandments to us out of LOVE just as he loves us. Or something like that.
ReplyDeleteRobin, I like where you are going. After some thought and reading, I am going to stick with 1 Peter. There are several points that are calling me. YOurs on hope is one as is Christ's suffering for sins once for all. FOTW's McClellan has good things to say about the word obey. Since I am doing the wedding this afternoon, I might manage to bring in this tidbit - obey in Hebrew and Greek means "listen acutely" rather than "my way or the highway." And I will likely use that to tie into the gospel text. If we obey God, listen closely to
ReplyDeleteGod, we are more likely to keep Jesus' commandment to love one another.
Okay, that's all I have. I did find a cup of tea, though. Thanks, Teri, for the tension tamer; it's a favorite.
So, I'm writing this sermon in the middle of an EPIC tantrum from my 8 year old, and wondering about how to incorporate it into "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" without totally embarassing her or even really mentioning her but keeping the spirit of the thing? In families, there are certain things we do for each other, etc, commandments we keep just bc we love each other? Hmm...
ReplyDeleteHey Songbird! How are you? "baby" is going to kindergarten this year! And that was really great. We are considering the RGBP cruise next year, my little group of chickpastors.....
kzj-that's usually what I do. I know what I'm going to say. I could completely wing it and be fine. But I'm taking the time to type it (and whine while doing so) so it can become another "framework" for the future.
ReplyDeletechickpastor, that would be awesome! Drop an email to revgalblogpals@gmail.com and I will send you a brochure. I'm going to email them to everyone who has asked on Monday.
ReplyDeletei am waiting for my coffee to 'drip,' then off to St. Curious to be the servant-of-the-servants-of while they sell books, baking, plants, lunch, (and probably, still, compost)...and brood about my sermon tomorrow. The Rector is on holiday.
ReplyDeleteYou put great heart in me, friends, I have been thinking First Peter and LeftBehind/RobBell/NT Wright ("What is it with North Americans and HELL?")...and still leaning on you, kzj and the comfort-breakfast image. ("Look! pancakes! sausage!")
Robin, what you posted here was spine-tingling, "as one having authority"...blessings!
I sure do have a small handful of standard funeral sermons...
Wedding sermons (I've done a LOT, serving two "pretty churches" in a row)...it's more like a daisy chain of reflections on First Corinthians 13...which just always seemed to have something more to say, TBTG. I think I was fondest of the 1 Cor/Ted Williams one.
Hi all, back with you again, this beautiful Friday.Do you all think I can take my laptop to the pool and work? It is so beautiful out there. Nah better not. Too many happy wild kids and men doing cannon balls off the high dive.
ReplyDeleteI am preparing a sermon to be ready to preach in case the Senior Pastor is again ill. For the last two Sundays, I have had calls on Saturday night to cover for him as he has had kidney stones. They did surgery and got two, but there are four more. So i have pulled out two old sermons and am decideing on which one to preach. They both need updating and cleaning up. So how is everybody else doing with their sermons? Life? Ministry?
LOl, I meant Saturday.
ReplyDeleteI can tell reading the comments that people are partying.
chickpastor - welcome! after your comment about "works-righteousness" I have to go back and look at my sermon draft...I fear I fall into that on occasion...
ReplyDeletejill - cool! hope it all works well.
SheRev, welcome. Back in the day when I had one or more funerals a week, for 18 months, I had funeral homilies down pat! But now, I'm rusty, and will have to do some reflection before the memorial service next Sat.
REvDrMom - welcome, too! And thanks for that thought on obeying comes from love flowing through...
And welcome to anyone I may have inadvertently missed - I'm glad you are here, even if I didn't welcome you by name.
now, I've just returned from walking my three dogs, and am going to do a short work out (DVD, arms, abs, legs) then I'm making breakfast. I'll be back shortly.
Thanks for the welcome. I'll be back. :)
ReplyDeleteSermon mostly done, a reflection (thanks to working preacher's blog, and comments here) on what the Spirit looks like and what following Jesus commandments has to do with the Spirit. Um, everything?
RevAbi, I had to deal with kidney stones in a sr pastor not long ago! He turned it into an awesome Good Samaritan sermon, though. Hilarious, really. And this week I'm filling in on short notice since they have a family funeral, but someone else is doing Sunday so I can actually go on vacation, yay!
Take care, Preachers.
Homily done.
ReplyDeleteNow for the laundry.
and the kitchen
Best sermon procrastination ever this morning! Weeding and buffing up the flower beds and planting a few annuals. My penance: The after effects of a little too much of the springtime pollen. It was worth it to dig and plant.
ReplyDeleteI'm preaching Acts and John and have enjoyed reading about where all of you are heading. Still a rudimentary idea, not unlike Songbird's and also the "Athenian Idol" idea maybe: something about how it is that we come to church expecting to meet our idols -- for me it's social justice preaching and palpably responsive worshippers, for others it's a particular decorum or a particular creed that says "Ah, here is the God (god?) I was seeking!" But maybe there is a yet unknown God ... maybe I (we) think that love "has been done already" ... or too easy or nice theory, but ...
Obviously, still in the very early, very messy brainstorming stage! Onward!
Could I please have it noted in the minutes that my sermon is completed, the laundry is started, the kitchen is cleaner and it is still Saturday morning?
ReplyDeleteI need a nap now ... but I've had too much caffeine.
Hey RevAbi, welcome.
ReplyDeleteSo, I've finished my mini-work out (in a determined effort to reignite regular work-outs)
Now for breakfast....and more coffee.
and then, back to the sermon, with a bunch of thoughts for fixing what I have written...thanks everyone!
Robin- I don't think it can be expressed much better than kathrynzj has expressed it.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, I'll be in services but not actually responsible for much. I will be holding you in prayer throughout the morning.
Sharon, love the idea about coming to church expecting to meet our idols!
ReplyDeleteHoS is preaching this week, something about "Presbyterian Heritage Sunday" which is apparently in the fine print on our calendars. ;-) Because it's a holiday weekend, we have a hymn sing (Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Sunday after Christmas every year!) so my children's time will talk about why we sing at church. Or something. Children's Time and prayers of the people are my only responsibilities for tomorrow, so I'm spending my day hanging out in my pajamas--second day in a row! It's like a weekend or something. I'd forgotten what those were like.
ReplyDeleteI have asparagus and spinach from the farmer's market, so when I think of something to do with those, I'll be back to serve you lunch or dinner! :-)
Teri, welcome. Love your prayer on the prayer blog. Also, for some reason your comment takes me back a year, or so, ago when I visited and then preached at your church....nice to have a memory of your smiling face in that place...
ReplyDeletePReaching on Acts. And it appears it may becoems a sermon encouraging folks to be more evangelistic (the E word is rarely used in UCCan circles these days). Referencing Peter as well and the call to share the hope that is wihtin you.
ReplyDeleteKZJ, two wedding sermons and 2 or 3 funeral sermons is what I have. Changfe the names and a couple of details and voila! After all the message for those event is generally the same all the time IMO.
Hi gals and pals,
ReplyDeleteSpent the morning praying in the garden. So glad summer is hear, I do my best sermonating and praying in the garden.
Things are still rocky in my community. A lot of anxious behavior, conflict avoidance and behind the scenes finger pointing. I'm pretty overwhelmed right now. I need your prayers.
I have returned from attending a funeral and have confirmed plans to attend the local minor league team's game tonight. Why? Because I. am. crazy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it has been one hell of a week here for The Boy and his friend asked us to go and I believe this falls under the clause of: thou shalt not sacrifice thy family on the altar of the perfect sermon.
So... a quick bite of lunch and then write, write, write as I do NOT want to be miserable at said baseball game nor do I want to make anyone else so.
Vicar - well done you!
For those of you looking for sermon ideas check out this one feminist theology blog
ReplyDeleteVicar, duly noted in the minutes.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Gordon and GG.
Sharon, I'm not sure who gets the "best Procrastinator" award today, but I may be a strong contender...
Vicar - thank you. And all of you.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI actually got my sermon done in an unusual tear of creativity last night. It doenst happen hardly ever, but I love those "i dont know where it came from but it just came pouring out" kind of sermons.
ditto on those who have a sermon or two saved for funerals/weddings. havent done too many of either in my current call.
thinking of you and your prep, robin
and this conversation makes me want to ask - anyone else get sick from boats/planes/cars/spinning in circles even one time, but still able to enjoy the cruise?
Juniper - I cannot even watch my children on the playground merry-go-round without spinning in my head but the cruise has not bothered me significantly. The few bothersome moments were handled just by looking at the horizon. Somehow the movement is different enough it has been okay for me.
ReplyDeleteJuniper, I'm famous in my family for getting sick on a whale watch, but I've been fine on the cruise ships. I took Dramamine the first time, just to be on the safe side, but I really didn't need it. (Please come. Please come. Please come.) (I hope that was subliminal enough.)
ReplyDeleteJuniper, I can't go round and round, and on EVERY youth snorkel trip fed the fish, but have no trouble on the cruise.
ReplyDeleteI do struggle when we have to take the smaller boats to a destination/port but like Vicar I focus on the horizon and make it ok.
Great party here and I'm thankful for it and y'all. I did some work last night and early this morning, then went for a walk with one of our youth who had invited me. Not often we get those kind of invites, to just spend time together and talk!
ReplyDeleteBut now I must face the "bubble" i put on paper using my mind mapping program "Total Recall" It is really helpful, until I turn it into a manuscript.
She Rev, thanks for the memorial idea. I stay away from the holiday (we are mostly pacifist or say we are) but should give a nod b/c I have several vets in audience. I am talking about 'raising an ebenezer' following the hymn so the memorial building can fit in there! You saved me!
as for works righteousness, Luther always accused 'us' Anabaptists of it and we never care. We know better. James was elucidating, not contradicting Peter. Go for it.
Welcome Juniper and Rev Nancy!
ReplyDeleteI too am one who is prone to motion sickness on water and roller coasters and anything that spins or swings. I'm ok in cars, trains, and planes....anyway, worried about being sick and stuck on a cruise ship....we'll see....
Just a quick check in here. This weekend is one of those when we have to work the patriotic in somehow or else we get very angry parishioners, so tonight our 85 year old WWII vet retired pastor is going to preach. Since he's preaching twice tomorrow I am doing EVERYTHING else. I am so looking forward to hearing him, he is such a gentle man and he has told us some things that make me sure this is going to be a great sermon. That and he wanted Peace On Earth sung right after he finished.
ReplyDeleteI don't have time to respond to everyone, but just wanted to let you know, Robin, that kzj said what needed to be said and I can't say it better, except to say my prayers will be winging across town to you tomorrow.
My best to everyone. It is finally beautiful weather wise here, and it has been a great day! Fresh strawberries, anyone?
I'm thinking on 1 Peter. What does Hope look like? I am thinking of the churches in Joplin. What does Hope look like? I like how the reports say, "the buildings that housed ---- church", because we all know the building is not the church. What does Hope look like, smell like, feel like? Perhaps hope is the stories we tell ourselves about our resurrection physical and spiritual. There, done. Now I just have to expand it. Ideas?
ReplyDeleteRobin, sending love, echoing others' words.
ReplyDeleteI have a hot mess of a sermon here. Trying not to stress. Any children's messages floating around? I'll take any passage! Seriously!
Good afternoon preachers and friends! Lovely day here so I want to wrap up this sermon and enjoy some of it. Had a sermonish thing written yesterday - hated it - working on adapting last weeks preached up the road.
ReplyDeleteI still have not figured out how I will do Memorial Day - just know in my context of generations of vets I need to do something...
Robin - I direct survivors who are struggling through suicide to your blog. Thank you for your honesty. Your presence in the pulpit is a profound witness to God's grace.
Tomorrow after church we pack RevDrKate out of her house. Happy for her - sad for me!
blessings!
Glas it could help, Rev Nancy. I feel like I found a way to riff off the theme of memorials while still not doing a sermon for patriotic worship, but Christian worship. The national holiday and secular sentiments are my way in, but not my message. At least that's my hope. We'll see what happens when writing time comes tonight.
ReplyDeleteLater I, too, will need to think on a children's sermon. I discovered yesterday that the person who is assigned is rumored to have left the church. I've talked to her directly about this and she was sort of wishy washy about it. Don't know if she plans to finish up her current commitments or just be done. I'll have a plan in my back pocket in case she doesn't show.
Hello everyone! I've missed you all the past several Saturdays, but I've been fortunate to take three weeks of vacation, some of it for real vacation, some of it for moving and transition time between churches. Glad to be back at the party though!
ReplyDeleteNow, however, I've been here for a grand total of almost a week and am facing my first "real" sermon here--big expectations to meet, plus my SO's mother and her family will be here in a total coincidence in scheduling! A little anxious just thinking about it. Plus it's always so hard to get back in the groove after some time off.
Glad to read all your suggestions and start percolating some thoughts on Acts and John. Thinking about the feeling of being orphaned and how that might be present in saying goodbye to a fabulous interim and saying hello to the unknown. Paul at the Areopagus is more interesting to me, but I think John is going to strike a stronger emotional connection with people. Of course, I don't really know them yet, so I could be wrong :)
A very rough draft is done which releases me to the minor league baseball game with a clear conscience. It's not preachable yet, but I'm pretty sure I can get it there.
ReplyDeleteSemfem! Hello!!!
I'll check in with the late crew. Judging by the way my comments spread out through these Saturdays it looks like I very much do NOT get 2 days during the week off. Hmmm... I'll figure that one out later.
Judging by what I know about this past week, kzj, you didn't even get ONE whole day off.
ReplyDeleteI took some time away from procrastinating, to finish my sermon. It's posted: The Love that Binds
ReplyDeleteComments always appreciated.
Now I have to go over to the church for a bit, then I'll be back to read yours...and make us supper.
Oh gosh, lots of new partying preachers have joined us! Welcome, welcome all y'all!
ReplyDeleteHere's my sermon.
ReplyDeletePlease stop by and leave a comment. In it I try to address some of the anxiety that my church is dealing with.
Ok, mine's up such that it is. It relates more to last week's text, but I'm using both so we cover John 14.
ReplyDeleteI split them and am using a dialogue found in an older Seasons of the Spirit resource and I add a few comments to finish.
Here's hoping it works. Now to find rocks for my 'Ebenezer' memorial.
BTW Songbird, I went back and read your review of Bell's book and then C.Century's to use as my basis since I haven't read it. so thanks.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could be of help to someone else, since I'm getting nowhere myself. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm staring out the window wondering when Antonio Banderas is going to arrive on my doorstep.
I don't know about each of you, but my supper tonight is going to be what I call, the "home alone Saturday night special"...(aka, cereal and milk).
ReplyDeletewould you like some?
I've got sushi! And a lot of words that feel a bit stream of consciousness. And no certainty about where I want to have them end. I think maybe I need to eat my dinner and come back to it.
ReplyDeleteSounds good! Pass the cereal and the sushi, please. I dug out a couple of old sermons, but they are no help to me today. (sigh)
ReplyDeleteI've got pork chops with carmelized onions and mac & cheese to add to the potluck.
ReplyDeleteI also have crisp sweet pears and peppermint tea...
ReplyDeletebut, I'd give away all the cereal, milk, and pears for SUSHI! dang
I have something printed but it feels a lot "like what part of "love one another " don't you get?" sigh...
ReplyDeletetime to get out of here
I think I have brats ( sausage - not children with bad manners )ready and waiting for me! Yum
very grateful the HS has our backs
before I go- I am using the President's Prayer for Peace memorial day 2011 tomorrow-
ReplyDeletehonors those who have served and died with an emphasis on
caring for widows and orphans and working for lasting peace.
I still have no clue for children's time... ideas anyone?
very cute sermon idea at sermons 4kids. here is the link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sermons4kids.com/ the sermon is called the comforter.
We're off to dinner at an Indian restaurant with my brother and his wife. I'll bring back some leftovers.
ReplyDeleteIndian food yyyuuuummmmyyyyy
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Robin holding in prayer tomorrow. May the Holy Spirit give you strength and love.
Late to the party (per usual). I come bringing some leftovers of cod alaska from dinner... don't be impressed with me. The fiance made it.
ReplyDeleteI'm an Acts girl and am focusing on the whole "joy of seeking God" bit... I have not been excited about this passage AT ALL this week, which doesn't help. Hopefully the Holy Spirit will get excited later tonight to help me finish!
Indian food - yum! Makes my cereal look so, ordinary...LOL
ReplyDeleteWelcome Amy! There is lots of inspiration here, glad to have you join the party!
Weird error msg from blogger. Nite all, i'm done and trusting the HS likes technology (iPadpreaching)
ReplyDeleteI got the weird "error message" for comments too! But only on my lap top , but ok with my iPad.
ReplyDeleteAlso iPad preaching tomorrow!
I hear we're having comment problems for those who are not in the iPad elite, but I'll give this a try. My sermon is posted! It was a hard labor, but mother and child appear to have survived.
ReplyDeleteBack from the wedding, have had a soothing beverage and some good conversation with my sister who got here 15 mintues ahead of me. We've been talking about all the good sermons posted here. Alas, none of them were on 1 Peter so I'll archive those ideas for next year.
ReplyDeleteAnd I suppose I ought to begin putting my own thoughts in order but reading until I fall asleep sounds like such a good idea....
Well it's going on 9:30 here, which means my Sat. Night bedtime is approaching. I have to get dogs out in the rain, and then I'm going to read in bed (China Bayles mystery).
ReplyDeleteKeep the party going, I'll keep the kettle on and there is plenty of tea, chocolate, and cake, for the late night crowd.
Blessings, all!
Late night crew checking in for duty!
ReplyDeleteBack to finish things up, hopefully soon. I did get quite a bit written earlier before I had to leave the coffee shop, but now it's time to re-find that groove and make it all make sense, including some kind of conclusion!
I hate it when I'm finished with all my stuff & I could go to bed except for the fact that one of my offspring is out and about. I'll be taking a nap now & awaking for the transition time of said offspring.
ReplyDeleteI'm here, too, semfem. So glad to have you back! Kiddos are all in bed, and I think my husband is heading out shortly to go see Thor. Fine by me. I have no desire.
ReplyDeleteMy funeral went well. It was for a 91 yo women. Her husband is just an absolute sweetheart, caring for her with amazing faithfulness through almost 10 years of Alzheimer's. Last spring he bought a Cadillac (sp?) Escalade GOLF CART to drive her around our smallish town, showing her the sites where she grew up. She pretty much inhabited that timeframe of her life, so it seemed to calm her to take her around. At the end of the service he took the box of her cremated remains out of the parking lot, put it on the seat next to him and drove her around the parking lot in the golf cart "one more time." He told us it would just be one time around the lot, but he kept going and going. It was kind of comical (he had her favorite music blaring from the tape player "Yes Sir, That's My Baby"), but also the most touching thing I've seen. He's pull around in front of all of us lining the sidewalk and say, "Just one more round" then keep going. The funeral director said (truly with all sincerity), "Who knows what's going through his mind?" But we knew - - when the ride was over, the ride was over. Heartbreaking.
Anyway, that was my morning. Now it's time to move on to tomorrow. Acts, here I come!
Just remembered that the newsletter
ReplyDeletedeadline is tommorrow, and that I was supposed to aske someone to prepare a stewardship of creation piece for the Mission Minute tomorrow. Guess I have some writing to do!
Gord-I'm pretty sure I could live with less newsletters and be quite happy.
ReplyDeleteShe Rev, that is a lovely story that I am now considering working into my sermon for tomorrow about not being abandoned. Except that I already worked in the deer-protects-mother-goose story that Terri's sermon reminded me of. But a lovely illustration nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteFinished. And with the feeling that I'm out on a plank all alone. Hope there are no sharks in the water tomorrow. Comments and shark spotting welcome!
ReplyDeleteYou can find the homily on my blog.
Just popping in to see how everyone is doing tonight.
ReplyDeletePrayers for you as you prepare.
I do not have to preach in the AM, but I have to be at church early.
The head of staff and I are meeting with the nominating committee.
A bunch of names from the "clique" were stuffed in the ballot box last week and so we are there to discuss proper procedures.
The maddening part is that several members of the choir did this while youth Sunday was in full swing last week. We found the "tear-off" parts of the nom. forms in choir loft.
Not sure if I will bring that up or let it go, but it does make me mad.
Almost to 100.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have returned from the baseball game. The Boy has had a blast and was given a baseball by a little girl who already had one. She spotted his dimples from 3 rows back. He's 6. We're in big, big trouble.
ReplyDeleteBut for now I'm hoping to polish and get to bed.
Robin, know that it is not only the Advocate who has your back tomorrow, but your revgal advocates.
Searching desperately for my sermon groove. It is so far gone that I have actually lost words since I started this round of sermonizing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the game, kathrynzj!
OK. It's after 10. The horribly bad-acted Lifetime movie into which I was sucked is now over. I really need to put flesh on the bones of my outline. Now.
ReplyDeleteMine's up. Enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that hardly anything came home with me from the Indian restaurant. After much complaining, my brother finished almost everything off. We'd thought they would enjoy it because his wife is studying to be a nutritionist, but it's hard for him to be as adventurous as he'd like to think he is!
Anyway, I do very much feel myself supported as I venture forth tomorrow. Good night and blessings on all who are preaching.
Exhausted here. See y'all in the morning - blessings upon you!
ReplyDeleteAll done and posted at my place. Blessings to you all.
ReplyDeleteRobin, that's a wonderful sermon. Thank you for posting it!
ReplyDeleteLate nighters--go to it!
All--thanks for the company today.
Well, I'm a third of the way done with a very detailed outline all on paper so I'm heading to bed earlier than usual. I have a difficult week ahead, so I'm going to try to stay ahead of myself a little bit in the sleep department.
ReplyDeleteWell I got my newsletter piece done.
ReplyDeleteYou can read it here
Glad to see others finishing up.
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling here, but I do seem to be making some kind of progress...I hope!
OOOH could I possibly be done?!?
ReplyDeleteI think that's all she wrote! Off to get some much-needed sleep before my first Sunday morning is here.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on all pondering, preaching, and proclamation this day.
DONE, DONE, DONE and I even left out some things for the sake of clarity! Good night all -- and thank you !!!
ReplyDeleteWord verification is "squot" but I don't know if that's as in "diddly..." or not!!!
Blessings to all proclaiming the Good News this morning, or last night, or this afternoon, or whenever the opportunity presents itself!
ReplyDelete