Seriously. It snowed not too far from me yesterday. This much snow. Now, it won't stick around yet or anything, but still. Snow. On October 5. There are chances of flurries in my area today. The seasons are flying by. For some of us it's summer to fall (or even winter!). For others, it's winter to spring. For some we're moving farther from Pentecost and closer to Christ the King. For others, we're just getting started in the early narrative of God's relationship with the Israelites. On top of all that many of us are entering a season of stewardship. October seems like such a transition month and sometimes in transitions preaching can get the short end of the stick.
Well, here we all are, by design or by circumstance, and the craft of preaching is our task at hand. What are you addressing in this season of the church year or your congregation's life? Do you need some support, feedback, a good distraction for a little while? That's exactly what we're here for. Join the Preachers' Party in the comments and see what the season is bring others today.
Still Friday for me by 45 minutes...but I just finished the sermon. At least the rough draft. It will need some tweaking.
ReplyDeleteOff lectionary and our last Sunday of stewardship. I've been inspired by the writings of Theresa Cho to begin to create inter-generational worship.
For Prayers of the People the kid(s) will be tossing around an inflatable beach ball and whoever catches it...share a part of the world to pray for during the prayers.
I'm using Doodle Bug on my iPad to have the kids "draw God"....and we will go from there.
Glad there is only tweaking left as tomorrow we are hosting a benefit concert to help farmers/ranchers devastated by fire this summer. The proceeds will be going to buy wire and posts ($10,000/mile for supplies only).
The daughter of a long-time members is providing the music (piano, duets, vocal) and they will also be leading the music for worship on Sunday.
I love the beach ball idea; I am going to borrow that!
DeleteI hope the benefit draws a lot of people and some good sharing to help those in need. I do like the Doodle Bug idea...especially since I am doing a children's sermon tomorrow...(and hoping the kids come to church on this holiday weekend)
DeleteIt's still Friday night here, but not by much, and I'm just finishing up for the day. I chose to put up the apples from the parsonage's trees all morning which meant my work day didn't start until 1:30p - I figured it would be easier to work late than try to summon the energy to make applesauce after work. And I was right.
ReplyDeleteI've got a bit of a quandary. I'm preaching the Mark texts, and tackling divorce. Here's my problem. I'm divorced, but since we were young and only married a few years, and had no children, it doesn't get mentioned a lot. It's not that I try to hide it, it's just that after 22 years of happily married to my (2nd) spouse and two children, it's not on the front burner.
So, I know that my council knows - I made sure to mention it during my interview just so all the facts were on the table. And I've talked about it from time to time in various groups. But I'm not sure that everyone knows.
So, if during my sermon, I mention my own divorce, will that be one of those 'thunder-stealing' moments, and I'll lose the congregation for the rest of the sermon?
My experience of speaking about infertility is that it started some conversations about infant death and fertility issues.
DeleteMy hunch is it will depend on how you talk about your divorce, and how that fits within the sermon, and the church setting you are in.
all the best in your discerning
Great awareness on your part. I think it depends on a) your congregation and b) how heavily you lean on it. As you mentioned, it happened SO long ago, that it really doesn't even register on the 'thing that matter' scale any more. But it does mean that you will immediately be able to convey that you 'get' how hurtful this passage can be.
DeleteBlessings upon you...
I"m not preaching the texts but know your feeling. I haven't mentioned it in searches because it was such a small part of my life. We were only together a year, even tho officially married for a couple. I mention it in private conversations at times. The church board chair said, "Did we know that?" and I said, I don't know, because I honestly forget sometimes that I'm divorced. But announcing from the pulpit seems to make it a bigger thing than it has been in my entire life. So I choose where and when to disclose.
DeleteI will be thinking of you!
Ramona, I understand your quandry....I've divorced (2x actually) but I've been single for 17 years, since well before I was ordained. People are aware that I was married once (at least) because I have children, but I don't know that people think about it. For me that means that I struggle with this passage AND I can empathize with others but I'm still not sure whether mentioning my status is helpful or not.
DeleteActually not even sure I'm going to preach Mark tomorrow...
first draft done before dinner time on Saturday evening. WOW!
ReplyDeletenow to cook dinner. I am hoping for an early night, as here Daylight Savings starts this weekend, which means one hour less sleep. And it has been a busy week, so I would appreciate a good rest before worship tomorrow.
I love that we're all transitioning in different ways in different parts of the world yet have a space and place in this community.
ReplyDeleteI don't have too much to do for Sunday service this week. We're going off lectionary to celebrate harvest. Some folks from the local Foodbank will be along to share their work which we are supporting. Also have prayer group offering prayers for others- so I just need to come up with a children's message.
Looks like today is shaping up to be a bright autumn day, so hopefully will have time to enjoy sunshine.
But first, breakfast. Full Scottish - bacon, eggs, sausage, potato scone, tomato, mushroom - and coffee. Help yourself!
all done, or done enough, which is good as my keyboard is being temperamental. sermon law and love if you are interested.
ReplyDelete9pm, which is 10pm new time, so doing really well, though a few bits and pieces to get together for the morning.
Good morning.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to dive into Mark, but it will need to wait until three years from now (or never?) so Hebrews it is. World Communion so I'm thinking about telling a few stories about my quirky Uncle Marvin who would just randomly show up at things and us having to make room at the table.
Not sure how that fits into Hebrews, but I know I thought it did earlier in the week. :)
Preaching the Narrative Lectionary, which for tomorrow is the Golden Calf. Working title (that is, what's on the board outside church) "Lessons in Human Frailty."
ReplyDeleteAny inspired suggestions as to how to tie that to World Communion Sunday? I had a slippery thought about three days ago that is gone, baby, gone.
Sharing the first thing that popped into my mind: Maybe something about how we are better when we are together. Going it alone leads to impaired vision and frailty of judgment, perhaps?
DeleteLike Sharon - coming together and sharing our gifts (strengths) and sharing a meal - building community verses putting out energy into false idols (what ever those may be in your context - greed? envy? - false idols that pull us away from community?)....
DeleteYes, both of you... I do think that's the direction I need to go. Thank you so much.
DeleteTomorrow is our last Sunday of Season of Creation. We used the prayers and some of the liturgy but didn't change the readings - so we've been on lectionary. But not only is tomorrow the last Sunday of SoC but we are also celebrating the Feast of St. Francis and the kids (if they come) will be in worship all morning. Usually if the kids don't have children's worship parents don't come (sad...) - I sent out an email letting parents know that I am preaching a children's sermon and will have worship materials for the kids - hoping they come...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, all that is to say I need to create a children's sermon on the Feast of St. Francis and hope there are kids present. I think I am going to borrow Purple's Doodle Bug idea and add that into the sermon - having kids draw something (animals?) (God?)...
Tomorrow is the High Holy Day of Homecoming at my church, and thankfully, I had the foresight to get a guest preacher. Least favorite Sunday of the church year - our church underwent a split a few years ago, and while it was a painful at the time, we've come out stronger. But, on Homecoming, the people who 'split' come back and frown. I'll be glad to get it over with - but, for today, I'm getting my own house in order - laundry, cleaning....all of that exciting stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh Chilly - that is just sad...that people come back and "frown"...geeze...good idea to get a guest preacher.
DeleteI chickened out of preaching Mark, for which wisdom I am grateful today, supported by the rediscovery of a playlet tying together Job and the last four verses of Mark. It's been an emotional week here as I announced my resignation. (You can read the letter here.)
ReplyDeleteSo, worship drama, pastoral drama, a baptism *and* Communion! That feels like enough for anybody this week. Blessings to all who are writing today. I'm off to church for a book group gathering, then home to do some more work on getting my house ready to sell.
((Martha)) - transition, even good transition, is so emotional and challenging. Blessings for you in the days ahead, as you say good-byes and prepare for the next journey.
DeleteThere has been no "chickening out" this week. You have been discerning... all sorts of things... and this is what, in your wisdom, you discerned.
DeleteWell done. Take care of yourself.
I have done some research on St. Francis and am thinking about kids, animals, and how to engage the kids tomorrow. Alas, that's all I'm doing, thinking about it. Not inspired, yet.
ReplyDeleteI really want a good, short story about animals to engage the kids...
anyone? anyone?
Katrina animal stories?
DeletePurple...I'll look for some of those...thanks.
DeleteLet me just say that googling "animal stories for kids with a moral" is not a good idea - the moral portrayed is usually really awful (ie bad deer "wife" who didn't listen to her "husband"...ack!)
Hi Terri - whenever I need an animal story, I always try to opt for the story of my own dog, Peanut. She went blind at about the age of 5 - and she had to learn how to listen for my voice and my commands. And, she did! She knew when my car pulled into the driveway and would stand at the door and wag her tail. She and I went jogging, hiking in the mountains - she even went in the ocean! And, she soundlessly stole an entire pot roast off of the kitchen counter and ate the whole thing...what a lesson in walking my faith and not be sight. If you want to use her or want more details (or even a picture), let me know. Probably way more info than you wanted, but I loved that dog!
DeleteTerri, what about the story from Fly Away Home? It features a child and isn't sad. If you haven't seen it, you can read about it here.
DeleteThe iPad and Blogger are not mixing at all. I can't leave replies anywhere.
ReplyDeleteWelcome all? Thanks for getting th party started. I'm single parenting this weekend as my husband flew home to help his dad on the farm for a fe days. Unfortunately their harvest plans were foiled yesterday and at least part of the day by their own freak snow and cold. DH hadn't been home in at least two years and he was getting the shakes. He's driven tractors, combines, and ridden in trucks, so now all is well in his world.
Hope the fundraiser goes well, purple!
Ramona, I think you're wise in wondering if your illustration will over-shadow. I don't think that means you can't mention it, but it just means ou need to take care in doing it. For me that means speaking definitively about the parts I choose to share, not levying loose ends. It's the loose ends that seem to distract, because as soon as the service is over people come up and ask for the end of the story.
Ugh. This is going to be a frustrating day. I see the typos up there but I couldn't fix them
ReplyDeleteUgh.....I do wish the iPad worked better with blogger. I understand!
DeleteTomorrow is the first Sunday of our stewardship program. I will be preaching the Lectionary (gospel-related track) and gratitude. The psalm may be the highlight of the whole thing. Still, beliefnet had some good stuff to draw on.
ReplyDeleteI just found out yesterday that Delmer Chilton and John Fairchild (Two Bubbas and a Bible) are doing a preaching workshop at Lutherridge in western North Carolina 10/28-30. I love their blog but can't get there even though it's about 90 minutes away. Maybe some of you can fit that into your October. Mine is stuffed with stewardship and diocesan discernment retreats for aspirants.
And today I need to do a blessing of the animals service at a local state park. Haven't a clue how many people to expect!
So difficult to plan for worship services where the number of attendees is an unknown..I always over-plan and make more bulletins than we need but then I save them and use them again the next year.
DeleteOctober is a crazy busy month!
So far all of the stories I have read are too sad or not quite right. I think I may tell a story about how I cared for a baby squirrel after my cat (or a cat) killed the mother..and then how that baby squirrel always responded to my voice after I let it go...
ReplyDeleteWhile I ponder that idea I'm going to go do some yoga.
My hubby just walked in with a big pile of doggie do on his boot...does that fit anyone's animal story needs? sigh...
ReplyDeleteI am procrastinating and did so last night too. Must get to work. I've been so tired, (But get more so hearing all you 'gals' are up to) but now have only tomorrow on my 'do' list. slept for almost 11 hours, one more cup of coffee and I should be ready to write!
Yesterday was my day to sleep - 3 naps! Which probably says more about the book I was reading that my exhaustion. Or not.
DeleteSorry about the boot. I have a cat who decided the dining room was her litter box this morning. The dogs didn't find it before I did, thank heaven.
If I didn't have a theme I am required to use this week, I would still be procrastinating, too. The Mark is not one of my favorites at all. Good luck when you finally get down to it, Nancy.
It is a Harvest service here tomorrow, as well as dedication of the Boys' and Girls' brigades. I am focussing the service around the Loaves and Fishes based on an idea I got here a while ago - giving out paper bread and fishes and identifying community needs and how they are going to respond themselves - which I am very grateful for and looking forward to. No sermon (which for me is always a good thing) just a lot to fit in. Followed by Harvest Lunch which is even better!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, all (still morning, barely! - yikes!). We're still plugging along in our 12-week sermon series and I'm up tomorrow on hospitality/welcoming/receiving, touching lightly on Genesis 18 and Romans 15. Read an awesome book called Radical Hospitality about the Benedictine rule of welcoming all as Christ, and am pondering my own experience with the Benedictines as well. So much to say, actually, that i fear it will be hard to put it all together. Am getting a bit of a late start with actual writing because of running in a 5K this morning, plus we have dinner plans tonight with folks who are new to our congregation. Eep! Better get moving. Am hoping for a big dose of HS inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI have vegan chocolate chip pumpkin muffins fresh from the oven to share. My boys have basically decided that I'm making these every Saturday this fall, and since they are so easy and delicious, I could hardly say no.
Easy? How easy?
DeleteVery easy! I mixed the dry and wet ingredients last night, refrigerated the wet, and then this morning I mixed the wet into the dry, added the chocolate chips, and put them in the oven. Today me was very grateful to last night me. Here's the recipe if you're interested!
DeleteThis is from the book Vegan with a Vengeance (LOVE that cookbook). The chocolate chips are my own addition.
1 3/4 C all-purpose flour
1 1/4 C sugar
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t ground ginger
1/4 ground allspice
1/8 ground cloves
1 C pureed pumpkin
1/2 C soy milk
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 T molasses
1 C chocolate chips (Ghiradelli are usually vegan)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 12-muffin tin (with the addition of the chocolate chips, this actually ends up making 17-18 muffins).
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, soy milk, oil, and molasses. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix.
Fill the muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
(the recipe suggests adding cranberries, walnuts, or both, but I just do the chocolate chips, because that's what my kiddos like)
Terri - if you're doing animals maybe fiction is the way to go... Winnie the Pooh, and how the animals in the forest form a neighborhood, a community and they look out for each other, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteI have an outdoor wedding today and the high is 48 degrees. seriously.
Sermon is wandering, but I'm tackling Mark which is what it is, when I'm still serving in the same place I've been since my divorce... that being said the sermon will not be personal to me.... but we're going to try and navigate the tricky waters that we've all failed in relationships, of all sorts, so let's be the grace-filled, grace-extending people God asks us to be. huh... er something. we'll see. I'm still in my bathrobe...
HC - good idea! may look through some of my remaining children's books....
Deleteoutdoor wedding, sigh. Surely they hoped for a warm fall day...sigh
Oh HC - you have helped me remember one of my favorite books - it's called "Obediah" and its the story of a little boy (Quaker) who is being "followed" by a pigeon or a seagull. It's follows him whenever he is outside and sleeps on the roof near his house. Kids and family begin to tease him and he gets angry at the bird...and then when it disappears he misses it...it's a sweet story. I have to go over to my office and find it - THAT may be just the story I am looking for. Thank you!
DeleteIt's actually called, "Thy Friend, Obadiah"...I think I will have to adapt it a bit - no thee, thy, and thou....and the "penny" mother gives him will need to be "money"...do kids even know what a penny is? lol
Delete48 degrees? for an outdoor wedding? Craziness.
ReplyDeleteI was asked to do a special World Communion Deal at one of my supply congregations ("we *love* how you do communion"). So I ditched the not-at-all-helpful lectionary in favor of Galatians 3 and John 15. There's a lot of extra little liturgy pieces they won't be used to, but I guess they'll handle it.
I'm exhausted, having not gotten an uninterrupted night's sleep in 6 weeks. Oldest daughter has had a giant cast on her leg for precisely that long. She goes back to get a smaller cast this week, so hopefully things will be getting better. I'm getting that "parent of a newborn" fuzziness, which I do not like at all.
Skipping the big town festival today, because younger daughter has strep and is still contagious. She feels fine, but tested positive yesterday. Weird. I'm not completely devastated to miss the festival, as you may be able to tell.
Enough whining. Need to finish for tomorrow and get ready for next Sunday, too.
We still have some birthday chocolate cupcakes left over, if you'd like any.
Wow, that was unnecessarily whiny. I apologize.
DeleteYou have just cause to whine! And what better place than here with us!
DeleteGood morning preachers!
ReplyDeleteWe're blessing animals tomorrow in the service, but still sticking with the lectionary; at this point I think I'm going to preach Job. Although it feels a little bit like dodging the hard text to me...not that Job is easy! I am just at the point where I have been through the lectionary cycle all the way with this congregation and I looked to see what I did 3 years ago--that year I preached the texts for the feast of St. Francis.
As I was running this morning I was thinking about hardness of heart which comes up in Mark and often in the OT and wondering if there was some connection there with Job but I'm not sure that line of thinking is going to be productive. Right now I need to shower and eat breakfast and then I'll be back!
I really want to know how the blessing of animals during a Sunday service goes. I can not find the time to do a separate Blessing this year and am so tired of adding things in! Not to mention the limited attendance any of them gets... I'd love to do it on a Sunday but can't imagine how it works. Please let me know how you manage the logistics.
ReplyDeleteNancy - I have done lots of blessing of the animals in service with a Eucharist - and it always goes well. Sometimes I encourage people to remain in their pews/seats and I come to them for the blessing and the communion. Other times I have had people line up, after the sermon, and in place of other pieces of the service (Nicene Creed, Confession, Prayers of the People) and we bless animals and then repeat the line for communion. The animals are always well behaved enough because they are all on the same neutral territory. Leashes are a must as is knowing your animal and holding it if need be.
DeleteMy experience in two different parishes has been much like Terri's. I ask that all animals be "properly restrained" -- cage, leash, whatever -- and their owners come forward with them for a blessing after the announcements, a time in the liturgy where we often do the "extras. The critters have always been well behaved. And we have some animal treats at coffee hour as well.
DeleteAt a former parish with a group had a particular calling to animal ministry we crafted more of the service to focus on creation and care of God's creatures, especially the animals given to our care. And we had people bring in donations for the local shelter. That was nice , too.
We have three Sunday a.m. services, and for St. Francis, two of them are animal blessing. Both of those are outside, which is not too risky when you live in So Cal! The family service is not a Eucharist, but it follows the same liturgy we use other Sundays, and we do the animals when the sermon would be (now that we are up to 50 or more at that service, we try to have two of us doing the blessing). The other one is a Eucharist, though we adapt and shorten some things a bit. At both, clergy go to the animals, not vice versa. We also have streamers hanging to which people can tie colored index cards with names of pets who have died. Both are crazy, chaotic, and noisy, but they are annual favorites, and I am reminded that the kingdom of God is probably well-revealed in the process!
DeleteHello all! My Saturdays have been hectic recently to say the least. However, I think I am going to be (finally) back in my routine for a while--hoping so, I miss my Saturday Preacher parties!
ReplyDeleteBack from our Blessing of the Animals service--chilly here too! We had it outside, a shared service with a pastor-friend's congregation. Her church has a courtyard, which was perfect. About 15 in attendance, which wasn't bad for the first time. We read from Genesis (creation) and Matthew (Lilies of the field), had St. Francis' and St. Clare's prayers, blessed each critter individually and went home. I don't think I would change much--it was just long enough, the animals behaved, the site was perfect.
Now on to finishing the sermon for tomorrow! It's Thanksgiving up here in Canada, eh, and so I am working with those texts (1 Timothy, Matthew, plus Psalm 126 as call to worship). I had a good thing going, talking about how what we have is enough, and thanking God for not so much our material possessions as our spiritual ones (grace, love, mutual support, etc.)... And just found out this morning one of our pillars lost her job yesterday. How do I urge her to give thanks, when her life is falling apart around her?
And related...the lectionary reading for the last Sunday in October is Jesus healing a man who is blind. I have a hard time preaching the healing stories, because some people don't get healed. This one hits very close to home, as my partner is visually impaired due to a complication of surgery (blood clot damage to the optic nerve).
Really struggling with preaching the Good News of God's care and love today. I know it's there--how do I convey the joy of thanksgiving for all we have when some of the people I am addressing have lost so much?
Sometime we just have to honor that life is filled with challenges and those challenges are a struggle for us. But somehow in the great mystery that is God, God is with us hoping to transform the struggles into grace and fill us with hope even when we will not be "cured" - but we can be made well?...
DeleteTerri, thanks for the reminder that cure and wellness are two different things. I do know that...just difficult to preach sometimes.
DeleteI am going in the direction of thanksgiving for the community of fellowship and mutual support, Christ's love made visible in the church community. This rings especially true for us, as many (not all) of us have distant or difficult relationships with our families of origin and have created families of choice, the church being part of that. For a few of the members, church is one of the few places they can be the full person they know themselves to be.
Sounds like you have the approach that will be most helpful for your context! Families of choice are intentional and often very healing of the wounds we have felt from our families of origin....
DeleteI'm still going with Mark; outlined it in some detail a couple of days ago. Jesus pushing for us to take into account the vulnerable (first century women and children post-divorce) and the to become like children -- innocent of the harsh and suspicious attitudes of his challengers -- to enter the here but not yet kingdom -- and offering a sustaining meal of reconciliation to all of us, no matter who we are or where we stand.
ReplyDeleteA here-comes-everyone kind of day.
I *am* going to talk about my own divorce-ridden family of origin and about my family law practice, so that it's clear that I come from no place of judgment on divorce or family structure.
I actually have no sense of how this is all coming together, though.
Thinking about Job while I was in the shower (and I swear God talks to me in the shower:) and it occurred to me that this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, particularly the exchange between Meredith and Christina about bad things happening there, is very "Job" like. Hmmmm......
ReplyDeleteOh yes...good idea!
Deletehmmmm I may be doing Job next week, good idea!
DeleteWell, it's really simple - but this sermon is done. Read the book, talk about St. Francis, conclude the Season of Creation. the end.
ReplyDeleteSitting and thinking in the coffee shop, which closes in 45 minutes (instead of at 5 as their website says). Definitely going with Mark--fits right into the ongoing theme of "tough lessons from Jesus"--but not quite sure how to start. I have two sustainable sermons to draw from, but they aren't quite hitting the right note. Hmph.
ReplyDeleteI do have a children's time idea--I think I'm going to talk about how love, not genetics, makes a family (even in the face of divorce) and have the kids draw family portraits on "picture frame" paper.
Lots to do today in preparation for leaving right after church tomorrow for a fun 24-hour getaway...but that doesn't make this any easier!
I have a sermon! Or at least its a meditation as for once communion and other things means I can do with 10-12 minutes which is so much better for attention spans!
ReplyDeleteI had nothing all week and no time to look at it so am VERY grateful to have this come together. Am trusting that it really is the spirit's message and not just what I, 'came up with'.
Now to finish some worship pieces and transitions or it will be a bumpy ride tomorrow.
Back for a bit after setting up chairs and tying up lose ends. That also gave me time "tie up lose ends" in the sermon, Selah, which is here
ReplyDeleteThe music will be wonderful, toe-tapping songs and the two gals playing also incorporate audience participation as well. I dug out my camcorder and tripod. No directions but I can get it to record...and hopefully I'll be able to create some DVR's of the concert.
I was invited out to dinner with the musicians and family at Italian place here.
Be back later...hopefully to read through the comments and sermons.
Oh..and we have snow!
Late start here- it is crazy cold and with the boiler not yet turned on so my office is about 55. That is as warm as it is going to get so I need to get 'er done.
ReplyDeleteBaptism of a sweet child tomorrow. His parents will sing and teach a song we have done before - "I promise to bring you to Jesus" Plan is to have our younger ones sing the chorus laying hands on little Dale. Grandfather is a friend and former commissioned lay pastor. Planning to have him participate in the baptism with the French baptism liturgy ( Little child - for you Christ was born... brief salvation history ... and you know nothing of this. And so we promise to tell you this story until you can claim it as your own"
World communion intinction in the pews with different kinds of breads. I wimped out on scripture ( or practiced discernment :-) ) with just the 2nd part of Mark. Will be talking about Kids4peace international I first encountered in Jerusalem and their mission
Kids4Peace Pledge
I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way.
I pledge to help others as I go throughout my day.
I pledge to care for our earth with my healing heart and hands.
I pledge to respect people in each and every land.
I pledge to join together as we unite the big and small.
I pledge to do my part to create peace for one and all.
Tomorrow is our peacemaking offering with a portion going to our local school for discretionary student needs.
Now all I have to do is get it together. I have a severe case of short timers. 2 months and counting...
Like that peace pledge, Celeste.
DeleteHi everybody - ducking in real quick to say hi and thanks for the great ideas (vegan muffins! doodle bug!). I am thinking about Job! world communion sunday! and mostly, my dad (also a pastor) visiting! But so far a lot of thinking is all I got - nothing written yet. Will check in later, I'm guessing. Have a great afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually give my sermon's titles, but if I did, this week's would be "Meredith, Christina and Job" or something like that. :)
ReplyDeleteNow I just need to give it an ending :(
But first I need to run to the story and pick up coffee hour supplies; yes after 2 weeks with no coffee hour I am back to that but with a new agenda: hospitality is important and we'll provide coffee and juice. If anyone would like to bring something to share they are welcome to do so, no sign ups required. Also bought a new coffee pot to make it quicker and easier to make the coffee (a Bunn instead of a big 40 cup percolator). Perhaps a copout, but I hope a compromise. We'll see.
Well, yikes, now I have an ending but I am too long by several hundred words, an unusual situation for me. Off to the store, and then back for editing!
DeleteDoes anyone use 'Things' for iphone or pad?
ReplyDeleteI have it on both, and have used it a little, but not currently. Right now I'm using Remember the Milk, and I like it.
DeleteI have many, many words on the page - a surprising number actually, and too many - but they are not in the right order yet, and now I'm out of time. On my way out to go to dinner at someone's house (newcomers to the church), and I am expecting to get in late. Guess I'll be popping by the party after I get home!
ReplyDeleteI think I have finally pruned my sermon down to a preachable lenght. As I said on FB, ask me tomorrow if I still think my Grey's Anatomy theme was a good idea :)
ReplyDeleteIf you are planning to preach on Job more this month, I highly recommend the link on Working Preacher (in this week's Job commentary) to a plan for a six week series on Job. Even if you don't have that many weeks, the way she lays it out is really helpful. At least it was for me.
It's after 8:30 and no dinner yet, so that is my next task. Hope things are falling into place for everyone--it's been quiet here the last couple of hours.
I do plan on talking about Job next week - thanks for the heads up about Workingpreacher....
DeleteHow's it going out there? I didn't get my ducks in a row for tomorrow's baptism, so I have some work to do when I get to church in the morning. From there I go straight to the airport, so I've been busy packing a suitcase! I'm on study leave this week with a long "to do" list.
ReplyDeleteThere's cookies and cream ice cream here, and I'm happy to share.
Mmmmm...cookies and cream!
DeleteCalling it done. Got virtually nothing done that wasn't already done this morning. I will be sorry about that at next week's preacher party. Hoping that all my World Communion ducks are in a row, and hoping that the bread people found something besides white.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry I have been a horrible hostess. The day went very different from what I imagined, but probably not all that different from how those of you who single parent more regularly than I do would have imagined. I had respect for you all, but now I have have MAJOR respect for you. Exhausted. Tensed up. Wanting some time to think about the things I want to think about. At least I had the sense enough to predict this about two weeks ago and come up with an idea for worship that doesn't require as much prep time as usual. Thanks be to God. I'm going to finish the football game I'm watching (Go big red!) while eating a far bigger stack of Oreos than I can really justify, then write, hopefully finish, and get in bed no later than midnight. Will poke around here, too!
ReplyDeleteAnyone else still around?
Ugh. I seem to have written myself into a corner, instead of into a conclusion! Grrr. At least the kids' sermon is done.
ReplyDeleteI hate that. Can you back up and see where the corner starts to change the direction?
DeleteHmm...I had two conflicting paragraphs, so I just ditched them both and the way seems to be clear now. It's done, although I'm kinda meh about it. Oh well. Can't possibly hold every single person's experience in one sermon. Hope it's coming together for you, SheRev.
DeleteWe just got back from the city. I had a hospital call to make up there and we had to stock up on supplies. So...I haven't even started yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not sure if I'm going to get started now. I feel awful, been dizzy and lightheaded since supper and it's worse. I'm afraid I have an emergency room visit in my future. Not what I want to do on Saturday night! But after my parishioner's recent experience which landed her in the hospital with a triple-bypass, I don't think I want to downplay what's going on. Prayers appreciated -for both my health and the probability I'll be winging it in the morning.
Oh no Ramona...maybe it's time for a hymn sing tomorrow? Prayers for you...take care of yourself...even if that means no church at all tomorrow.
DeleteI agree with the hymn sing idea. Holding you in prayer.
DeletePrayers for you!
Deletemorning worship is over for me. I preached on the Mark gospel, and one of my older ladies told me she had been divorced, and the church she had been attending would not marry her [to second husband], so she changed churches, which is how she came to be in this congregation. I had no idea she had been divorced, and my guess is it was a while ago.
ReplyDeleteit is like letting a genie out of the bag, people can talk about the 'unmentionables' of life.
on a sad note a family has a son [adopted] who causes them much angst, - drugs, trouble with the police etc. , apparently someone recently asked if she regretted adopting him, out in public.
what kind of dumb people inhabit this universe? at least it wasn't at church.
I have a church member who has said something very similar to me about a similar situation. My jaw just dropped. I sucked at responding to it.
DeleteAs I mentioned on fb earlier I was hoping to get the sermon written before my love's folks (and assorted other guests) got here - didn't happen. That said, I got the house cleaned, stew and pumpkin pies made, turkey defrosting and somehow found beds for five people in our cozy place. Now to focus on the sermon. Since it's Thanksgiving in this part of the world - I'm focusing on Matthew 6, with the idea that what/who we worry about tells us something about the things/people we care about... and hopefully tying that in with being thankful and worldwide communion. I've got a few words written already so that's good. Even so - I've had some folks recently say they've been disappointed in my worship services and sermons, and on top of that, my love's parents are likely coming to church... no pressure right? I'm praying that the HS might inspire these words so that they might speak God's light and life to folks.
ReplyDeleteHolding you in the Spirit. Praying for comfort and calm.
DeleteWell [in my most sarcastic voice], that's helpful feedback...NOT! Prayers for you for tomorrow, not just for the words, but for the confidence to know the Spirit is with you and reaching folks in your congregation.
DeleteLate here, and my house is inhabited by a dozen teenagers who are here for the night. They are noisy but having fun, so it is all good. I may not think so tomorrow morning, though!
Well, I think I'm going to head to bed shortly. This was a night I could have had everything done before I went to sleep, but I don't. Oh well. I just didn't want to think and write after a tiring day so I stayed up playing Tetris and watching TV. Not smart, but not my first less than helpful choice on a Saturday night. :) I'll be up bright and early. Prayers and peace for fall!
ReplyDeleteI'm awake. I'm awake! Coffee's on!
ReplyDelete