 | ||
| and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.... |
Good day preacher pals! My goodness, Saturday always rolls around quickly. Have you taken a look at the readings for this week? Did you participate in the Tuesday Lectionary Leanings? Always lots of good insight and ideas there. Are you pondering the Elijah/Elisha story? Or are you working with Track Two and looking at Elijah in the context of 1st Kings? Maybe the Psalms are speaking to you? Or Galatians...well, maybe not Galatians (this is one of my least favorite readings), or perhaps the Gospel, and poor Jesus with no place to lay his head.
I'm in the summer season - which means we have three short, casual, come as you are, services. This also means that my homilies are about five minutes long, even less for the 9am outdoor service with kids (for that service I just ask a couple of questions and offer a short summarizing paragraph). This week I'm thinking about introducing the idea of /Flat Jesus. It seems like it would be a good time to do this by building from the Gospel and working off the idea that Jesus has no place to go, so let's take Jesus with us!
What about you? Where are you going with the readings this week?
I have lots of tea and coffee and fresh fruit. Pull up a chair, let's party!
Terri, I'm loving that flat Jesus idea and storing it away for another year - our youth groups have already finished this session and I'd like to launch that with them - so next summer!
ReplyDeleteAs we've journeyed with Elijah, we've considered different elements of Truth that the story reveals and we've had the letters TRUTH displayed on the chancel. This week as we "wrap up" the story, I'd like folk to think of those who have passed on the mantle to them. We'll write those names on sticky notes and stick them on the letters of TRUTH. That's as far as I've got with my thinking so far.
Holidays, for me, begin on Wednesday....
Liz, I love what are doing with the Elijah text. Did TRUTH become an acronym, or are you using the word as a noun/verb - here is what truth means in the context of Elijah and the Book of Kings?
ReplyDeleteTerri, we used it as a noun/verb - here are "truths" we discover in the stories - "Raising Truth" , "Burning Truth", "Unspoken Truth", "Twisting Truth", "Persistent Truth" . It's been a hook to take us through Elijah's ministry.
DeleteNice! I like this idea a lot.
DeleteA light day tomorrow. Most of the service is a hymn sing. For a very short approach to fruits of the spirit I am using an idea I found on textweek and handing out fruits and veggies, the first letters of whose names match the first letter of a fruit of the spirit, e.g. Lettuce = Love, Strawberries = Self-Restraint. Our 3 or 4 kids should be there tomorrow so they'll enjoy it, and maybe everyone will remember a fruit (or veggie) or two. Final song is Arlo's Garden Song ("Inch by inch, row by row . . .".
ReplyDeleteMy husband was going to come down to Small Church Town with me tonight as there is/was a three-day hot air ballonfest going on. Unfortunately torrential rains down there have wiped most of it out. We'll have to see what's going on weather-wise later this afternoon.
Meanwhile I am off to a morning of spiritual directors' supervision group. Strawberries, anyone?
Robin, that will definitely be memorable - love it!
DeleteThe weather is also very, very wet. Day after day of it. Good for the Great Lakes, I suppose, which have serious low water levels....
Enjoy your day!
I'm back from a 2 week break from worship that included vacation, and leading a family mission trip this past week. It is a quick turn around to preaching tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI picked the Galatians passage a month ago, and have a draft that I'm editing today.
I'm going with the concept that we are freed from the bonds of sin for service/loving our neighbor. Looking at the fact that we make countless daily choices that lead us toward loving our neighbor, and the way of the Spirit, and that the fruits are born from those daily choices. I'm going to weave in Mad Men as an example of what happens when one goes down the path of self-indulgence (thank you, Don Draper) that Paul warns about, and counter that with examples from our recent mission trips.
Off to attend a wedding, and then back at it this afternoon.
Prayers for everyone preaching. I've got some freshly picked blueberries to share.
suz - sounds like you have this sermon well underway and great approach to Galatians...maybe I would dislike this passage less if I took a more creative approach to it as you are!
DeleteGood morning. I'm up and getting ready for a funeral service in a couple of hours, and then a wedding for this afternoon. Gotta love covering for my neighbours in ministry - but at least I'll know they'll do the same for me when I'm away.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what I'm preaching on for tomorrow. Was thinking of going with the gospel and the idea of following Jesus, but that's about it. If my sermons were more organized I'd check to see if I had any kind of a sustainable sermon. Prayers for all as you preach.
I'd love a strawberry and some blueberries please! I have tea to share for any who are interested.
ayamihawina - safe travels...we'll be here when you return and will gladly journey with you as you work out your sermon for tomorrow!
DeleteI love lightness in summertime preaching. Tomorrow I begin a four week series called, "The Gospel and Grimm's," in honor of the fairy tales 200th year anniversary. The first sermon is "Once Upon A Time," using the epistle, "For freedom Christ has set us free," moving to that we are most free when living in right relationship, full of the fruit of the Spirit, with others. After the message, a couple in our congregation are renewing their vows in celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, I think you call that "Happily ever after..." Other sermons in the series are, "Straw into Gold," "Kissing Frogs," and I even have a troll visiting one Sunday! I am enjoying every minute of rereading the fairy tales from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI am using F. Buechner's premise that "the gospel is part fairy tale, it takes the love of a human to transform the beast."
DeleteOh, excellent! Nice tie-in to the renewal of vows with the homily and the rest of the service! The entire series sounds delightfully fun!
Deletelove it! I'm interested to hear how it goes!
DeleteSo I did some reading from Feasting on the Word, organized my thoughts a bit, then walked to yoga, did my yoga practice and walked home.It's cool outside today and my walking companion and I ended up talking about oatmeal...so, Now I'm eating oatmeal with fresh blueberries, crushed almonds, some added vegan brown rice protein powder, raw honey, and almond milk. I'm finding, unlike soy protein for which I have acquired a taste, brown rice protein powder requires a greater effort on my part to like it...
ReplyDeleteok. now back to that sermon...I have some images of Jesus to print off and cut the extra paper off - my hope is folks will take them home and color them - or the kids will do this during worship - and then they can take Jesus with them, take pictures and send them to me to post on Facebook, etc...I'm going to connect the idea of Jesus having no place to lay his head (except where we take him as we live as his hands and heart in the world) with the Elijah/Elisha story in 2 Kings - can we see God acting in the world around us?
Pairing the Galatians on the Fruit of the SPirit with Matthew and "by their fruits they will be known" and the time-worn cliches about judging a book by its cover.
ReplyDeleteAnd how do we judge others? What evidence do we give others to judge us by?
Welcome, Gord! Happy sermonating day to you!
DeleteI'm renovating a sermon on Elijah and Elisha, about who are our mentors, and who are we mentors to (the grammar needs some work, for one thing). The whole sermon needs to be lengthened, and updated.
ReplyDeleteFor now, the girls and I are making some chocolate-chocolate chip cookies for a potluck lunch tomorrow. We made a double batch, so there are enough to share with everyone! Help yourselves. There's also some uncooked dough, if you hurry.
It is HOT here already and promises to be well into triple digits today. Will trade warm weather for rain, anyone?
Esperanza, I so remember living in the dry HOT desert SW, which I often loved...but also truly yearned for rain. I will gladly send some rain your way in exchange for some dry hot sunny weather.
Deleteand, yes please....chocolate chocolate chip cookies! YUM!!
It's a deal. 110 so far this afternoon. We are usually a bit more moderate/humid (like only around 100), so this feels like an oven. I will throw in the cookies as part of the deal!
DeleteUsed part of the Galatians readings from this week in last week's naming of demons - this week will use the fruits from Galatians as a guidepost for being on the right track. I LOVE the Galatians reading - it is one of my top three favorites, so I was so happy when I saw it in the lectionary.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second of three sermons to preach in a row. Rector retired and I feel as though this is a good time to get some new experience. Alas, I only get to do it once, so I am enjoying it while I can.
Amy+ I'm so glad you love this reading! One thing I have always struggled with is having young people read the lesson in church and say things like "fornication"...licentiousness...etc. I try to make sure the kids are reading the lesson from Kings....just a little easier on them (and me)...Paul's disdain for the body pushes my body-centered anchor in the world.
DeleteEnjoy this opportunity to preach as much as you are, it really is a lot easier than preaching infrequently!
For the VBS service tonight, I cut the "works of the flesh" part so that the kids are not reading them at all. The Children's Version had it translated as "sexual affairs, etc" - ugh. I love the Fruits part and I am preaching this as a plumb line - a way to discern in everyday life who, what, where to listen and maybe join those in entering into the work of the Kingdom.
DeleteI am preaching on the Galatians text. Focusing on the difference between freedom FROM and Freedom For. Christ releases us from bondage in order to have the freedom FOR love. Using some of my own experiences in that freedom found as I went off to college as the freedom from and the love thy neighbor as the example of the freedom for.
ReplyDeleteWelcome WSV, and for sharing the direction you are taking with Galatians...clearly I need to embrace this text with greater creativity and a more open heart. (or, maybe not, see what I said above re: Amy+)LOL
DeleteHey preachers! I'm back from a run and a shower, eating a quick lunch and then to begin writing. It's interesting to hear the different takes on Galatians b/c I'm leaning towards that myself, and I RARELY preach on Paul. My previous associations with this passage have been hearing it used to warn against the sins of the flesh but when I read it this week it seemed to me to be calling us more into living a life focused on the fruits of the spirit. Then the whole freedom thing struck me this morning while I was running, and I may be going far afield from what Paul meant, but I'm thinking of what freedom really means (NOT that we can do whatever we want) and what it means for God to give us that freedom. Not sure where it will go, but will probably pull in 4th of July somewhere too--the placement of this reading here is accidental I'm sure, but somehow fits. We'll see what works out when I actually start writing.
ReplyDeleteI have fresh strawberries and blueberries here, too. I eat a humongous amount of berries and I love having them so fresh this time of year.
RDM - from last week, you can use the example of the man with demons - when he met Jesus at the shore, he was free of the guard and shackles, but was not really free. Not in the same way Paul has been writing about in the last few weeks.
DeleteAmy - good idea!
DeleteRDM - I think you are on to a great take on this reading...you could even tie in the Supreme Court decisions of this week as a sign of what freedom means in this country, decisions that are made and how we vary in our response to them...?
Uh oh. I'm already in holiday mode. After a lovely dinner of sea bass, we cracked open a bottle of wine - I never so that on a Saturday night when I'm working! But, hell, it feels good. Early service of Wholeness and Healing is prepared but nothing on paper for sermon for main service. I'm thinking of ad libbing, mainly because Elijah is so familiar and special for me. But it may just be the wine making me brave!!! Won't need to be too long, either because of the reflective action planned. Is it wrong to already be focused on 2 Sundays off?
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Liz! It's probably the Holy Spirit speaking to you, even if it took a little wine to open up the communication channel! :-)
DeleteHmmm...wine as a means of opening oneself to the Spirit? I like it!
DeleteHaha! Me too! :)
DeleteWow -this is a happening party! (Did I just date myself?) I'm preaching on Elijah/Elisha and going with a mentor theme - what things have been passed on to you, who passed on the faith to you, who are you passing the faith onto, with an eye to encouraging people to be more open to working with our congregation youth. We'll be lining up Sunday school teachers and confirmation mentors soon, and I thought I'd try to lay some subtle groundwork. I'm going peruse the children's bulletin for some ideas.
ReplyDeleteWe were talking about Galatians at our text study this week and I was struck between the talk of freedom and the proximity of the 4th of July. I have to do the minister's column for the local paper in July and the 4th is the date for my first column. I think I can stretch it out over 4 weeks. So, thanks everyone who posted about this text - it's good food for thought for me.
As if a sermon and newspaper article is not enough, I also have to finish the meditation for tomorrow's community prayer service. It's mostly done, so I may start working with that. But everything has to be done (at least the sermon and the meditation) before 6 - we're off to the rodeo! My first, and I am so excited!
Now to finish cleaning my office and start writing.
Goodness Ramona, you do have a lot going on! Enjoy the rodeo, they are fun, or at least as I remember them....
DeleteHave fun at the rodeo. We went to one last weekend. Parts are (to me) appalling, and parts really fun. Your Elijah/Elisha sermon sounds similar to mine.
DeleteCan I just say I have reaching that point when I want to toss the whole sermon thing and sign a few songs! Yuck! Need something short. Have started at least 3 time and am boring myself. Just needed to say that to folks who would understand.
ReplyDeleteBeen there! I often want to chuck the sermon in favor of a hymn sing.
DeleteOh my. When I need to write really short homilies I begin by writing the gist of what I want to say in one paragraph and hope that inspires me with an illustration or a context to expand on...I hope inspration finds you, Celeste!
DeleteFuneral done, wedding done. Now if only the sermon would make its way onto the blank page before me in short order, I'd be a happy woman.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are all off to a great start. :)
Oh the blank page. I find it difficult to focus on sermon writing when I have gone in too many different directions during the day, as you have! Hope that is not the case for you.
DeleteI have a draft...along the lines of what I said before. Kind of idealistic, but that's how I roll for the most part. Hoping I didn't mix things up too much; I started out wanting to focus on the gifts of the spirit (kindness etc.) because my congregation badly needs to hear that, but it got bigger than that. Will let it sit for a bit and see how it reads later.
ReplyDeleteIf I were in a different context I might have been more direct in talking about the Supreme Court decisions, but I am sensitive to the fact that a significant number in my congregation will not find the repeal of DOMA something to celebrate. And some will likely find no problem with the decision made about the VRA, either. So I am careful about how specific I get on these issues. I truly don't want to use the pulpit to push my political beliefs. Sometimes it feels like a fine line to walk to preach the gospel as I understand it without being construed as "political."
I think there is a way to referencing the fact the Supreme Court made decisions that impact us, whether or not one agrees with the decisions....but I have worked in places where I hesitated to ever reference any thing "political"...sounds like you have figured it out for your context?
DeleteI hope so; I mention it but really just to set the context of hearing Paul's words about freedom (week of July 4, 150th anniversary of Gettysburg, week of important rulings extending freedom to marry to those previously excluded). Trying to make the point that freedom is a cardinal virtue for us, and then talk about what Paul is up to.
DeleteI reworked the whole thing a bit; it's a little long but I think I am going to leave it for now. Just hope it still makes sense tomorrow.
Arrrgh - there are 2 flies buzzing around in my office and I can't get rid of them Makes me wish we hadn't emptied the kitchen trash yet - maybe they'd leave me alone if they had smellier goodies to dive bomb!
ReplyDeleteAnything to procrastinate...
Hee hee...out out fly!
DeleteDon't know if this will be of any use... But, for those preaching on "Passing on the mantle" the average no. Of friends on Facebook is 190. If each of the company of prophets had told all their FB friends about the amazing God they followed, 9500 people would have been reached....
ReplyDeleteIntersting....that could be useful inspiration!
DeleteNeat! I heard someone talk about the concept of three in thirteen - as in talking about their faith with three people in the year 2013, it's not nearly as many as 190 people, but then again, the depth of sharing might vary too.
DeleteHi, everyone~
ReplyDeleteWe're just back from a very quick trip to NYC (to see my older son in a play), and I'm trying to make some notes and a concept become a sermon. Blessedly, the other preacher under this roof is not preaching tomorrow and can handle dinner and other domestic requirements.
I'm focusing on the Luke text with the idea that these hard statements Jesus makes are not just directed at potential followers; he is talking to himself. He's at the hinge point of this gospel, making up his mind (setting his face) to go through with things. He's no doubt discouraged because the people around him think he's the "rain hail and fire" kind of guy instead of the "walk to Jerusalem and let things happen" kind. I feel pretty much the same way about the last parables Jesus uses in Matthew's gospel; there's an element of discouragement and frustration at the lack of understanding all around him. We're not going to Jerusalem for sunshine and lollipops, nor for a victory lap, nor for a stunning supernatural victory...well, maybe that last one.
So, that's where I am, woven in with anecdotes about the choices we make when the world expects one thing and our walk with God demands another.
But, ugh. 5:41 p.m. already, and I wish it were more pulled together.
Welcome, Martha! Sounds like you know where you want to go with this text, now hoping the journey is easy...despite what Jesus faced.
DeleteThe so-called sustainable sermon needed lots and lots of help. Basic stuff ok, but lots of things specific to former context, outdated illustrations, yikes. Just about at the not-worth-it point.
ReplyDeleteAttempting (ha!) to work ahead a bit while I'm in the groove tonight. At least sketch out some plans for the next month.
Esperanza what a good idea to work ahead, that is if you are able, not my strong suit...
DeleteIt seems like every time the Luke text comes around, someone (or several) in my parish have recently buried parents - this time it's my junior warden. I'm working with how to face the difficulty of hearing this text under those circumstances.
ReplyDeleteoh my Cynthia, that makes for a tough sermon writing day. I had all the Jesus rasing children from the dead right after a funeral for the son of one my parishioners - even proclaiming the Gospel was hard those Sundays, with the parents in my line of vision. You, however are wise and creative, and I am sure you will say just what needs to be said.
DeleteHi all I am only writing one sermon this summer so you'd think it would be easy but for some reason it's seeming very very very hard. I'm not at my usual place for one thing which makes it difficult to know what people need to hear. They are between pastors where I am so the trusting of the passing if the mantle sea like an obvious choice but its just not coming together. Grateful for all these ideas. - ESP tying Galatians to 4th of July- but I think it's time to stop expanding ideas and time to start narrowing. Luckily I'm in Hawaii so it's early yet. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn Hawaii....delightful! I do find it more difficult to preach occassionally or to return after time off....it's totally weird.
DeleteWell friends, it's my Saturday night bedtime. Keep the party going and I'll keep you all in my prayers for a good night and, may the spirit be with you all tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteBlessedly, things came together, into this form: Free to Follow. I hope the same is true for the rest of you, and soon!
ReplyDeleteTerri -
ReplyDeleteI used your idea fro the VBS Children's Sermon tonight and it worked out great. I tied the idea from the Collect about creating a temple in us to Jesus being in our hearts and with us always - in our temples. Then intro'ed Flat Jesus as an idea for the summer - and encouraged them to email pics to the church. Thanks for the idea!
Checking in. It's not too late for me, which is good since my idea is mostly in my head so far. I wrote something down midweek, but I couldn't find it in my office when I stopped by yesterday. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI've been working my way through our congregation's core values this month, and the last one is about our valuing of "open, honest communication." I worry that this one is the more "aspirational" instead of descriptive. :) I shouldn't be that harsh. They aren't THAT bad, but a big old sermon on "go straight to the person you're pissed at, frustrated by, or who has hurt you" will not hurt any of us. I decided to reference some of the more direct scripture passages about this, but chose 1 Cor 13 and parts of Ephesians 1 for my preaching passages. I'm going to work love as the core of our community for why we value open, honest communication.
Last week for a totally different reason I referenced my love of knitting. Since Ephesians uses a knitting metaphor for the body of Christ, I'm going to bring some knitting up with me with a dropped stitch in the middle somewhere. I'll show what happens when someone is dropped - - when communication breaks down, when it's not down with love or is closed or is dishonest. The fabric of the community breaks down. Or maybe said another way, when our communication excludes instead of includes, when one stitch is left out.
I think this works. We have a document that the church wrote and adopted in the late 90s that outlines healthy communication. Somehow with that, a PC(USA) document of guidelines for times of disagreement, and Scriptural instructions about communication, I think I'll cover the why and the how.
I'm also preaching tomorrow afternoon for a seminary friend's installation as he moved into my presbytery. I'm tweaking an old one for that, but I haven't done it yet. I guess I've been in denial that this is actually coming up this weekend. IF I get Sunday morning done tonight at a decent hour, I might start working on it. If not, I'll use it as an excuse to bow out soon after worship. I'll be back in the evening anyway for Messy Church. It's a big church day tomorrow!!!
Colossians. Not Ephesians. Totally freaked myself out there!!!
DeleteWrong again! It was Ephesians, but ch 4 not ch 1. Found it. Whew.
DeleteWorking on the fruit of the Spirit and suddenly realized the NRSV (which we read in worship) list is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GENEROSITY, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The huge wall banner is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I'm now at home, trying to wrap this up, with no paper commentaries, etc. and no idea where to look as to why the difference. Does anyone have a quick explanation--beyond difficulty in translating?
ReplyDeleteNo idea who this person is, but here is a little devotion with some word study in it.
DeleteLooks to me like some of it is just interpreter's, but I like his line about being "good for something" which almost by definition leads to generosity.
Delete(Ahhh...It's always more fun to work on someone else's sermon.)
And I don't know who this guy is either, but page two of his sermon delves into the goodness/generosity choice.
DeleteI haven't been here all day (busy weekend out doing all kinds of fun things I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do!) but this morning while my friend (whose house I was staying at) was in the shower I did whip out a brief meditation for tomorrow's "Christmas and a Half" service. It's called Beyond the Manger and while it's not particularly profound or full of genius, it does fulfill the primary requirement: brief.
ReplyDeleteHoping you all have fabulous Sundays!