In the past few weeks, during the sermon I’ve been trying something different. I’m spending a little more time doing what feels more like teaching than I normally do in a sermon. It’s been challenging and interesting as we dive deeper into the scripture lesson. I’d be interested if you have a comment to share about the last two Sundays.
Another “something different” That I will be trying in our worship, is a series of sermons and worship experiences not based on our assigned Lectionary Bible text, but are instead more topical. Then move on to what the Bible is saying about these questions. I want to ask for your input on what this series might be about. What are some of the issues of your life that you would appreciate having addressed in our worship experience? Another way to think about this might be what are some of the questions you have about the Bible or Faith or Life that your friends, who are not a part of a church, might be interested in enough to give our worship experience a try?
Now having asked that, I need to say that Don and the worship team give a lot of great input and direction into our worship experience. We all think it’s time to ask some of you.
A great example of a sermon series was shared at Annual Conference this year. It was entitled; “Manure Control.” It was a series of sermons which explored how we all have manure in our life. What are some of the ways we handle manure in our life. And finally, how does God use the manure of life to transform us and help us to bloom.
II hesitate to put other examples out there because I’m very interested to hear what you might come up with. Worship is always about celebrating/addressing our need for God in our life. There are times when it’s a good thing to also recognize that we come to understand that need, from a variety of directions. Our need to be comforted might come not only from our grief but our anger. Our need to be encouraged might come not only from our failures but our successes. Our need to understand someone who is different than us may not only be our need to get along or find common ground but to perhaps change a little bit of our own world.
This isn’t going to happen for a few months so you have some time to think about this, reflect upon it even pray about it. Send me a response to this “memo”; send an email to me or even a text when it crosses your mind. I promise to talk through your idea with you before moving ahead so that I’m clear about your need. In fact, I’m hoping to announce the theme of the series far enough ahead, to start some conversations around your theme, thoughts, stories and experiences.
Speaking of experiences; Vacation Bible School begins this coming Monday. Remember to pray for Deb and all the volunteers who make VBS at EPUMC such a wonderful experience for children and families in our community.
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