It was a good General Assembly, but for (me, anyway) the soft relationships defy programming. Trust and relationship building, arts of the ministry, stories that shape identity. Evidence about strength and weakness, and a willingness to address both. There was a spirit, and I don’t want to crush it with explanation. It was so good… Continue reading A project out of General Assembly (for lectionary preachers)
Category: Preaching
What preaching clichés annoy you the most?
Happy Monday morning! An open post. Feel free to vent (or confess) and I’ll allow anonymous comments for this entry. What preaching clichés annoy you the most? Go!
OK, Unitarian preachers: a year of sermon themes (for the retro set)
Following up on the “Fifty Shades of Unitarian” post, here are the “The Unitarian faith set forth in fifty Unitarian hymns” affirmations or platforms: the faith each hymn supposedly upholds. And matching biblical passage, Conveniently, it plots out almost a year’s worth of sermons, too. (Or at least I can be forgiven what some preachers… Continue reading OK, Unitarian preachers: a year of sermon themes (for the retro set)
Use Universalist celebrations to flesh out your church year
Even though you occasionally hear about Unitarian or Universalist preachers using a lectionary — indeed, a handful of churches have a well-established lectionary tradition — most UU preaching is topical, with the sermon and other observances hanging off of a holiday. If there is one to be had. Otherwise it’s Preacher’s Choice: which can be… Continue reading Use Universalist celebrations to flesh out your church year
Sermon: “I hate change”
The notes I used when I preached at Universalist National Memorial Church on Rally Sunday, September 8, 2013. Rally Sunday marks a new year, therefore marks change. Let me be clear, this is a new-year sermon. You may hear another new year’s sermon in January, or at the beginning of Advent, but today is Rally… Continue reading Sermon: “I hate change”
New page: “Lectionary and Propers index”
For more than a year, I’ve been typing out the appointed prayers (proper collects) and biblical lessons from two sources — Universalist and “Free Church” — which map the historic Western lectionary. It’s not complete, but I’ve transcribed enough to make it worth it worth indexing them. Follow this link. Like the main project, it will be… Continue reading New page: “Lectionary and Propers index”
Preparation for the Third Sunday after Pentecost
Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Second Sunday after Trinity or Third Sunday after Pentecost. O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual… Continue reading Preparation for the Third Sunday after Pentecost
Preparation for the First Sunday after Pentecost
Also celebrated in some communions as Trinity Sunday. While some Universalists have always been Trinitarians — at least a few — the propers here barely line up. Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Trinity Sunday or First Sunday after Pentecost. Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace by the confession… Continue reading Preparation for the First Sunday after Pentecost
Fifth Sunday in Easter preparation
Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Fourth Sunday after Easter O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; grant unto thy people, that they may love the the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of… Continue reading Fifth Sunday in Easter preparation
Third Sunday of Easter preparation
Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Second Sunday after Easter Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; give us grace that we way always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow… Continue reading Third Sunday of Easter preparation