From the Vicar...
A word about the sermons you hear...and the sermons I post
Some folks who look up my sermon online after I preach it remark that it doesn't seem to match what I actually preached. (Some weeks it might only faintly resemble it!) That's a fair comment, I suppose. As you know, I preach without notes most of the time, so, unless I'm going to be some kind of actor, memorizing a "script," what I say on Sunday morning is likely not to be verbatim what I have written that particular week.
But it's more than just a case of not having "memorized" what I've written. Preaching is more than just "delivering" a prepared set of remarks. Let me share with you a little tidbit from a priest named Adam Thomas. It postulates well what I'm thinking as I write a sermon: "A sermon is like looking at a musical score, while preaching is like listening to the music. Preaching happens when the words of the sermon and the attention of the listener mingle. So, what you [see on paper] is half the raw material for the preaching moment. The other half is your interaction with it."
I find that much of the energy I have for preaching comes not from the texts or stories themselves from which I might be preaching - or from my study of the week's Bible passages. The energy - which I deem to be a gift of the Holy Spirit - comes from you. I look out at the congregation, and somehow, the Spirit conveys to me how best to say what I've been thinking about and putting into writing all week. And that may closely resemble what I've written...but often does not.
In his commentary on preaching, Thomas offers a wonderful prayer for sermon writing. I confess I don't actually pray this, as the prayer that accompanies my study and writing time is probably much less structured than this. But I like what he prays, and offer it as a way to share with you a bit of the process that gets me from written sermon to preached sermon:
A prayer for Sermon Writing
Dear God, I offer this sermon to you, and I ask that you grant me the grace to put such grace into words; help me, an imperfect being, speak of perfection; help me, a fallen being, speak of the one who has arisen. Make my unworthy words worthy, my poor offering rich. May I listen well enough to hear what you would have me say, and together may we find the words to bring your good news to those yearning to hear it. In Jesus Christ's name, I pray. Amen.
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
Nice write-up on our recent "Blessing of the Animals"
Monday's Foster's Daily Democrat had a nice write-up on Sunday's "Blessing of the Animals" at Christ Church. Read it here: Blessing of the Animals
Daytime Bible Study moves to Mondays at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Church
Interested in exploring the Bible, but can't attend Wednesday night's fascinating session? Then this may be for you. Beginning Monday, Oct. 13th, our daytime Bible Study in the Guild Room in Hobbs House will move to a 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. time slot. We will explore the Minor Prophets. No need to attend every session. No previous Bible Study experience necessary. "Come and See."
David Plank+
Coming up in our Inquirers' class
Due to the travel plans of some of those who have been coming to our weekday evening series, we have changed our schedule for the coming weeks. Here are the revised dates for our next two sessions:
Tuesday, Oct. 14: The Sacraments: Baptism and Confirmation - 7 p.m. at Christ Church
Thursday, Oct. 23: The Sacraments: Holy Eucharist and the Other Sacramental Rites beginning with an "Instructed Eucharist" in the Christ Church Chapel at 6:30 p.m.
Remaining sessions will be Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Christ Church as previously scheduled.
Upcoming Dates
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Tues., Oct. 14
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7:00 p.m.
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Inquirers' program: "Sacraments, Part One" - Christ Church
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Oct. 18/19, 25/26
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All Services
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United Thank Offering Ingathering
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Sat., Oct. 25
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7:00 p.m.
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"Celia Thaxter" Presentation with Stephanie Voss Nugent - Trinity Church
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Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer
Each week, in both of our churches, we pray for one ministry we share and one or two households in each church. About once every six weeks, we will instead using the Shared Ministry Collect we prayed throughout the opening months of our Shared Ministry.
In our prayers the next two weeks, we give God thanks for...
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Oct. 12
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(concluding collect for shared ministry)
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Oct. 19
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Christ Church's choir; Betty Raitt of Christ Church; Clayton & Beverly Dearth of Trinity Church
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Gifts for ChIPs
Under everyday normal circumstances being a teenager isn't always easy. Now imagine being a teen who has an incarcerated parent who they will be missing on Christmas.
As Diocesan Convention approaches, we are given an amazing opportunity to reach out and help. Children of Incarcerated Parents (ChIPs) is a diocesan program that provides Christmas presents (toys and books) for children ages birth to 18 whose parents are in prison. Every age is important when it comes to this program, but we hold a special place for the teenagers, who often get overlooked when folks go toy shopping for this program.
If you would like to make a donation for the ChIPs Christmas giving there will be a special collection box at each church on Oct. 19 & 26 and Nov. 2.
United Thank Offering Ingathering
Oct. 19 and 26
Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: Accept we pray, these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these gifts through the Outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. UTO monies support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world.
There are UTO "blue boxes" in the Narthex at Trinity and in the hallway at Christ Church. Take one home; make using it a daily habit. We will have a UTO collection on Sunday, Oct. 19 and 26. Count out the change you've collected and write a check for that amount to your church (with UTO on the memo line) to put in the collection plate, and we will add it to other congregations' offerings during the annual Diocesan Convention, this year on Nov. 7. "Don't just count your blessings; make your blessings count."
The Remarkable Life of Celia Thaxter Coming to Our "Theater" Oct. 25
Stephanie Voss Nugent combines a slide presentation with her own acting to bring to life the unique story of our own Celia Laighton Thaxter in a special fund raising event for our two churches on Saturday, October 25 at Hobbs House at Trinity Church. The doors open at 6:30 pm, and refreshments will be served (with donations by our magnificent cooks and bakers). The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10; students 18 and under are $5.00.
This is her second benefit performance for the two churches. The first, History, Lore and Legends of the Isles of Shoals was a huge success by Stephanie-artistically, financially, and in drawing outsiders to our churches. This hour-long presentation is perfect for audiences 8 to 108.
Tickets will be available from Peter Monte at Christ Church, and Judy Koch and Gordon Lane at Trinity. Additional information and ticket reservations are available through Nita in the shared ministry office (926-5688) or from Gordon. Tickets also may be purchased at the door (cash or check only please).
All Saints' Sunday: A day to remember those who have gone before us in faith
All Saints' Day is not among the most ancient of Christian festivals (it is only about 1,200 years old), nor among the most universal (the Orthodox churches commemorate the saints in conjunction with the Feast of Pentecost). The feast is believed to have been originated in the British Isles, and emphasis on it remains characteristically Anglican.
This Sunday is an absolutely splendid occasion to sing some very stirring hymns, to renew our baptismal vows, and to dramatize the meaning of being "the communion of saints" as living members of the Body of Christ. At Christ Church, it will be one of the half dozen occasions on which we pull out the incense and, as the late Jean Wadman would lovingly put it, "go whole hog."
At both churches, we will pray on Nov. 2 for the souls of those who have been buried from our congregations since All Saints' a year ago. If you would like the name of a loved one (whether or not from the last year) added to that list, e-mail it to Nita in the shared ministry office or call her at 926-5688 no later than noon, Wednesday, Oct. 29. Some have found this an occasion to make a thank offering to the congregation in memory of those so listed. You are invited and encouraged to do so.
