Preaching and other things

Yesterday was my second Sunday here in Baldwin.  It was also my first time preaching before the people here.  So here it is, I preach to a congregation that I know very little about.  I don't actually know the atmosphere that I'm stepping out into.  Is the air toxic?  Or is it more pristine than a mountain breeze?  So there were many unknowns yesterday morning.  I believe that I did pretty well.  There was a little concern heading into yesterday because it was a new congregation.  I think that it will be like that wherever I go.  This will especially be the case when I come to a new call.  There will not be any such thing as easing into the position.  I will have to dive right on in. 

I was also trying something new myself, figuring that it would be okay in this setting if I fell flat on my face.  I'm the intern after all.  I have always been a manuscript preacher.  I have always wrote out my sermons and stuck to the script.  Part of this comes from how preaching class was set up for us our junior year of seminary.  Part of that comes from my own worries and anxieties when it comes to forgetting stuff and freezing up there in the pulpit.  In many ways, a manuscript was my security blanket.  The problem with this is, that if you stick to your script, you end up just reading your sermon to a congregation.  A sermon should be something a bit more interactive than that.  Also, you are saying that your word is the final word on a passage.  You're not leaving any room for the Spirit to speak.  Thing is, when you step into that pulpit and deliver the message, it's not supposed to be you that's speaking, rather it is God speaking through you to the people.  I'm just a mouthpiece. 

So what did I do that was different?  I did not bother to write out a manuscript.  Instead, I wrote an outline.  I wrote it down on small sheets of paper and taped it inside the bible that I was using.  This allowed me to do something else, I also did not use a pulpit.  There was nothing in front of me.  It was me preaching to the congregation, consulting my notes a bit, and doing my best to let the Spirit take care of it and trusting that the words I spoke were what the people needed to hear.  It was certainly a liberating experience.  After yesterday, I feel much more confident when it comes to the act of preaching.  I also found that it added more flexibility to changing things in preparation.  When you write a manuscript, you are loathe to make any great changes later in the week as Sunday looms closer.  With an outline, you are better able to do this as I swapped one illustration for another in my final run through on Saturday night.  I just felt it fit better, so I went ahead and switched it out.  Something I may not have done with a manuscript.

So preaching went well.  How have things been going overall though?  They haven't been too bad.  I've been here two weeks already, so time has certainly flown by.  Yesterday afternoon was a little hard though.  It was Fathers' Day.  I didn't get to celebrate it with my dad.  That makes two Fathers' Days in a row now where I haven't been with the family.  Last year, I was in Iowa.  This year, I'm in Wisconsin.  I'm not sure how important Fathers' Day really is to my dad.  Yet it is certainly good to recognize that he is a good father.  You see, I have truly been blessed in my life to have a dad who is involved in my life.   I remember as a little kid in little league, how he was my coach every year from t-ball up to majors.  I remember that he would always come to my sporting events and whatever else I was in.  He was willing to clear other things out of the way and support me.  Even on those cold and rainy nights in the fall as I stood on the sidelines in football to possibly get my garbage time in high school.  It is deeper than that though.  My dad also taught me a lot of things that I hope make me a good man.  He taught me to accept responsibility for your actions.  If you screw up, own up to it.  Be honest and upfront in how you deal with others.  Be modest and don't let praise go to your head.  I could say other things as well.  But I know that he'll read this or my mom will read it to him.  So I don't want to embarrass him too much.  Now my dad is not perfect, we've had our disagreements over the years.  Yet, I have truly been blessed to have Jim Rogers as a father.

 Now that I have probably thoroughly embarrassed my dad.  He's not someone who likes to hear his praises sung.  Hmm, wonder where I get that from?  There are other reasons why I miss the family.  They've been going through a bit of a rough patch the last few months.  As many of you know, my uncle has not been well.  Naturally, this creates a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for me.  Yet here in Wisconsin, I'm a bit more removed from the situation.  My family has to live in it every day.  Part of me does wish I could at least be closer.  I also don't know if any of the kids from youth group at Second Reformed are reading this, but I also miss them as well.  They're a funny (and fun) group of kids.  During the school year, the most enjoyable parts of the week are often the Wednesday activities and Sunday night youth group. 

Having said that though, I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now.  The last couple weeks have been good ones for me.  Yesterday morning was a rewarding experience.  Indeed, I am more excited for when I arrive at that first call, hopefully next summer.  The people here have been friendly and welcoming.  They try not to mistake me for Matt, but it occasionally slips out.  Matt, if you're reading this, I think they really liked you last summer.  The older ladies of the church like me.  That seems to be a trend wherever I go.  Starting in July, I'll be preaching much more frequently.  It'll be good to get into that routine.  I'm preaching from Romans, so this week will be a lot of preparation for that.  So there is a lot to look forward to this summer.  I told the congregation yesterday that I know that I'm here in Baldwin for a reason.  God has something to teach me this summer.  As the weeks go by, I'll learn more and more.  I hope that as you read this post that you are doing well.  God bless you and keep you.  I'll try to write some more on Thursday.