As we approach the sixth Sunday of Easter, it can be tricky to convince people we are indeed still celebrating the resurrection. In northern hemisphere churches we are competing with warmer weather and spring activities that may start to pull people away (graduations, exams, sports, three day weekends…). In the Southern Hemisphere days are shortening and the desire to wrap up against the coming cold may make it difficult to keep preaching new life bursting forth.
But here we are nonetheless, 36 days into the great 50 days. How are you proclaiming resurrection this week? The RCL offers some reminders of what it means to be resurrection people. The NL plunges into Philippians for a few weeks, showing us how the early church tried to live into the good news.
Or are you in the midst of a series? Some other preaching moment? I’m still working on my “top ten” texts, so this week I’m preaching on Isaiah 55, plus we have our annual meeting after worship, so it’s a busy, abundant kind of day when we hope to align our thoughts and ways with God’s. In the meantime, though, I’ll be here, partying with you! There will be the best Mexican food I can muster here in Scotland (aka bean burritos), plenty of kitty snuggles, and encouragement galore, so join the party!
Teri Peterson is a minister in the Church of Scotland, immensely enjoying her new charge and the view from the manse, which today included watching the world’s fifth largest cruise ship sail by. This sighting, combined with a strong desire not to need a coat, has made her readier than ever for the next Big Event in January.
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Hi, Teri! I’m preaching this Sunday on “Love and the Holy Spirit” from the RCL texts. I do want to ask you where in Scotland you are and what the weather is like right now. My husband and I are flying over your way for a tour led by a Church of Scotland minister that starts on May 14 and runs about a week. We will be starting and ending in Edinburgh, with visits to Glasgow, Perth, Inverness, and places in the east, including a visit to Iona (much anticipated!). Should I pack a coat or will a fleece jacket and layers get me by?
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I’m in the west of Scotland, but overall I would say…bring a coat. Or a fleece and a raincoat. Definitely rain gear. Lol. It’s about 55F at the moment and while the end of May can be some of the best weather, it’s better not to count on it. It’s chilly and damp. 🙂
It sounds like a great trip. Let us know if you want to meet up, there are RevGals all over!
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Thank you, Teri! (You are up very late!) I would love to meet up with some RevGals but the tour schedule is pretty tight so I don’t know if that would be possible. (oh, right, Iona is on the west coast, not the east coast. Sorry!) We are going to St. Andrews on the east — the day of the royal wedding, so I’m not sure exactly what we will be doing to accommodate that, as I’m sure many would like to watch it on television, perhaps in a pub somewhere!
Working on sermon…the love of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will see us through the bewildering places!
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The general assembly meets in Edinburgh beginning the evening of the 18th, so there will be loads of people around then, if you end up with some free time over there we may be able to grab coffee. But in general I hope you have a great trip! Don’t forget your raincoat. 🙂
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Yes, I just discovered the General Assembly was meeting in Edinburgh while we’ll be there. It’s probably why our tour leader advised us to book “extra days” after the tour, if we wanted them, early on, and we did! I see there is a worship service for GA at St.Giles on Sunday the 20th at 10, so I don’t know if our party of about 24 on a tour bus will be able to get in or not — there is another service at 11:30, so maybe we will be at that one. Teri, how could I contact you? I do have a free day on Tuesday the 22nd if you’re around. And hey, I read the schedule for GA. You Church of Scotland folk don’t even take a break to watch the royal wedding on telly!
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I’ve never been to the assembly’s Sunday service at St Giles so I’ll defer to others who might know better just how crowded it is…I suspect the earlier or later service might be better! But then Heart and Soul is down in Princes Street Gardens all afternoon so that will be a fun thing to attend!
I’ll actually be back at my own church Sunday morning, but returning to Edinburgh for the afternoon festivities.
I have another friend arriving the 22nd as well so I’m not sure yet of my schedule, but I suspect I’ll be with her for dinner so if you want to meet up for coffee we can!
I don’t know what your phone plan is like but there is wifi all over this country so if you use facebook or email you can find me, or if you have an iPhone then we can text using iMessage for free, or I have WhatsApp. Send me a facebook message or an email (tericarolpeterson at gmail) and we can exchange info!
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Thanks, Teri! I am revkathyc at aol. I will try to contact you. I won’t take up more of the preacher party other than to note that the GA schedule mentions a time on the 22nd to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Church of Scotland. Congratulations!
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Yes, there is a walk/parade, then an order of the day to celebrate—so exciting!
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I am preaching on John and the fact that we have a new “job description” – from servant to friend. Exploring how we live as resurrection people to share God’s love as friends and what that looks like. It’s been a doozy of a week, so my head is not quite wrapped around this yet. I’m glad we are celebrating communion and have a congregational meeting – the message can be shorter. Perhaps one of the ways we share God’s love as friends is to gather around the communion table. It’s a start!
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Sometimes I give thanks for the extra things that require a shorter sermon….and sometimes I find a shorter sermon is harder to write! I hope you find it an easy one once you get a few moments to focus.
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11.00 Saturday morning in the Scottish Borders – and I have a sermon! Yay!
Using the RCL I have been focussing on the journey through 1 John since Easter, and this week is the final part. I’ve tried to work on what it means to be “Born of God” it’s a bit of a ramble I think – but once I’m speaking it will develop I’m sure.
will post a link shortly
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http://julie-acountrygirl.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/born-of-god.html
here it is
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Well done! Now you can play!
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i have been at a seminar today, day 2 of Mission Shaped Ministry – it is good, but being out all day Saturday after a busy week is not good for worship preparation and sermon writing. i am about to start writing a sermon on Philippians.
Tomorrow is also Red Cross Sunday, and it is our turn to host the local branch. I am told that someone from the Red Cross usually talks a little about the Red Cross, but there isn’t anyone to do that, so i have someone’s hand written notes to decipher. There will be a few people from Red Cross present for worship.
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I always think it’s so hard to have things on Saturday. I mean, I totally get that it’s the only day when “normal” (non-pastors) people who work other jobs can attend these things, but it does seem to mess with my rhythm a bit, even when I usually don’t write until the evening anyway.
I hope you’ve got something now and are sleeping!
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I think i have finished, and only 11 pm in my part of down under. on the NL with Philippians 1 – Gratitude and Encouragement
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It’s Older Adult Sunday in the PC(USA) and so I’m using a liturgy prepared by a friend active in that ministry ,and preaching on Wisdom — a sustainable sermon. It’s a beautiful day here, so if you need some yard work to do, I know a place where you can go!
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I have the privilege of preaching in a neigbouring church as they start a 4 month vacancy (new pastor already called). I’m using Acts 8, 9 to tell them that the Holy Spirit totally has got this, and they can be the church with or without pastor.
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I have moved to expanded children’s sermons for my all ages sermon, as that is where my people are, mostly. It has seemingly worked well the past few weeks, but does require a different kind of preparation and thought process—-opening story, object lesson, biblical/theological tie in, life application, and one powerful question to ponder until the next Sunday. The past few weeks came together easily…this week I am tired and struggling and would like to be doing anything else 🙂 I think I am in the Acts RCL lesson and love the image of the Holy Spirit falling on someone!
Peace and blessings in your preparations!
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It’s a gorgeous day here in the midwest of the USA, sunny with temps in the 70’s. I spent the morning noodling some ideas for what to say. I’m still not writing a sermon, but I am trying to organize my thoughts with some good anchors. I’ve done a bunch of other Saturday things, including a walk and a yoga class. Now I’m sitting on the deck feeling a bit drowsy….maybe a little nap will bring some clarity to my thoughts around love, community, and action for justice?
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oh, and abiding. I’ve been thinking about the idea of abiding in, abiding with….love. not sure what I’ll do with that…
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Preaching John, focused on the kind of love Jesus shows us, one characterized by sacrifice, servant-hood and sustenance.
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So in this PCUSA congregation, on what is evidently Older Adult Sunday (Thanks, Robin–we do have the calendar, but I hadn’t noted that) we are having Youth Sunday. Today is surprisingly restful after a month of prep and a week of trying to get the final pieces in order.
We decided to not move communion, but instead to frame the service around it and received Session permission for our youth to serve. The scriptures are the Lukan last supper and this week’s RCL gospel passage.
After several years without seniors, and students choosing to do other things in place of the sermon, we have 2 seniors who are sermonizing this year. I’ve seen drafts of both sermons. One, who turned 18 on Tuesday, is talking about adulting. She is thinking about Jesus sharing supper with his friends knowing they would betray/deny/desert him and about how learning to forgive is part of becoming an adult. The other is talking about how the community has loved him and showed him he belonged even when he hasn’t been around much, and that we have taught him how to be an open and including person because LOVE.
I’m sure I will be anxious in the morning (I always am when I am point person for a service with a lot of moving parts; yet that seems to be the kind of service for which I am usually point person), but for now I am grateful for this group of students and the hard work they have done.
–Wendy
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Wendy, that sounds amazing. and the two young people have wonderful messages to share.
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Wendy, we are having Youth Sunday as well. Keeping my fingers crossed that we can ‘roll with the flow’ as it moves along.
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10pm here and I confess that no words are written. The danger of preaching one’s favourite texts is that it’s really difficult to write just one sermon. I hardly even know where to begin.
But I do have Percy Pigs to share if anyone needs a pick-me-up! How’s it going out there?
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Okay – you keep talking about Percy Pigs. What kind of food are they??????
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Delicious! They’re like….gummy candies…I can’t even think of an equivalent in the US, honestly.
I have Veggie Percy, obviously. 🙂
http://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/percy-pig
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So I didn’t preach lectionary last week and was going to do all of John 15:1-17 together and now I’m thinking it’s a bad idea. It’s 9pm on Saturday so I can totally change things still…especially since I haven’t started writing anything. But I found an awesome kid’s book and wanted to share it with others for future use: It’s called The Invisible String.
I’m relating the invisible string to the vine. Now for the adult sermon…
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I buy this book 6 at a time, there always seems to be a reason to give it to children – grief being the main one.
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Yes! The owner of the bookstore first heard about it from a therapist and is constantly selling out! With John and “abide” on my mind it just seemed to fit this moment, but there are so many other implications for it. Grief makes total sense!
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Pearl, I’ve used it for kids in time of grief as well. When I leave this interim position I am going to a version of it with a purple string.
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We are WAY off lectionary tomorrow — it’s choir showcase/ appreciation day and the music director has chosen pieces about the vanity of worldly pursuits… so we’re taking a detour with Ecclesiastes and Thoreau’s Walden — good combo for my combined UCC/UUA congregation. Spring cleaning hook — why bother dusting? Not done yet, but time to crash and polish in the morning.
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