Preaching friends, it’s Transfiguration Sunday. One of those days in which we preach on essentially the same story as we did this time last year, and the year before, and the year before that. I find those days particularly challenging, as a preacher. Maybe you do, too.
We’re here to help each other! Share ideas, ask for insights, procrastinate together. RCL post and Narrative Lectionary post are available for your perusal. And the Worship Words post might spark an idea or too, as well.
Monica Thompson Smith is a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, serving as stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Luling, TX. She is a contributor to There’s a Woman in the Pulpit.
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In New Olreans, T-Fig Sunday is better known as The Sunday Before Mardi Gras, a day normally filled with parades from morning to night. (Except not this year, due to the virus.) Also a day when church attendance is right down there with the Sunday After Christmas. People are either going to parades or riding in them or marching in them. In the church I now serve, they gave up a few years back on having regular 11 a.m. worship and opted instead for a 9 a.m. breakfast and brief prayer service, then sent everyone out into the world to go to the parades. (Except not this year, due to the virus.)
Long ago I had my fill of trying to preach the Transfiguration on a weekend where all that was on anyone’s mind was parades and parties. So I was more than happy to take the day off and let the congregation have that prayer breakfast and enjoy the parades myself. Except, not this year.
But it’s also Valentine’s Day in 2021. This year I am punting on T-Fig and preaching on Love. Texts: 1 John 4:7-21 and John 13:34-35. Sermon title: “Did You Think Love Was Easy?” Focusing on loving people we may not agree with, or have difficult relationships with, or who are different from us, or, or… Not your sentimental hearts-and-flowers kind of love.
It will be interesting to see what attendance is like this Sunday. We are still having Mardi Gras this year, just without the parades. School will be out for the holiday — for some schools, the entire week.The weather is supposed to be cold and nasty, so that will probably put a damper on people partying in the streets without parades. But it may also be an excuse to stay home from church, too! We shall see!
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What an interesting convergence of events! (I’m near Austin, and we’re stuck in crummy weather, too). I considered punting Transfiguration and going with Valentine’s Day also, but in the end decided not to. But I like the angle you’re taking on love–not the easy kind, for sure.
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GReat sermon theme Kathy
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I sometimes use the children’s story, ‘Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch’ when Transfiguration and Valentine’s Day are around the same time. On the mountain the disciples saw Jesus as he truly was – light, energy, life, love, the glory of God. The power of love allowed Mr. Hatch to see himself as he truly is – it changed his whole life. A bit of a stretch, but fun to do. I might do it this year and hand out heart shaped cookies for those who brave the cold.
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I don’t know that story, but it sounds perfect! I love to use children’s stories in sermons.
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