Going Back
This is a busy week for me. I had paper due in my class called "Evil" today, a quiz in my Mennonite Literature class, on Thursday I have a midterm in my Religion and Peacebuilding class, and I have a sermon to prepare for this coming Sunday. On top of that, I have my regular social schedule, a 7-hour shift at a feed mill tomorrow, two birthday parties, renovations at my brother's place, and the impending arrival of a niece/nephew. Assuming I manage my time well, it will work out, unless of course my attention is diverted by my video game addiction or my other literary side-projects.

The sermon is the most significant item on the agenda, as always, but this time for another reason. Over Christmas, I attended my home church, where I was asked by an elder if my schedule would allow me to preach there one Sunday as well. Due to some ugly inner-conflicts, the church is going through some pretty serious leadership issues, and they are cycling through the various lay-pastors in their midst. For me to preach a Sunday would alleviate some pressure from them. I gladly accepted the invitation, and the date we agreed upon was this upcoming Sunday, February 20th.

I'm not going back to show off how much I've learned, or to make them regret never having allowed me to speak (or even read scripture) when I attended there. I'm going to respond to a need. I know most of these people, and am looking forward to seeing them again on a Sunday morning, but I am slightly nervous to see them from behind the pulpit. I lived a pretty clean life as a kid, but they know me. Will they welcome me back as one of their own, or will they be suspicious of my secular education, my reputation of arrogance, and/or my switch into a more worldly conference?

I'll use the same sermon this Sunday at my local church as I will the Sunday after at my home church, except that there, the sermons are generally longer, so I'll have to add some extra stuff. I'm worried that I have forgotten how these people think, and so I won't be able to communicate as effectively to them.

However, the Sundays when I'm the most nervous are the times when my sermons hit home to the most people (based on post-service handshakes). Hopefully that carries through this time as well.

   [ posted by William @ 11:43 PM ]