World Day of Prayer

I was supposed to do a sermonette at the World Day of Prayer. I had one written but looking at the people who came and the content of my topic I had to change it quickly. There wasn't anyone from my generation there - maybe a few. They were mostly from the generation that has always gone to church and are now retired and still volunteer. I had written it with a more wider age range in mind to include those who work with children and live outside of the church community, those that may not be very well connected with their neighbours due to their busy lives.

I panicked as we went through service thinking about how I could tweak my words to make them more relevant - less instructional and more reflecting on how church and community has changed. Then I was saved.

The organizer insisted on introducing me so I wrote an very short introduction for her. Rather than call it "seminary" she called it "cemetery" (if you can never remember if its "e
s" or "a's" in "cemetery" just remember we all go "eee" as we walk past). I didn't notice as I was still ruminating on whether I could wing a whole new talk - the program listed it as a sermon or reflection so I had a bit of room to move. Well I heard people say "cemetery"? But it got worse - she mentioned that since I'm a student they are my guinea pigs. She added "happy little guinea pigs" I guess to make it sound not so bad. I was off the hook! With that lead up, who expected anything?

So I was able to do a "reflection" which sadly meant that in the confusion I missed one of the theological points I wanted to address but what can you do.

The other moment was when I went to use the bible at the lectern. I had carefully asked which version they use. Different Bible versions have different translations so if I use a word from the reading in my sermon to expound on an idea but their translation is different it makes no sense. Well they use the New English Bible which is not really considered the best. Actually, I couldn't find it anywhere on the Net and I ended up having to go to Tyndale to get the actual reading (then found out that my first bible I ever got was NEB and sitting on my bookshelf!).

Anyhow, when I arrive, I again check that the Bible is in place and ready to go. Well, no. The Bible that is in place an ready to go is not NEB and translates slightly differently. But the Bible's in the pews are NEB and some of the people really like to follow along. Very confusing and distracting to say the least. I will now never come with my sermon ready without the translation typed at the top so I have it regardless of what Bible they have at the front. I like to read from the Bible at the lectern because visually it is understood that these are not my words but the words of the Church. Its a small thing but I'm a visual person.

Lessons learned! In the end people seemed to appreciate it. One of the youngest said it gave him a lot to think about which had been my original intent. It wasn't my best but my best for the circumstances and I was pleased that people referred to it as a "talk" and "reflection" so they took it for what it was!