September 22
In the last year of school we were given an English comprehension passage about a beautiful youth who died on the battlefield. Covered in mud and filth he had given good account of himself. The wonder was that his shredded clothing was of exquisite embroidered cloth.I have no idea who wrote the story, but it has remained with me. The elaborate clothing signified the stories and rich imagination of his youth.
Cormode ( p86) talks of being put into the straightjacket of evangelical conversion. How much better it would be to appropriate the rich protective garment of church heritage (story and ritual) and parental upbringing, and to take it out into the battle of life. Yes, the garment gets shredded and covered in mud and filth, but the beauty and dream equips for life. ( 128 words)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Maybe too much publicity is not a good thing after all.”
September 19
“
Calvin Klein (p66) consistently used sock advertising as a way of generating enormous controversy and publicity. (Congregationally I’m thinking of the Mary and Joseph in bed billboard here.) Certainly it made a little known company (church) stand out, but such a strategy can seriously backfire. (There was a backlash from the community.) Barnados 2000 advertising campaign was rejected because it was too shocking (This was the death row series) but this nevertheless generated an extra 5% in donations. I wander if the church experienced an extra 5% in bums on seats?
If the purpose of advertising is to attract attention, the billboard certainly did that; likewise it aroused interest and created an opinion. (p.73). For me anyway it did not “stimulate a desire” or “move me to a specific action” so perhaps the campaign was not sufficiently thought through?
( 150 words
“
Calvin Klein (p66) consistently used sock advertising as a way of generating enormous controversy and publicity. (Congregationally I’m thinking of the Mary and Joseph in bed billboard here.) Certainly it made a little known company (church) stand out, but such a strategy can seriously backfire. (There was a backlash from the community.) Barnados 2000 advertising campaign was rejected because it was too shocking (This was the death row series) but this nevertheless generated an extra 5% in donations. I wander if the church experienced an extra 5% in bums on seats?
If the purpose of advertising is to attract attention, the billboard certainly did that; likewise it aroused interest and created an opinion. (p.73). For me anyway it did not “stimulate a desire” or “move me to a specific action” so perhaps the campaign was not sufficiently thought through?
( 150 words
Sunday, September 12, 2010
personal stories
September 13
Personal stories as opposed to testimony help to make a preacher real to his her congregation. Without a story that is both faithful to our ongoing experiences and actions and examined critically for its faithfulness we cannot be fully human. Personal stories can be used to illustrate a point or as an introduction. In the post modern era of fragmentation and fracture narrative provides us with individual and communal identity.
Like any story, personal experiences can illuminate the point of the sermon. It is important to craft the story and to be aware of the point of view so that the spotlight stays on the sermon and is not changed to the preacher.
Personal stories as opposed to testimony help to make a preacher real to his her congregation. Without a story that is both faithful to our ongoing experiences and actions and examined critically for its faithfulness we cannot be fully human. Personal stories can be used to illustrate a point or as an introduction. In the post modern era of fragmentation and fracture narrative provides us with individual and communal identity.
Like any story, personal experiences can illuminate the point of the sermon. It is important to craft the story and to be aware of the point of view so that the spotlight stays on the sermon and is not changed to the preacher.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
storytelling
August 30
Stories can meet the spiritual needs of people at different stages of faith development at the same time. Telling stories asks the listener to use his or her imagination. This requires suspending ordinary reality and stepping into a new space in which we are presented with new configurations of being human.
This interactive relationship between the storyteller and the hearer means that a person at the Conjunctive faith stage (Fowler stage 5) is able to explore the reality behind the story whereas a child at the mythical – literal stage (Fowler stage 2) has a strong belief in justice and the reciprocity of the universe hears an affirmation of his/her beliefs.
Kearney (study notes p 43) believes that in our fragmented post modern era storytelling provides a viable form of identity ( individual and communal). It allows fragmented moments, past, present and future to be named, classifies and shaped into a pattern.
Storytelling also invites a more relational way of building community through a shared world. (168 words)
Stories can meet the spiritual needs of people at different stages of faith development at the same time. Telling stories asks the listener to use his or her imagination. This requires suspending ordinary reality and stepping into a new space in which we are presented with new configurations of being human.
This interactive relationship between the storyteller and the hearer means that a person at the Conjunctive faith stage (Fowler stage 5) is able to explore the reality behind the story whereas a child at the mythical – literal stage (Fowler stage 2) has a strong belief in justice and the reciprocity of the universe hears an affirmation of his/her beliefs.
Kearney (study notes p 43) believes that in our fragmented post modern era storytelling provides a viable form of identity ( individual and communal). It allows fragmented moments, past, present and future to be named, classifies and shaped into a pattern.
Storytelling also invites a more relational way of building community through a shared world. (168 words)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
slam preaching
I am intrigued by the concept of slam preaching (although as I understand it slam poetry is competative so I'm not suggesting anything other than dialogue here). Jonny Baker's challenge of a 60 second sermon would be quite a feat: I am going to try it!!I think it's especially applicable in the world of social networking.
Recently OMGodchurch.com based on the Anglican church of Holy Trinity in Gisborne was launched. It's the brainchild of Blake Ramage and has the backing of the Bishop of Waiapu. The facebook page is being launched today.
A comment on the wall early on was " A second changes everything" .....5 second sermon???
Recently OMGodchurch.com based on the Anglican church of Holy Trinity in Gisborne was launched. It's the brainchild of Blake Ramage and has the backing of the Bishop of Waiapu. The facebook page is being launched today.
A comment on the wall early on was " A second changes everything" .....5 second sermon???
Friday, August 13, 2010
creating a safe space in sermons
August 14
Developing a safe space within the sermon in which people can explore their emotions can be achieved by asking questions without giving the answers. Storytelling is a good idea: Jesus was a master of the parable- illustrative stories, which he did not necessarily explain.
The Greek word for sermon originally included dialogue. Leaving space at the end of the sermon for questions, disagreement and comment is an option, especially in small congregations. In my home congregation, for example, it is not unusual to have questions or comments throughout the sermon. Preaching for a response, but not managing the response or controlling it is another option. Sometimes breaking into small groups is also a good idea. ( 115 words)
Developing a safe space within the sermon in which people can explore their emotions can be achieved by asking questions without giving the answers. Storytelling is a good idea: Jesus was a master of the parable- illustrative stories, which he did not necessarily explain.
The Greek word for sermon originally included dialogue. Leaving space at the end of the sermon for questions, disagreement and comment is an option, especially in small congregations. In my home congregation, for example, it is not unusual to have questions or comments throughout the sermon. Preaching for a response, but not managing the response or controlling it is another option. Sometimes breaking into small groups is also a good idea. ( 115 words)
Friday, July 30, 2010
formal/informal communication
July 31
Last Saturday a member of our ministry team died. The formal method of communication was that although our prayer support team should know, and offer prayer support for the family, there should be some respect for the families wishes for privacy, at least until the following Monday.
On Saturday evening my phone rang continually. Our country grapevine was working overtime-organising support, food, music, flowers etc and imparting juicy versions of her final hours. It was a fast, efficient, concerned and well-meaning service. The grapevine is an extremely important in the isolated community where I live where a newspaper would not arrive until the day after the funeral. It was also inaccurate and in your face- when the family had asked for privacy.
For me it would have been better to use the grapevine from the top down to issue an accurate statement, ask for privacy and itemize specific areas where well meaning parishioners could help and feel part of the arrangement. This was not what the family wanted. (169 words)
Last Saturday a member of our ministry team died. The formal method of communication was that although our prayer support team should know, and offer prayer support for the family, there should be some respect for the families wishes for privacy, at least until the following Monday.
On Saturday evening my phone rang continually. Our country grapevine was working overtime-organising support, food, music, flowers etc and imparting juicy versions of her final hours. It was a fast, efficient, concerned and well-meaning service. The grapevine is an extremely important in the isolated community where I live where a newspaper would not arrive until the day after the funeral. It was also inaccurate and in your face- when the family had asked for privacy.
For me it would have been better to use the grapevine from the top down to issue an accurate statement, ask for privacy and itemize specific areas where well meaning parishioners could help and feel part of the arrangement. This was not what the family wanted. (169 words)
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