Ash Wednesday Sermon

Sermon at St. Peter's and St. John's for Ash Wednesday.

He was young, bright and articulate. Then he threw it all away. And, he. . . could be you. Or me.

To listen to the sermon, click on the title link: Ash Wednesday Sermon

The Heart's Veil

This is an mp3 audio copy of the sermon I preached at St. Peter's and St. John's today. Enjoy, and savor those last few bites of chocolate. Wednesday cometh.

Lech Lecha - 'Go!'

This is the mp3 copy of my sermon from this past Saturday when Karen Crosby and Jim Williams were ordained to the sacred priesthood. It was a truly wonderful day - and I thought a little Melchizedek was in 'order.'

Preparing for my sermon this week, I ran aground on this wonderfully astute set of observations and questions from Dr. Wes Avram at Yale Divinity School:

"WHEN DO YOU ENROLL IN INTRODUCTORY PREACHING?" I asked a group of divinity students. They admitted that they put it off. Was it because they wanted stronger foundations in theology or Bible? No. Did they dislike the instructors? Not at all. Poor advising? They did not think so. Then why? "We're afraid," one said, and the others agreed. I thought this odd of students preparing for pastoral ministry. They had no explanation, except to admit the contradiction. As we talked, I realized the problem was deeper than a fear of public speaking. I sensed it was something about the peculiar speech that goes with pastoral ministry

that troubled and terrified them.

In part, I think they sensed the truth about preaching. Congregations can expect communication prowess yet harbor serious suspicions of the power the pulpit claims. Congregations can expect rhetorical miracle-working and, at the same time, demand line-towing conformity. Congregations are often too conflicted to buoy a preacher and too cynical to free a preacher to assume the authority of an ordained leader. We so disagree about the roles, responsibilities, and privileges of identified, speaking leadership that we withhold authority, or transfer it elsewhere.

Are clergy merely service providers valued only on the basis of our expertise? Are we managers, respected for bottom lines? Are we religious entertainers, seeking quick attention in a rhetorical marketplace? Or are we pastors, evangelists, fallible but commissioned interpreters of an authoritative text on behalf of a people taught to hear? Is it possible, still, to imagine pastors as first among equals in practices of reading, prayer, mutual repentance, receiving sacraments, and doing works of reconciliation and justice, somehow reflecting Christ as the church wrestles over how to obey the Spirit who would turn a church audience

into Christ's body?

I'm really struck by the questions of whether preachers are 'service providers.' Over the past several years, as I've been steeped in the Mutual/ Total Ministry Model, the preeminent mantra has been that we're not supposed to be 'communities surrounding a minister,' but 'ministering communities.' However, pulpit preaching is one of those things that, except in the most extraordinary churches, is reserved for the few, and usually ordained. But, unless preaching is preparing us all to be 'preachers' in our daily life and work, then really, what's the point? As Eucharistic Prayer C reminds us of the Sacrament, but could aptly remind us of the Word: deliver us from the presumption of coming to this table (pulpit) for solace only and not for strength, pardon only and not for renewal.

And that's the scary thing for seminarians and old-pros alike who climb into a pulpit: what we're really striving to offer is strength and renewal, and unless God is doing it through us, that can't happen. The only strength and renewal that we have to offer is what God offers us to begin with.

So maybe the real frightening question for all preachers should be: is God working through my ministry? Because, if not, not only will we not do much, but everyone will know. EveryOne.