What sermon would you like to hear? What scripture passage would you like to understand better? Is there a spiritual/theological issue you’re curious about that might make for a good topic? If you have burning answers to any of these questions, please email me and let me know (tom@ccfssi.org). As I continue my marathon preaching studies at Sewanee, one of the topics that has come up in lectures and several texts is the benefit of community input during the preaching process. There are many ways to do that, but the thread running through this work has been explicitly connecting the congregation to the process. That’s not to say that doesn’t already take place organically to an extent. Instead, the invitation is to look at ways to formalize it.Preachers are local theologians. We inhabit a space that lets us simultaneously approach scripture and the congregation as insiders and outsiders. We have a foot in both worlds, so to speak, and serve as a bridge between the two. We study scripture each week to find what word God might have for us and the community. We naturally pick up themes within the congregation from pastoral care and conversations, too. Indeed, many of the sermons I write are based on topics I’ve discussed with congregation members or from book studies, meetings, etc. That said, in most situations, the preacher chooses the sermon topic. We may have a lectionary to provide the scripture, but the jumping-off point is ours when we compose a sermon.That’s not a bad thing. That’s part of our role: discerning when to provide comfort and when to provide challenge, how to offer insight, and always acknowledging the importance of teaching. One professor made a claim I had already made to my preaching staff some time ago: sermons are the week’s primary formation/learning opportunities for many Episcopalians. Participation in weekly bible studies and adult Sunday school offerings simply aren’t what they used to be. That’s not a value judgment, just a statement of present realities.I love to preac

h, as I hope you are aware, and we are blessed with strong preachers at Christ Church who also love to be in the “pulpit” (though many of us don’t stand in the pulpit anymore). I’m the “old man” in the classes again this year, as I am in my 20th year of ordained preaching, though I’ve been preaching longer than that. I’ve preached through the lectionary six full times. I have a deep history with eleven years of shared ministry at Christ Church. And after all of that, I’m not out of things to share (ha - if that’s not obvious!), and I’m excited about the homiletical journey ahead of us.I have not completed this semester’s work, but I am sold on the importance of remembering that the pulpit is “ours” in the way the table is ours. When I preside at the eucharist as a priest, it’s on behalf of the congregation as we pray the eucharistic prayer together. I’m not doing it alone. Admittedly, I have never seen the preaching opportunity in the same clear terms (most preachers don’t, hence all the books and lectures!). But I’m intrigued, too. I hope to do a few things differently moving forward to be more intentional as I respond to that realization. Again, I am always thoughtful about what God might be trying to say to us as a congregation when I preach. That will continue, and as it does, we’ll find ways to preach together, too.I can’t guarantee that every idea sent to my inbox will be included in a future sermon, but some of them will. That’s not all we’ll do, but it’s a start. There will continue to be lectionary texts through which the Spirit wants to say some things and weeks when world events might drive a message. Seasons will still generate ideas and opportunities for growth. Nonetheless, the Spirit might work in and through us in fresh and new ways, too. Might isn’t the right word. The Spirit will work in and through us together. Let’s see where it blows us.Tom+Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen. Photo Credit: bible on altar via dreamstime.com subscription