As a pastor, there are certain things that disappoint me. One of them is the inability to be with a family when there has been a death. Throughout my 23 years in ministry it has happened only a small handful of times. As a pastor, the opportunity to minister to a family at the time of a death is a very sacred responsibility. However, there are those times when such ministry is not possible. Sometimes, I am away from the parish and cannot get back to be in ministry with the family.
That is what I like about the United Methodist connexion. Even though I am not present, there are generally others present: former pastors or pastors from nearby churches– that can step into the void and minister in my absence. It doesn’t alleviate the almost guilt like feelings that I have of not being able to be present, but it does comfort me to know that there is still a minister present that can minister effectively in my absence.
Every now and then I get a question about the hymns that we sing. Let me begin by saying that there will never be any way to please everyone with the hymn selections. So, I don’t even try to do that. I choose hymns in the following manner.
I follow the lectionary for my sermon texts. The lectionary is based upon the liturgical seasons and in three years will takes me through the major themes of the Bible. Each week, there is an Old Testament, a Psalm, a New Testament, and a Gospel reading. The United Methodist Church publishes a book that ties songs from the hymnal with texts each week in the lectionary. So, I simply go to the book and see which songs from the list that are linked to the text are known by me and by the congregation.
Sometimes, the songs I know are not songs known by the choir (They are my sounding board on this matter. Sometimes I listen to what they say, and sometimes I do not.) I might choose and unknown song because it goes well with the theme for that particular Sunday. I feel that stretching ourselves in song is something that is worthwhile. At other times, I will give in to the advice from the choir and change a song.
In a nutshell, that’s how we get our songs on Sunday morning. The other way that we choose songs is Favorite Hymn Months (July and August). During June you are given the chance to vote on the hymns that you would like to sing. During those months all of the selections come from you votes.
On Sunday morning the preacher and the congregation do a little two step. The preacher stands at the back of the church and greets folks as they exit the worship area. He’ll call them by name and ask how things are going. He’ll wish them a good week. They will often say, “Preacher, I really liked your sermon today.”
As a preacher, I sometimes have to wonder about those that utter this phrase. I wonder “Did they really like it, or are they just trying to be polite?” Almost without fail, on the days when I feel that I have preached a terrific sermon (and by the way these days are few and far between) no one seems to comment on the sermon. On the days when I feel as if I have preached a mediocre sermon, I tend to get the well used phrase, “That was a great sermon.”
I sometimes wonder if the sermons that I think I am preaching are really the sermons that the people are hearing. I am amazed by the way that the Holy Spirit uses the words that come out of my mouth. I have to assume that when people tell me what a great sermon it was, that there was something in that sermon that made them think, or laugh, or cry or respond in some way to the words that were coming out of my mouth. I have to assume that the Holy Spirit was not only moving in my words, but in their lives.
That’s what makes me want to go on preaching Sunday after Sunday after Sunday. My words might become God’s words to someone that hears them. Pray for me. Pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart will be found acceptable to God–each and every Sunday.
