Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Okay, three more weeks to preach at First Church and I've got more to say than there is time to say it. My Build a Sermons are going to be on the order of what I would like to have said if I'd have had more time.

1. Religion calls for so many alternate and conflicting movements that it's hard to track them down to what  is right and proper. For example the conservative and liberal elements are foundation to our faith. Therefore, what is required of us is both risk and reality. We've got to live on the edge of adventure but we've got to savor the way it's always been. Without risk reality becomes pedestrian. Without a sense of reality risk becomes foolish.

2. If I had it to do over again I would have done more with drama and dance in the church. I think some of the greatest religious truths are best expressed in movement and in dramatic portrayals. I have overused words. Words and sermons are fine but there is a level of communication I neglected while I have been at First Church.

3. The most effective means of communication is to lay out a puzzle and then invite the congregation to solve it. I have tended to give too many answers in my sermon and I have tried to tie up too many points into something cogent and neatly packaged.

4. I should have done more with biblical scholarship than I've done. I have spent most of my time doing that sort of thing in the classes I've taught. Actually, biblical scholarship is on the cutting edge of the theological impulse these days. I think the best preacher on our staff currently, or since I have been on the staff the past 9 years is Rebecca. She does biblical scholarship and uses that in her sermons as effectively as any preacher I've heard in the Rocky Mountain Conference.

These are just some thoughts about what I would like to have done if I had more time. I express my frustration about retirement. Basically, what is upsetting to me is to have come to this time in my life and to have found that I am 68 years old and I have a whole lot more I want to do. I will have to find some other way to do it because I am convinced our church needs an influx of new thoughts, new approaches, and a younger face to its leadership.

If you have thoughts on any of this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster