I promised an update on the service I conducted (I don't even know if that's the right word) last Sunday, so I figured I'd stick by my word and do it.
It was a great experience... I've given the sermon several times before -- in my home church, for the conference youth, at the Annual Conferencemeeting -- but I had never done the service in addition to that.
I think the most difficult part about it was trying to have multiple thoughts in my head at once and keep them all straight. Since I wasn't used to the order of service, I had to be actively doing and saying one thing while thinking about and preparing for another! It kept me on my proverbial toes!!
The thing that struck me about the whole experience was that I was very keenly and gladly aware of the fact that I was no more special than any other person in the room. It was that great sense of community I feel when I preach, but in a deeper way.
The service itself was very short. And I do mean very short; I elected not to do a children's sermon, and I only read the Gospel lesson, so that shaved quite a bit of time off an already short service. I don't think the people minded at all though...
So that's the update. I'm sorry I'm not more in-depth about it. Things are crazy busy at the moment; I'm at Youth 2007 so I don't have much free time. I'm currently sitting behind stage waiting for our Southeastern Jurisdictional worship service to begin (I'm doing the opening prayer).
It's been a great time so far... I really enjoyed the workshop I went to yesterday entitled 'The God-hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling in the Post-modern Generation' led by Sarah Arthur..
I met Gavo Wednesday night, and JNorm last night. It was very cool to see them in person for the first time! It seemed crazy that I've known them for so long -- Gavin and I even talk on IM -- but hadn't met them in person until now!
Well, the service is about to start and I gotta run. I'm sorry for the scattered roughness of this post. But I figure you all will love me anyway!
Peace.
Way cool that you got to lead worship and preach. And what you said is right. You have to stay on your toes and think ahead. My worst fear is in announcment time when soemone else has to metnion something or prayer request that are long and involved.
My preachign prof always siad, "Nobody complains about a sermon being 'too short!'"
Glad your at Youth 2007. I was thinking of doing the NYC in Atlanta this Nov. Will you be there?
Posted by: 1-4 Grace | July 13, 2007 at 03:34 PM
Yep, I'll be at the NYC. There's no way I'm missing Shane Claiborne, Phyllis Tickle, and David Crowder Band when they're all under one roof!
If you've never been before, you should seriously think about going... it was great last year. Plus, if you came we could have a cup of coffee!
Posted by: Natalie | July 13, 2007 at 10:55 PM
okay, sounds so cool to me. I have missed Atlanta. I will just have to work out my coned plans...
No worries though. I lvoe a good cup of coffee from anywhere
Posted by: 1-4 Grace | July 13, 2007 at 11:39 PM
it was great to catch up. funny how i stared at this girl hanging out for compline prayers and then realize. it's natalie! then that awkwardness of i know you but i've never met you.. i was looking at the atlanta nyc as well. maybe i can get in with the design group and go the cheap route. not all of us get the royal treatment. &:~)
Posted by: gavin | July 15, 2007 at 11:54 PM
Hope you enjoyed SPLAT. I went along as a chaperone for our youth group and really had a great experience.
Just recently discovered your blog thanks to Questing Parson's blog; I only occasionally check in, so I haven't delved very deeply into your posts, but you seem to have some real gifts (and, best of all, you're using them!).
Posted by: Mike | July 24, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Hey Natalie,
It was great meeting you at Youth 2007! I'm delighted you enjoyed my workshop enough to mention it in this post. I hope it's okay if I return the favor in my God-hungry blog (http://godhungryimagination.blogspot.com)? Let me know when you have the chance. My email address is posted on my website, which you already have the link to.
Great stuff on moving, going away to college, etc. By last October my husband and I had moved 4 times in 14 months due to grad school and summer internships, etc. Talk about learning to empty our pockets! But we found that we have it easy: it's not so hard to empty one's pockets when one's parents will hang on to whatever you can't take with you. It's quite another to live like most of the people in our ghetto neighborhood in northeast central Durham: poor and/or homeless, with no homebase whatsoever. Once they empty their pockets, that's it. They don't get to see their stuff again at Christmas break.
Blessings on your move and your first semester! Let's stay in touch.
--Sarah Arthur
Posted by: Sarah Arthur | August 18, 2007 at 03:30 PM