Comments on: reading challenge, january 16

By: reverendmother

reverendmother — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:59:43 +0000

anne, that’s one of my “stock” responses in the greeting line after church!

By: anne

anne — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:02:28 +0000

often when i write, i think i’m writing what I need to hear. perhaps when you preach the same sermon over and over it’s because this is the message that YOU need to hear.
hmmmm
ponder that one for a moment and see where it takes you.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:43:40 +0000

Repetition is the key to learning.

By: Cheesehead

Cheesehead — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:24:23 +0000

Our preaching prof was deadly serious when she told us every preacher has 3-7 sermons, max. I’ve heard her (preaching prof) preach. I think she’s right on the money.

I’m at about five, but working on number 6.

By: ppb

ppb — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:48:41 +0000

I think I have only 2 sermons. Must work on this. Three seems to be operative.

By: The local MD

The local MD — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:38:00 +0000

Repetition is the key to learning.

By: reverendmother

reverendmother — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:54:18 +0000

I seriously doubt that they don’t notice. The best we can hope is that they don’t complain because they know they need to hear those six sermons again and again.

By: Teri

Teri — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:32:16 +0000

Around here the SP and I communicate about upcoming Sundays and their general content by simply mentioning which of our three sermons (each) we think we’re preaching this week. So I say, “do you know where you’re going so I can plan the children’s time?” and he’ll say “Grace.” Or he’ll ask me a similar question and I’ll just say, “God is bigger than your box.”

I figure it’s okay if we each only have three sermons—at least we’re under no illusions about that (though I am constantly surprised at how the Spirit works so that people in the pews don’t seem to notice the constant repetition…).

By: reverendmother

reverendmother — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:03:14 +0000

SB, thank you for giving me an excuse to dip into the book again!
I love these a lot:
Walking Home from Oak-Head
The Winter Wood Arrives
**Those Days
A Pretty Song

By: concretegodmother

concretegodmother — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:43:21 +0000

Mmm. I really loved “Thirst,” though I’m reading several books by her at the same time, so I’m not keeping the volumes separate in my mind. I’m also reading “Why I Wake Early” and “Long Life.” I’m looking forward to seeing her read at UCLA next weekend. (That is, if SoCal doesn’t blow away tonight!)

I think every poet and writer and singer (etc.) has a groove they run in, which isn’t to say they can’t break out of it, but the groove is made up of the trains of thought that interest and occupy them most. Nothing wrong with that. I like that Oliver walks the same route and observes the same things daily, because there’s so much variety, even in what seems routine, if one takes the time to look. Thanks for this post.