Link: Community, Sept 8. 2013

Summary of what I was saying and why:
I’ve spent years now wondering about the question I posed: what kind of community lets the tower go unfinished and laughs at the builder? Is that the community we are/want to be?
Then I wanted to create a space for St Peter’s to answer those questions rather than assume any answers.
Because, essentially, what does it mean to be the community that helps finish the tower.
(Also, having preached on Jesus’ comments about families twice this summer, I didn’t have a third sermon there.)

Theology: stewardship
Jesus Count: low
Good News: We are, and are yet becoming, who we want to be.

What did I change on my feet?
This question is almost impossible with a more interactive sermon. I started and ended where I planned. No huge gaffes occurred in the middle.
What didn’t work/what did I miss?
I’m not hugely pleased with the how I expressed the stewardship that is built into being community.
What did work?
I loved how willing people were to answer. They don’t know me well here yet and this is atypical ground for most parishes.

Other sermons I liked:

Priest Jones points out why this is not exactly Jesus’s ‘weed out’ class.

Priest Romanik considers where the cost meets the reward.

Bishop Edwards talks about money but even more about what the Church is doing for Christ.

(Here’s the list of people I usually listen to. Am I missing someone?)
The Anglican Church of Canada uses the Roman Ordinary Time numbering system instead of numbering the Propers. Because all of this is new to me, I’m now indicating both numbering systems.