Preaching: Mark 6:30-32

I have been doing some supply preaching this summer. This past weekend, I was back at the Coppertop, FUMC, Duluth. You can watch it on YouTube Here.

At the end I quote Rev. Joanne Harader, who writes at spaciousfaith.com. She is a Pastor at Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, KS. You can read the Summer blessing https://spaciousfaith.com/2024/06/20/summer-blessing/

This sermon, in a previous form, is also on this blog under “Rest a While.” However, even though I started with the same premise, a lot has changed since I last preached it. I pulled some of the basic bones of it, but then updated to fit where I am today. It was good learning to know that I am much better at resting, being, and being quiet than I was when I originally wrote the sermon. Ever Onward!

Even though I am a writer, and the writing of the sermon is more fun for me than the preaching, I am very aware that a sermon is an event. The Spirit (thankfully) infuses the preaching, and sometimes what is not on the page comes out. I could see how my original written text fit where I was then, and what I needed to change to update it to now. I was also aware of what all I wanted to say, that was not for this sermon.

I highly recommend Tricia Hersey’s book:

Though I didn’t pull it out to quote it for this sermon, this book has shaped me and how I think about rest. Our bodies are not meant for today’s lifestyle of sitting at desks and being bombarded by the 24 hour news cycle.

On that note, I also recommend Nadia Bolz-Weber’s essay. She writes at The Corners on Substack.

I hope that as we head into this holiday weekend, and the rest of summer, that you will find some time to rest. To be and not do, and to spend some time connecting with God.