tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37146231.post4538688057505033978..comments2023-11-02T07:08:22.078-05:00Comments on Dean Hill's Blog: The Kingdom of Heaven is at HandRev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, Dean of Marsh Chapelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03708302270711152417noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37146231.post-61728385539788928212008-10-21T02:25:00.000-05:002008-10-21T02:25:00.000-05:00Vocation is such a critical and soulful necessity ...Vocation is such a critical and soulful necessity in our era. It is not about just the skills needed, but also about the intention and inspiration of the one who has (or longs to cultivate) the skill.Your examples make that truth so clear. A long time ago, when I was 14 and 15, I longed to be a preacher, but I was so nervous that when I read the lesson in church, the minister sometimes had to read it again so other people could hear it. Now, with grace and hard work, I've been a priest and a preacher for fourteen years - and people have not trouble hearing me. God surely calls us to the place where the world's need and our gladness meet, even when we might not believe we are ready for that journey.<BR/>Godspeed in the journey,<BR/>MargaretMargarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10430734488050329073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37146231.post-70225885307957680022008-09-06T15:03:00.000-05:002008-09-06T15:03:00.000-05:00Here is my reply to Jennifer.Hah! I love it. Wel...Here is my reply to Jennifer.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Hah! I love it. Well, yes. <BR/><BR/>I appreciate your kind question. The line you ask about is an example of one of those expressions that arise in the moment, we hope in the spirit, and even, perhaps, in the presence (unplanned, somehow provoked, out of the unforeseen). Not a part of the sermon as written, but part of the sermon as spoken, and heard. And heeded! I am pausing to line all this out, in part because it is right at the heart of preaching, of what preaching is, of what constitutes preaching. The sermon's final editor (redactor!!?!?!) is numinous. The last draft of the sermon is what is said, what is heard, what is done as a consequence of what is heard, said, and earlier studied, exegeted, outlined, written, rewritten, rewritten again, memorized, practiced, repracticed, delivered and then reviewed. Here is why and where the oral tradition, delivery without notes, in the moment, in the spirit, in presence (see R Harper, ON PRESENCE) offers the church something so vital. But here is also why preaching a good 22 minute sermon 50 times a year for 30 years is so very, very hard, and requires every smidgen of theological education one can garner, and then reading several books a week over the next several non-school decades, and being immersed in pastoral conversation and listening, and learning to love all of that in a deeply personal way. In a way, the unprepared which comes out of the prepared, or we could hope to say out of the thoroughly prepared, is the real, deep connection, faith speaking to faith and heart to heart, a working, pastoral, and 'spiritual' bond. Did someone say 'partnership'?<BR/><BR/>So, the sermon as written is never quite the same as the sermon spoken. In that difference can reside...everything.<BR/><BR/>Anyway.<BR/><BR/>You asked about what I said.<BR/><BR/>In the course of speaking about Paul's view of the church (faith working through love) I said what I have often said before:<BR/><BR/>"People ask me about organized religion. I say, 'I am not interested in organized religion...I am interested in WELL organized religion, which is sadly in short supply'."<BR/><BR/>Sometimes in a Methodist setting, I will add, I am a Methodist, so I am not interested in...etc.<BR/><BR/>Can you tell that I thoroughly enjoy having you two around the block here?<BR/><BR/><BR/>Blessings<BR/><BR/>rahRev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, Dean of Marsh Chapelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03708302270711152417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37146231.post-20011824368517371732008-09-06T15:02:00.000-05:002008-09-06T15:02:00.000-05:00One of my students sent me this note.Jennifer wrot...One of my students sent me this note.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Jennifer wrote on your Wall:<BR/><BR/>"I wanted to put your quote from last Sunday's sermon about organized religion/well-organized religin up on the quotes of my facebook profile, but I noticed the sermon archived online, just as you warned us, is not quite what was said in service. If you would share it again, I would be much obliged. I promise to cite my source on my profile!"Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, Dean of Marsh Chapelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03708302270711152417noreply@blogger.com