Looking back and looking ahead…
(And looking forward to…)
Please note, this post has been re-posted from an earlier blog that was maintained by the Faithful Preaching Project before it became part of the Sharing Faith Initiative. These posts have been re-shared to maintain the full story of the grant initiative.
Our team at Faithful Preaching Project is hard at work this month submitting the semi-annual survey to our grant coordination program and writing our annual reports to Lilly Endowment Inc.
These reporting opportunities give us a unique look back at the successes and obstacles from the past year, while also allowing us to look forward to continuing these successes or making necessary adaptations.
Through these reports, we are celebrating and sharing the feedback we’ve received from many of our program participants:
I’m finding the twice monthly meetings on Zoom to be very informative. I have learned things that are helping me to better form my sermons.
I attended the first workshop and came away with some ideas on how to better prepare for my sermons. The sharing and the teaching were invaluable.
Our cohort has a diversity of preachers representing various ethnicities, sociopolitical backgrounds, and experience levels. It was refreshing to be amongst other working preachers sharing our common goal: continue our unique journeys in faithful preaching.
I am enjoying [the cohort]. From the faith building/examining discussions at the beginning through the discussions of sermons and individual faith practices it has become something I anticipate. When I signed up, I wasn’t at all sure what would be involved, but I’m quite glad I’m part of it.
What I find most helpful in the meetings is the sense of community and shared experience. Being with other lay preachers has significantly boosted my confidence. The community of faith we have built together serves as a tremendous source of strength, encouragement, and inspiration for me.
The workshop deepened my understanding of the connection between body, mind, and message in the act of preaching. I particularly loved her idea of taking a more holistic approach; where the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of preaching work together to convey a powerful, authentic message.
Beyond work on the reports, we are looking ahead to:
Launching another round of Lay Preacher Cohort applications next month!
Launching our new website under “Sharing Faith Initiative” next month!
Sharing more about the second grant administered by this team: Children’s Sermons by Children, and the invitation to participate!
The vision for Children’s Sermons by Children is to develop ongoing conversations between congregations with active children’s ministries and our team about how children experience and share God with others. These conversations will be with children and those involved in the children’s ministry at the church.
Finally, we are really looking forward to the Preaching Workshop with Dr. Lisa Cressman on April 26 from 10:00 - 3:00 p.m. on the Austin Seminary campus and available online through Zoom.
Dr. Cressman, Founding Steward of Backstory Preaching, will facilitate a workshop entitled "Spirituality for Preachers: Preaching is Your Life and Your Life is Preaching." Register today!
Description
Dr. Cressman will lead the group through transformative yet practical prayer and planning practices practices that will help preachers focus on your foundation:
remembering who you are
remembering what is important to you
organizing your work
staying true to yourself
In this practical, three-hour workshop for lay and ordained, new and experienced preachers, we will pray, reflect, dialogue, and play to stand strong on the foundational rock of God, so that we preach more authentically, courageously, and joyfully for our entire ministries.
About the Workshop Facilitator
The Reverend Dr. Lisa Cressman is the Founding Steward of Backstory Preaching. Launched in 2016, Backstory Preaching (BsP) is an ecumenical, all-online ministry for lay and ordained preachers to help them thrive in the process, craft, and spirituality of preaching. Ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1993, before BsP Lisa served congregations in Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas. She is a spiritual director, workshop leader, keynote speaker, and author of Backstory Preaching: Integrating Life, Spirituality, and Craft (The Liturgical Press, 2018), and The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages (Fortress Press/Working Preacher Books, 2021). She received her D.Min. in Practical Theology from Christian Theological Seminary in 1999, and M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1992. She is a wife, mom, mixed-media artist, musician, outdoor enthusiast, yogi, and swinger of kettlebells.
Two ways to attend…register today!
Dr. Cressman will be on campus at Austin Seminary for the event, held in Wright Hall of the Seminary Library. Attendance is free and lunch will be provided. The in-person capacity is limited to 100 people. Please note, the registration form is limited to one-at-a-time, so please fill out unique forms if you'd like to register more than one person for this preaching workshop.
The workshop is available for interactive online attendance through Zoom. We hope the online experience will mean that even more preachers can benefit from Dr. Cressman's guidance and expertise. Please note, the registration form is limited to one-at-a-time, so please fill out unique forms if you'd like to register more than one person for this workshop.