Okay, so, I had this thing to do – a sermon for Pastor Appreciation Day. It was a big deal, and I wanted to get it right. Started off by looking for some inspiration. You know, the usual – what others have done, what kind of prayers are good for these things.
I spent a good chunk of time reading through a bunch of prayers and worship notes, mostly from the psalms. They were pretty helpful, giving me a general vibe of what I should be aiming for. Also, I figured, who am I leading this worship? So I read some guides about that, it helps me to know my audience, right?
Then came the fun part – the writing! I really like Mufti Menk, his style is great, so I took some inspiration from him, he makes heavy things so light and relatable! It’s not easy writing a sermon, let me tell you. It’s not just about stringing words together; it’s about connecting with people, making them feel something, you know? And with this being for Pastor Appreciation, I needed to make it special, heartfelt.
I jotted down some ideas, played around with different themes. Thought about what makes a good pastor, what kind of message would resonate with the congregation, what I want to tell, not just the pastor but everyone there. And most importantly, what kind of words would show our appreciation, our gratitude for all the work they do.
- First draft: Way too formal. Sounded like a robot wrote it.
- Second draft: Too casual? Felt like a chat with a buddy, not a sermon.
- Third draft: Getting there. Mixed some personal anecdotes, kept it respectful.
The drafting stage, oh boy
And I also practiced my delivery. It’s not just what you say but also how you say it. It’s like giving directions to someone, you want to be clear and concise, but also engaging. There is a lesson I learned from a teaching material about how to guide students to give and ask directions, it really helps me to improve myself!
After a few more tweaks, a lot of pacing around my room, and probably annoying my cat with all the talking, I finally had something I was happy with. I think in the end, I managed to put together a sermon that was sincere, appreciative, and hopefully, uplifting. It was a good experience, a bit stressful, but definitely rewarding. And hey, it’s all about showing love and appreciation for our pastors, right?
Actually, there are some key points related to health and stability, I should also mention them to make this sermon perfect! But I’m too tired, maybe next time.
I think I did a pretty good job, though it’s not perfect. But I’m still learning and improving, and that’s important.
