Have you ever listened to a homily/sermon and left with lingering questions or felt the need to talk about what you heard? Have you ever wished you could have told the pastor what you heard or what you needed or hoped to hear in the message?

This semester Elizabeth Hofrichter, our Lutheran seminarian, is learning an approach to preaching called “conversational preaching.” This is a shift from the pastor preaching and the congregation listening to the pastor and congregation participating in ministry together by engaging in conversation.

“A sermon is a proposal that invites counter proposals.”

On December 3, the first Sunday of Advent, she will be presenting the homily/sermon with an opportunity for you to engage in this type of conversation. It will include a time to meet beforehand (called "feedforward"), listen to the sermon, and then engage in feedback afterward. To clarify, this is not about her effectiveness as a speaker, but inviting you along to engage in the process of preparing a sermon. In the “feedforward” step, Elizabeth will hear your perspectives and questions as we wrestle with some of the incongruencies and wonderings. In the feedback step, we will continue the conversation and attend to loose ends, lingering questions, and new insights or motivations.

Invites will be posted in the eNews with opportunities to engage in this process. It is okay to engage in one part and not all parts of the process. Although it is most beneficial to see the process through, please consider engaging in any part you are able.

Email Elizabeth Hofrichter if you would like to join and she will forward the Zoom link.