tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post595429304814187737..comments2023-05-24T08:26:43.201+01:00Comments on Writings Of An Autistic Woman: Gaudete Sunday - A Sermon From Two Years AgoClare Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12711443219888099596noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-17722242506991513332014-12-18T08:14:19.266+00:002014-12-18T08:14:19.266+00:00Wow. I think you've done very well indeed to h...Wow. I think you've done very well indeed to have obtained such academic qualifications. You say they are not much help when preparing sermons but I disagree, you must know what you are talking about before opening your mouth don't you agree? As for the content, the delivery and having the drive to do it must come from above. The Holy Spirit is your only true guide. What does it say in Scripture? 'Unless the Lord builds the house,<br> the builders labour in vain'. Psalm 127:1 Did you consider that unless the Lord wanted you to preach you'd never have done it? Well twice anyway! I am sure you've been Spirit led Clare and if you are still being led you must respond. I would think it best to write just the notes and not the whole sermon and let the Spirit put the words into your mouth. Go for it if your heart is telling you ought to.<br><br>Shirley Anne xShirley Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697497719791327675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-42713411161746194942014-12-17T23:04:47.719+00:002014-12-17T23:04:47.719+00:00Yes. I was preaching. Fascinating how such thing...Yes. I was preaching. Fascinating how such things have been thrown my way for so long, whether preaching (at college, with Baptists or with Anglicans) or teaching or leading worship. And it'll all get used again for the future. I look forward to it, while recognising that it's a great responsibility and that God has to be in charge of the whole thing.<br><br>BlessingsClare Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711443219888099596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-4344170763733418142014-12-17T22:59:19.100+00:002014-12-17T22:59:19.100+00:00Thanks to both of you.Yep. Years ago I used to pr...Thanks to both of you.<br><br>Yep. Years ago I used to preach and was a deacon at a baptist church in Lancashire. There was a rough plan to head into ministry and study for a doctorate along the way - because two theology degrees wasn't enough! I think the third degree would have been interesting and useful and was to have been somewhere in the area of Christianity and mental health. I'd had discussions with local ministers, the church wanted me to do it and I'd discussed the plan with the Northern Baptist College. But we upped and moved to Wales and life went a very different direction.<br><br>And then after moving here and accidentally leaving the Catholics (I've been in more than a few churches!) and walking into the local Church of England parish I ended up preaching again. And there were plans again to study more and at least become a licensed lay reader, possibly head for ordination. But again, that didn't happen because life did happen. I was quite fortunate that the parish wasn't too worried about the letter of the law which meant they were happy for me to preach without a piece of paper saying I was allowed to. Very supportive place until I was told it would be inappropriate for me to preach or lead anything anymore in case anyone was ever worried by my gender. Actually it's still a supportive place and I guess the vicar who has arrived since then would have helped smooth the way. Love the new vicar!<br><br>People in both places said I was a decent preacher. Who am I to argue? I never heard one of my sermons and never liked my voice anyway. Much of it is in delivery and while I'm not great sitting in a conversation with more than one person I can write and deliver a talk. People tell me how great it is that I have theology degrees. To an extent I disagree. They weren't very useful in sermon preparation. Generally commentaries weren't useful either - I only really consulted them when I had a question and couldn't find the answer in a Bible. And the commentaries very rarely answered the questions. A commentary or officially being "Master of Theology" is fine. But far more useful for preaching is faith, reading, prayer and experience.<br><br>It's possible that next year will see me in a pulpit again. The option is there but the time has to be right. I look forward to it but know that it will be harder now. I took it seriously then but even more so now. And these days I have less of the answers and that changes things. But I am very sure that I am at least in the right place for whatever surprises and non-surprises come to pass.<br><br>In the meantime maybe I should start writing sermons again for myself, or at least sermon notes, and see what happens.Clare Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711443219888099596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-85354591743562225222014-12-17T22:15:15.577+00:002014-12-17T22:15:15.577+00:00Ooops! I realise my mistake. You weren't preac...Ooops! I realise my mistake. You weren't preaching. I am definitely losing it! LOL<br><br>Shirley Anne xShirley Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697497719791327675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-35570142195740086932014-12-16T16:02:04.762+00:002014-12-16T16:02:04.762+00:00“God loves you, why aren't you joyful?” “You n...“God loves you, why aren't you joyful?” “You need to repent of your depression”<br>In real terms it is right but no-one who is depressed wants to hear such advice in that way. We should be able to rejoice in our afflictions because we know the love of God but doing it isn't always easy. Not all marriages fail because one partner has gender dysphoria and it is preposterous to suggest it. Quite bad advice as you say Angela and can probably cause more harm than good.<br>Shirley Anne xShirley Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697497719791327675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-44129189675090934812014-12-16T12:56:06.367+00:002014-12-16T12:56:06.367+00:00“God loves you, why aren't you joyful?” “You n...<i>“God loves you, why aren't you joyful?” “You need to repent of your depression”</i> A truly appalling bit of advice. Sadly there is little we can do to stop people giving what they think is 'good' advice. Sue and I once attended a Christian conference centre and were told by two people that my gender dysphoria would eventually wreck our marriage, so the best thing would be to divorce as soon as possible. Sadly, it was that advice that nearly destroyed our relationship; the dysphoria hasn't come close to it.<br><br>I guess the one answer is good Christian teaching, such as that contained in your sermon. Not only is the theology spot-on, but it even has three points, so 10/10 for homiletics!Angela Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882779021382371603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8292701047716374948.post-62255636784343348592014-12-14T18:53:52.450+00:002014-12-14T18:53:52.450+00:00Lovely post Clare. I am now wondering if you were ...Lovely post Clare. I am now wondering if you were a preacher once or was it that you (and others) were given the opportunity to preach? Either way you made a good job of it. I also learned the meaning of those words for the first time since hearing the song all those years ago. I didn't take Latin as you might have guessed, <br><br>Shirley Anne xShirley Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697497719791327675noreply@blogger.com