Comments on: Baptism Sermon: Anticipating The Future

By: Dave Faulkner

Dave Faulkner — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:53:39 +0000

Yes, I introduce the context of the readings too. I have had it in mind for years to insist on training for those who read in public, but have never found the right way to say it without sounding offensive!

By: Tony Buglass

Tony Buglass — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:38:42 +0000

Just picking up on who reads readings – if you have other people to read, do you offer them any training? I usually do my own readings, partly because reading them again and out loud helps me to focus and leads me into the sermon, but also because I got fed up with hearing my readings killed by people who couldn’t read. One church was especially keen to involve as many people in worship as it could, but never tried to offer training in reading out loud with proper expression, and was unhappy with having a list of ‘approved readers’. The leaders were a bit put out that the minister was suddenly ‘a control freak’ and was taking back something they’d given to the people, but a considerable number of people thanked me for doing the readings myself.

I also make a point of introducing the readings, setting the scene so that there is a context for what follows. That is also widely appreciated.

By: Dave Faulkner

Dave Faulkner — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:28:14 +0000

The other passage was the closing verses of Matthew’s Gospel. I read them, because they were woven into an opening ‘declaration’ that the minister says in the Methodist Worship Book by way of explaining what Christian infant baptism is.

By: Lorna

Lorna — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:46:50 +0000

Early in the baptismal service, I read two passages from the New Testament.

what was the other one?

and why did you read them ? why not someone at the service? just curious