Have you ever noticed that sometimes a preacher will refer to the words they’re about to speak as a sermon, while other times that person might reference a homily? Are a sermon and a homily the same thing? In many churches, the words sermon and homily are used interchangeably. However, they actually are not exactly the same thing. The word homily comes from a Greek word homilia, which means conversation. The word sermon comes from the Latin word sermonem, which means speech or discourse. A homily, by definition, is prepared based on the scriptures of the day. Many preachers in the Episcopal Church prepare their homilies specifically from the Gospel, although it is appropriate to draw from all the scripture readings of the day. In fact, pay close attention to the readings and you will notice that the Old and New Testament readings often tie quite nicely into the gospel reading. A sermon, on the other hand, does not have to follow scripture. A sermon can be about any faith-based topic. While neither style is more correct than the other, I usually try to preach a homily rather than a sermon according to these definitions. Preaching in the Episcopal Church, whether done as a homily or a sermon, takes place following the gospel reading during the service of Holy Communion.
This weekend, we’re going to try something a little different. During the time usually set aside for a sermon, Deacon Chuck and I are going to give you a chance to ask us questions. These can be questions based on the scripture readings of the day, questions about the liturgy, questions about the Episcopal Church in general, questions about spirituality or prayer. Really, you may ask us anything you’d like! Understandably, questions that are not appropriate will be deferred. And there is a possibility that we may not know the answer to the question you ask. If this is the case, we will do our best to find out a good answer at a later time.
So why did we decide to do this? Firstly, I believe St. John’s is a spiritually healthy place. Because it is a spiritually healthy place, you are very flexible with your worship practices and you are willing to try new and different things. This isn’t to say that you like everything you try. But you are willing to try it to decide whether you like it. A question-and-answer sermon format is simply a different way and I think it is beneficial for this congregation to experience that different way.
Secondly, it creates a forum for you to allow the Word of God to penetrate your heart and to allow it to speak to you. Certainly when I preach, I attempt to invite the Holy Spirit into my heart and to make revelation to you through what I say. But the Holy Spirit speaks to you, too! Sure, I’ve had graduate level coursework that has taught me how to translate some of what the Holy Spirit is saying to me into words that (hopefully!) make sense to you. But the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak to me because I’ve had coursework teaching me how to do listen. The Holy Spirit speaks to all of us! The coursework I’ve taken simply gives me tools that help me to offer my insights in a public-speaking setting. The Holy Spirit speaks to you all the time. Allow yourself to listen and then to ask clarifying questions. Hopefully this will help you to dive deeper into your faith understanding.
Thirdly, it gives us a chance to get to know each other on a more informal level. I want you to be comfortable asking questions and talking to me. Deacon Chuck wants the same. Just because we wear silly white collars around our necks, it doesn’t mean we are better than anyone else. We’re just normal people. The silly white collar is just a piece of our uniform. The whole reason clergy began to wear the collar in the first place was that it symbolized that they had attended school and were able to read and write. In the old days, if you needed a document read or signed, you could look for someone with a clerical collar and you knew that person could help you. They weren’t better than you. They just had a different skill set than you. Deacon Chuck and I have both taken coursework in theological studies. So we hope you see our collars as a symbol that we have taken theological coursework, and that we’re down-to-earth guys to whom you can feel comfortable asking questions.
We will be inviting your questions during the time normally reserved for the sermon (or homily!) this Sunday at both services. We will try to limit this question and answer time to about 10 or 12 minutes. Please don’t be shy. Start thinking up questions, and ask them with confidence. If you are interested in previewing the readings for this Sunday so that your questions can be based on them, you may find them at the link below. We look forward to spending some informal time with you on Sunday!
http://lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Pentecost/CProp15_RCL.html