Sunday, December 10th @ 6:30pm at St Mary's Prittlewell.

I'd left the sermon notes and readings in the car, and was fussing about loosing then - nothing happened of course - they were still there as we left St. Peters. Just time to get home, eat the sandwich, have a cup of tea, and off to St. Mary's. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare, I used this up taking the wrong turning - the nerves are beginning to show. This is my first assessed sermon. I'm greeted in a very friendly manner by Frank, our tutor, and members of the choir. I'm provided with robes, and helped to dress. The switches are demonstrated for sound and light. Then there's a 15 minute wait. Ideal thing to do, plenty of time to get nervous. I try to sit and pray. To focus on God, and the message I will bring in His name. There have been comments about various things that I'm going to touch on, should I change them? No. It stands as it is, I've prayed about this and worked on it for over 4 weeks on and off, and I believe that what I have is what I'm meant to have. We do all our own readings, so that we have to read the texts we will preach on. so to the first lesson (pun intended). As I stand to read Isaiah 40, the re is noise over the sound system, nicely loud of a mobile phone syncing up to its network. I was nervous - I'm terrified now. I hold on to the lectern, and do my best impression of a stoic. The second lesson is without incident, and I calm down. At the end of the second hymn its up into the pulpit - and lift you dress so you don't trip - I remembered. That at least is going well. The sermon seemed to go OK, so far as I can tell, at least I felt reasonably relaxed and comfortable. There was little feedback at the end, just one or two comments. I hope I've left people with a message that will give them something to think about - that at least was the aim. I hope it gets a 'pass' as well, that was the other aim.
You can read what I planned to say here. I'll also post a read through of a previous version here its 7 Mb, so take care before downloading. The major difference is the ending, and the expression in the voice - I hope!