Preach Magazine Issue 4 - Preaching in the digital age | Page 7

LETTERS AND TWEETS Worth the wait Misdiagnosis ‘I have now read both the previous issues of Preach and had a look at the website. I think that both are brilliant resources. ‘I have been reading the “Preaching Problems” pages in the Summer 2015 issue and I am not altogether happy with the way the panel addressed the problem of nervousness. The emphasis of the advice given to the nervous minister seemed to be about preparation of sermon and service. A review of the way he undertakes this, and a possible change of format of service and sermon may help, but only up to a point. I got very confused about what was happening with LWPT – the changing format and the missed issues. However, we now seem to be back on solid ground. The new resources were worth waiting for. Such resources are very necessary as being a preacher can be a very solitary occupation. We need input! Keep up the good work.’ Carolyn Mann, by email Small world ‘Since receiving the latest issue of Preach (Spring) I have been intending to write to you to congratulate you on such wellproduced and helpful magazine. I have been a Methodist local preacher for many years now and I would say that Preach is one of the most useful publications for preachers I have ever received. The feature articles and regular items give the magazine well-balanced content. I was especially interested in reading the interview you had with your father, Peter Harris. It was during the 1990s that my son spent a number of visits to the Algarve assisting with some of the work on A Rocha’s first project. I did come over on one occasion (partly holiday) while he was there and had the privilege of meeting your mum and dad, along with the family (including you) at Cruzinha where the field study centre was based. Until receiving the recent issue of Preach and also speaking with my son, I had no idea that you were Peter’s daughter. It’s a small world. I pray that you and your team will keep up the good work for the magazine and look forward to receiving the next issue.’ Owen Gardiner, Peterborough I feel that the problem should have been addressed as plain, old-fashioned stage-fright, from which many preachers, myself included, suffer. The panel should have been offering help to cope with this, indicating methods of relaxation and other ways of overcoming nervousness, even quite extreme nervousness. One way might be to find out how actors, singers, politicians and others in the public eye have learnt to cope with stage fright, apart from drink and drugs. I hope that the minister with this problem is able to overcome it. He or she is in my prayers.’ Ray Lee, Kidderminster Welcome diversity ‘Thank you very much for the Summer issue of Preach. The articles were all of a very high standard and the editing made very good use of them. I am a Methodist but I was pleased to see that Pentecostals were involved. I was especially pleased to see that the need for diversity was mentioned because my reading of history suggests that our faith has evolved because of divergence of understanding which WRITE TO US 7 has allowed opinion to change. We are not stuck with St Augstine’s view of women, for example. Perhaps there could have been more emphasis on the diversity of experience of preachers. I am a scientist and I would never give a presentation at work to a formal group without a well-prepared script. I can’t preach without a script because I take it seriously. But I can understand that some people have the gift of extemporary preaching and are very good communicators. We need both! Please accept my thanks.’ SD Mason, by email TWITTER @Davidjg2013Djg: ‘@ruthvalerio @PreachMagazine So sorry missed your seminar… Plenty of experience at preaching really bad sermons!’ @paulkerensa: ‘@richardlittlda @CRE_churchshow @PreachMagazine Love @storycubes. Idea: make em from sugar, preach from em, pop em in the tea after’ @LSTheology: ‘Superb to catch up with @PreachMagazine at @CRE_churchshow #CREInternational – future good things afoot with @LSTheology’ @BigChurchDayOut: ‘Who’s in the bazaar at #BCDO 2015? Make sure you go and see @PreachMagazine and find out more about what they do!’ We’d love to hear from you – whether you have thoughts on the features, ideas for future issues, experiences or inspiration about preaching or constructive criticism (please be kind – we are humans with feelings). You can write to us at PO Box 2352, Watford, Herts WD18 1PY, email [email protected], or tweet us @preachmagazine.