NC Conference laity and clergy gathered for a hands-on Learning Lab, “From Blank Page to Pulpit,” to explore how sermon planning can help congregations engage the Conference’s five focus areas while remaining rooted in the Revised Common Lectionary. 

Presenters Rev. Tobi Nguyen, pastor at Trinity UMC, and Rev. Dr. Glen Stallsmith, pastor at Oxford UMC and Chair of the Conference Worship Team, led attendees in hands-on worship planning for the Matthew lectionary texts from late August through September, tying each week to one of the Conference’s five focus areas. The texts and topics were as follows: 

• Effective Leaders: Exploring leadership shaped by self-giving love, courage, and faithful discipleship (Matthew 16:21-28)
• Healthy Congregations: Practices of accountability, reconciliation, and shared spiritual authority (Matthew 18:15-20)
• Anti-Racism: Forgiveness, justice, and the dismantling of systems that deny dignity and grace (Matthew 18:21-35)
• Unity: God’s generosity, fairness, and the challenges of unity amid difference (Matthew 20:1-16)
• Congregations for Children: Listening to young voices, nurturing faith across generations, forming communities where children matter (Matthew 21:23-32 and Psalm 78)

Participants worked in small groups on each of these weeks, using the lectionary-based resources provided to generate basic sermon notes, calls to worship, prayers, and hymn suggestions. They also listed “bridges to discipleship” — specific ways to connect the sermon to what that would look like in the life of faith. As Tobi put it, “I spend a long time on ‘Sermon Island’ putting together thoughts for one Sunday morning. How can I build a bridge from ‘Sermon Island’ to ‘Discipleship Mainland’?” She also encouraged preachers to do the work required to use the lectionary in a series, rather than just abandon it. She says, “the Lectionary is a river to swim in, not a cage.” 

The fruits of the attendees’ labor will be shared so that all who attended now have the basics for five weeks of planned worship that tie into these important focus areas. 

The group also talked about what makes a sermon series effective, including a strong throughline to tie it together. Weak throughlines tend to be general (“About Faith”), whereas stronger ones are more specific and evoke a sense of wonder and anticipation (“Romans: Good News for Tough Times”).

Article written by Mandy Sayers
Photo by Chris Daniel