Towards Preaching Excellence…
The relaxing Trinity Center at Pine Knoll Shores served as headquarters for the April 30-May 2 event, Preaching WELL. This retreat replaced the NC Preaching Festival, presented 2015-2017. Over the three years, a fantastic list of preachers took their turn at the pulpit, each bringing his or her own style and word. But, the question was always how to translate those aspects into one’s own style yet maintain an authentic voice. How could preachers take what they learned and make their preaching more effective?
With that feedback in mind, the Visioning Team ventured in a new direction based on a North Georgia Conference model called Kindling the Fire. It is a planning-to-preach retreat where the lectionary is read and processed both in individual silent time and through group discussion. The North Georgia Conference finds that pastors attending are planning ahead and have a vision for their sermon content. This preparation pulls preachers from the routine and concern about weekly sermon writing.
Creativity is a focus of Preaching WELL…
The Center for Leadership Excellence’s Visioning Team took their cue from Kindling the Fire and added focus on both workshops and incorporating outlets for creativity. An artist-in-residence opened up preachers’ possibilities to process their thoughts and reactions with paint, pencils, and collage. Workshops encouraged artist collaborations and creative incorporation of music and arts in worship and church programs.
Worship Experiences…
Worship was as diverse as the lectionary seasons…liturgical dance, Visio Divina, Lectio Divina, and a healing service. Keynote preachers Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis and Rev. Jeremy Troxler shared sermons on Advent and Easter seasons respectively. One evening offered fireside time with a gift from Jeremy Troxler sharing a first-person narrative sermon he developed to help his congregation enter into Jesus’ journey toward crucifixion and resurrection. A gifted preacher and storyteller, Troxler’s sermon kept people engaged.
Thoughts from Attendees…
“I had forgotten how much I loved to dance, sing, and paint. We can lose ourselves in our work easily and I felt like through these creative outlets I found myself again.”
“Sitting around the table with others and bouncing ideas around and having someone else offer a thought that goes along with mine or being allowed to offer something that goes with another person’s idea. Collaborating together was wonderful…and it’s not something I am typically good at.”