Deja Vu

I preached at my placement church this morning. As I've been not my usual self (what with pain, drugs etc), I decided to re-use the sermon I wrote for my home church four weeks ago.

The way things have worked out, between me being elsewhere for a variety of reasons, it was the first time I'd actually been to my placement church since late January. I was, if anything, more nervous about that than preaching. I needn't have been - a few people were asking how I was (my supervisor had told them of the accident) and said it was nice to see me back.

The sermon itself seemed to go well, despite the mic packing in for no apparent reason. I can manage without the mic, but it's necessary for the T-loop system, for those with hearing aids (which includes my supervisor). My supervisor passed me the lectern mic and I carried on regardless.

After the service one lady thanked me profusely for my sermon and said "that is a great God given talent you have there". I was very touched by that as it was obviously spoken from the heart.

Some people tried to give me a congratulatory pat on the shoulder - yes, my sore one. After a very "firm" one (argh!!! - I'm surprised I didn't swear), I learnt to protect my collar bone with my hand.

It was also my placement church's annual stated meeting today. Although I've attended them at my home church, I felt it would be useful to see how other churches ran theirs. In my placement church's case, it was literally the legal minimum - the statement of accounts. No discussion of what the church has done over the last year and what there is to look forward to. I know no-one really likes those meetings and the majority of people think of them as a necessary evil, but just the statement of account? Is that all the church has to show for a year to hard work? I don't know, it just doesn't seem right somehow. Maybe it's just me though?