HOW TO: Leading a Service and/or Giving a Presentation or Sermon

(draft)

First, thank you for offering to give a presentation or sermon! We value inspiring words of wisdom from UU members and the members of the community and are eager to hear what you have to say!

We are a 'lay-led' Congregation which means that we do not have a full-time minister, so each Service is led by one of the members of the congregation. Each Service features a presentation or sermon given by one of our Fellowship members, a member of the community, or by a visiting minister.

If you are doing the presentation or sermon, but NOT leading the entire service, you may skip ahead to the LAY PRESENTERS/MINISTERS section.

LEADING A SERVICE

The Orders of Service are digital slide presentations stored in a shared folder online which contain each part of the Service for the day. <describe the parts of the service>

Currently, Scott Ferguson assembles the Orders of Service slides for each Sunday Service which include music and readings based on the monthly theme. If you are leading a service, you should check with the person who will be giving the sermon or presentation to find out if they have a preference for which hymns, special songs, readings or responsive readings they would like included in the Service. Ask that they try to relate them to the Church's monthly theme. If they do not have a preference, select some yourself.

LAY PRESENTERS/MINISTERS

Each Service contains a presentation or it may be a sermon (if it is being delivered by a visiting minister, or is a Touchstones sermon being delivered by a lay-person.)

You may request readings, responsive readings, hymns and special songs for your service if you wish.
We have two printed hymnals which you may borrow: 'Singing the Living Tradition' which contains hymns, readings and responsive readings, and 'Singing the Journey' which contains additional hymns. We also provide links to online 'Touchstones' hymns, popular songs, readings, responsive readings and sermons. See the current Chair of the Services Committee for those links which are organized by Calendar year and month.

Your Presentation/Sermon:

Each month has a theme, so please use a Touchstones sermon for the month that you will be presenting or giving your sermon. If you have another source for your presentation or sermon, it is desired -- but not required -- that your topic be related to the current monthly theme.