Approaching the Scriptures for Preaching and Learning

APRIL 28 WORKSHOP: “APPROACHING THE SCRIPTURES FOR PREACHING AND LEARNING”

The Sabbatical Committee will offer a workshop open to all on approaching the scriptures for preaching and learning. The April 28 workshop will run from 9 am to 12 noon in the Meeting Room. The leader will be Rev. Allen ‘Mick’ Comstock, longtime UCC pastor in Heath and Charlemont in western Massachusetts. Mick has devoted his ministry to being and teaching in the community where life is lived and bringing the Word, worship and prayer to bear on daily living. In this workshop which is open to everyone, he will lead us in approaching the scripture expecting to be surprised.

Mick writes, “One of the greatest temptations in approaching scripture, especially for the purpose of preaching, is to come looking for reinforcement of what you already think. e second greatest temptation, especially if you’ve been at this for a long time, is to come thinking you already know what it’s going to say. Preaching from the lectionary is a discipline that tries to help us overcome both of these temptations, but it can’t do so by itself. It’s up to us to approach the scripture passages desiring and expecting to be freshly addressed by God in them. is workshop will give us the opportunity to discover and cultivate this practice together.”