Yesterday I preached for the first time at Fairlington.  Well, kind of–I shared my testimony with Holy Grounds a few months ago and yesterday was certainly not a traditional form of preaching.

I came as Herod and shared in first person my/his perspective on himself.  Then I did a quick costume change and shared as Simeon.

I’d planned to repeat both Herod and Simeon last night, but, because of a wonderful discussion, I ended up just sharing as Herod.

I was just remarking to Israel, that the morning felt like a performance, while the evening felt like a conversation.  Perhaps it was just because I had already done it once, perhaps it was because I know the folks from Holy Grounds better.  However, I think it’s because of a difference in atmosphere.  I knew in the evening that all I had to do was spark–spark thinking, spark conversation–and we would be able to grapple with things together.  In the morning, I felt I needed to impress (ugghhh) and to do a good job–I needed to perform well. I knew that people were only going to be able to take away what I brought and what the Holy Spirit said through me, that we wouldn’t be able to process as a community.

What pressure people who preach week after week must feel!