Rev. Maddi Baugous serves at Omaha First United Methodist Church and is part of the TiM (Transition into Ministry) program. As part of the program, mentoring pairs get to identify and attend a Continuing Education experience.
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Day 1 Reflections:
I traveled to Minneapolis, MN for the Festival of Homiletics. The conference has sermons and lectures on preaching. This was part of a confusing education grant through my Transition into Ministry program, which meant Morita, my mentor and lead pastor at First UMC Omaha, joined too.
This week, I plan to share some of my reflections from my time and the lectures we heard. On our first day we opened with worship led by Anna Carter Florence. Her sermon focused on Rahab--a woman who is living right on the margins, in a wall. Carter Florence called to mind how often Rahab is seen as a “promiscuous woman,” however she is strong and has lots of power in her voice. She demands what she wants from spies and trusts in what God is doing, even if she might not see it right away. What a way to start worshiping and learning together.
Afterwards, Jay Augustine lectured on “Prophetic Preaching in a Postmodern World.” I saw Augustine in Omaha for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, and I can say he knows how to preach prophetically--calling out unjust systems. His lecture emphasized how each of us must preach in prophetic ways and also work towards reconciliation. And has he defined there are three types of reconciliation- salvific, social, and civic. His challenge for us is to emphasize all three types of reconciliation within the church and our communities.
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Day 2 Reflections:
Started off the second day with listening to The Most Reverend Michael Curry preach and lecture. He reminded us of the life-giving force do trees and nature. And when we act in the same way we nourish the world with our roots. “When people stand up there’s a possibility evil will shut up”. What a line.
Then we listened to a lecture by Anna Carter Florence on her new book which goes through the ABCs of different stories in scripture. The Bible nerd in me loved it!
After an organ concert at Central Lutheran Veronice Mills’ lecture reminded me of the importance of embodying hope. My day ended with worship led by Mihee Kim-Kort. She shared a poem by Ayisha Siddiqa which reminded us that love is our only revenge in a world where there are hardships. Love. And so we each dare to love.
Day 3 Reflections:
As I write these reflections, I realize there were SO MANY amazing presentations and I heard so many great preachers throughout the four days. To summarize everything well be next to impossible--and so here are just a few things which I have continued to ponder 2 weeks later.
Melva Sampson preached from Lamentations and reminded us of the joy and praise found in this book. There is lament and praise. And even in the hardship of the world “my soul refuses to die.” This reminder when there is legislation which harms others--“our souls refuse to die.” That’s the hope I need.
I was blown away from the stained glass at both Westminster Presbyterian and Central Lutheran (I’m a sucker for any stained glass that’s pretty).
In Edgardo Colon-Emeric’s presentation, the phrase I’m holding on to and continuing to ponder is, “Don’t confuse an old custom or practice as Good News.” That one got me, and it also called into question what are the practices we truly need to engage in right here and now, and are they truly Good News? And what things do we need to let go of so others can experience the Good News of Christ.
The final sermon of my day was by Timothy Adkins-Jones, who right away called out capitalism and its insistence that we all have to work, and work, and work. “Rest is Resistance.” And as someone who is notoriously bad at taking an intentional Sabbath--but someone who really likes resistance--I can get behind resting.
The day ended with Beers and Hymns. The few of us from the Great Plains got to connect and share dinner together. It was a wonderful time to be with others in fellowship. (We also made new friends!)
Day 4 Reflections:
The morning of the final day, I think I was just in awe of the brilliance. The first worship service, led by Otis Moss III, challenged us to affirm and love our bodies--seeing them as blessed, even when broken. Moss then lectured on how to be a Homiletics DJ--encouraging each of us to expand our crate (finding new things like art, poetry, music in preaching). As a lover of hip-hop with music sampled from different places, I loved the idea of doing the same within preaching.
After that, Amy Jill Levine, or AJ, reminded us of a lot that she didn’t have time to say everything that she had to say. But she did remind us Christians that we need to ensure we are not preaching antisemitism into our sermons. She challenged us to consider our Christology (understanding of Christ) because a weak Christology can lead to antisemitism.
In the afternoon, I hear from Rosemary Bray McNatt a Unitarian pastor. There was beauty in having a violin during worship.
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We then had our closing worship, and the festival was over.
I feel so fortunate to have attended and for a time to just “go to Church.” As pastors, it can be challenging to fully worship and just allow yourself to be “preached to.” One thing, as well, that stood out was after someone presented, one of the emcees would pray for the presenter. It was always a prayer thanking them for pouring their soul out to us and then asking that God will fill them back up. Preaching does require us to bear our hearts, and I think it is important that our souls might be filled once more. I found this time one where my soul was renewed. What I hope is that I can find renewal in my ministry and hope even when the work of the church weighs heavily on me. May we all find hope in a weary world.