Sunday Morning Prep...

I'm not sure what Sunday mornings are like for most senior pastor's, but I like to have a pretty tight routine for the hours that preceed my congregation coming.

I try to get into the church two to three hours before anyone else. I spend the first thirty minutes in reading and being quiet. I typically read a chapter from the Message translation, then I read from another devotional type of book to go along with God's Word. Right now I am reading Ann Spangler's "Praying the Names of God." When I am finished with my reading I spend a few minutes just being quiet and meditating on what I have read.

Then I like to go into the sanctuary and walk laps around the chairs praying for my congregation. It is funny how people for the most part always sit in the same chairs! I can sometimes visualize them watching me as I pray for them. Sometimes I take the picture directory with me to look at the faces, and other times I just take my whole rolodex with everyone in it and pray for them. Most of the times I will have a cup of coffee in one hand while I slowly stroll around the chairs.

Then I like to preach through my sermon to the empty chairs. I like to do this so I can try to iron out any wrinkles in the wording of the sermon. It is very hard on me on Sunday mornings during our worship time If I have not preached through my sermon. Many times I feel like I am "tied" to my notes, and I don't get the eye contact during the sermon that I like to get. I like for my congregation to feel that they are involved in the sermon. It also helps to keep them awake :)

When I have finished those things then I can go and spend time on any last minute adjustments to my sermon or to the building before my elders arrive for prayer. It truly does make for a long Sunday, but in the long run I believe it is worth it!