Taming Anxiety to Do Our Part
If you love me, show it by doing what I have told you. I will talk to the Father, and He’ll provide you another Friend so you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take Him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see Him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know Him already because He has been staying with you, and will even be in you. —John 14: 15–17 (The Message)
Laity Sunday was celebrated by most churches on October 19. Some lay persons get anxious or nervous when asked to participate in any of the many duties we are asked to do— read the scripture, pray, be the liturgist, give the children’s sermon, preach, lead a Bible study or testify to God’s presence in our lives. Some of this anxiety is quite normal. In fact, a little anxiety is better than getting to the point where we feel we can do this by ourselves. It is helpful to remember that we are really not alone. God, through his Holy Spirit, empowers and enables us to do the work of ministry.
We need to do our part through prayer, preparation and practice.
Pray that God will use you as His anointed vessel, no matter how simple the task. How about asking someone to serve as a prayer partner with you, especially if you have to preach? Find the time for careful preparation, making use of the many resources that are available. Don’t forget to seek the help of your pastor when necessary.
Practice does make perfect. Find the time to practice before your presentation. Read and reread the scriptures, giving careful attention to pronunciation and enunciation. If you are using a script become familiar with it so you can give eye contact to and connect with the congregation. Don’t be like this preacher who began his sermon by saying, “I am not well prepared this week. It has been a terribly busy week, and I just didn’t have much time to prepare my sermon. We’ll have to rely on the Holy Spirit. Next week I’ll try to come better prepared.”
Laity News
The board of laity will hold its second meeting this month. We were blessed with the presence of Bishop Park and nine others at our September meeting. We expect even more at the next meeting as we continue to plan for lay speaking school and annual conference, which will have all lay speakers in attendance!
Useful Website
Find some time to check out www.gbod.org/evangelism. Great stuff.
Pray, practice, prepare . . . relying on the Holy Spirit! Peace!