Well, pigeons, the big exciting thing happening for me in my ministry is to feel a tremendous sense of energy and connection with my new congregation. I am continuing to push myself into Fear Land by preaching in a completely different style, and it is yielding powerful results. I am still scared. I do not know exactly what method it is I am using. I am feeling my way by faith and prayer and intuition. If I come up with some kind of formula for what I am doing I will certainly be happy to share it with you. Right now, though, it is just a messy kind of thing that I am doing only because I can’t seem to NOT do it. It reminds me of when I got the call to ministry: nothing that I did felt right no matter how much I thought I wanted it, until I was willing to let it all go and fall into the abyss. The abyss turned into my life’s purpose and joy and desire but I had no idea at the time. At the time it just felt like my life was miserably unraveling.
This is a similar sensation: God grew tired of waiting for me to be willing to communicate in a less carefully linguistically crafted way and threw away my script. I simply cannot prepare one right now. I cannot under the best of conditions prepare a manuscript. I’m not burned out. I am not tired of writing sermons. I love writing sermons. I am just unable to do so. I have stopped fighting that and am just trying to accommodate the new technique.
Anyway, I am having a grand time with my congregation. Dare I say it is a honeymoon period? Well, I dare say it! I feel very, very fortunate to have met the Search Committee a year ago to start on this new chapter of my life.
As for image, art and such, I find that I feel happiest when I work something sparkly into my day. Like this sweet eyeshadow pen in Midnight Cowboy by Urban Decay:
It’s a super easy way to get a subtle wash of sparkliness. Make sure to use an eyeshadow primer or a bit of foundation on your lids first to get the best bang for your buck:
Today I wore a brown long skirt, boots, a leopard sweater and chunky gold and black drop earrings to church. It’s brutally cold so this was my way of bundling up but still being dressed in a slightly more feminine way than Nanook of the North. 
The one detail that made the outfit feel fun (it could have used a necklace but I didn’t feel like it with the animal print and the chunky earrings) was this pyramid studded belt from Torrid, which you can’t really see in the photo. Just a hint of bling:
I won’t lie to ya, it has been a draining winter with all this brutal cold. But being psyched about ministry is a great elixir. How are you doing, kittens? What’s inspiring you all right now?
Love the belt – I want one!! [Torrid has them! They’re called “pyramid studded belt” but you have to be plus-size. I don’t know if they ship to the UK but if you tell me your size I’ll get you one and send it. They only go as small as 14/16.- PB]
Oh, and you look great, by the way! [That’s very kind of you, because I feel like total Winter Hag. – PB]
This reminds me of a friend who was sending her grandson off to kindergarten and was trying to convince him not to wear his sister’s pink sequined t-shirt. He turned and looked up and said, “I really need to sparkle today.” He then walked out the door. 😉
[YES! I want to meet that kid! – PB]
I once read an article about that sort of change in preaching — think music — from Classical to Jazz. It doesn’t mean we don’t put in the work, it just means the door is a little more open for improv. I too have not been able to put together a manuscript for preaching for some years. I mostly have gotten over the need for a manuscript (in part fueled by the fact that I have been doing this for over 25 years — I know this stuff!), but I confess I am still sometimes clinging to my anxieties, praying “Any time now, God” for the inspiration piece. Haven’t been let down by the Almighty. . .but guess I am afraid to let go of the anxiety, for fear God won’t show up. My stuff to own. peace. . . [Love this! Thank you! – PB]
Perhaps your new preaching style is something akin to this? http://hbr.org/2014/03/mindfulness-in-the-age-of-complexity/ar/1?utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet