Over on the First Thoughts blog we’ve recently begun running weekly sermon reviews. We welcome contributions to this feature from writers everywhere, and are interested in reports from all demoninations and faiths.The pieces should run no more than 800-1000 words, include photos of the place of worship, and information to enable fact-checking (e.g., church website links, phone numbers). The objective is for these pieces to capture the moment we’re living in their sermons. We want reviews that capture not only the words, but also the setting and emotions of the experience.
Please email your submissions—as soon after the sermon as possible—to kelly@firstthings.com
November 18th, 2009 | 11:08 pm | #1
Not sure that I’m crazy at the thought of sermon reviews… While I welcome comments people in my church may have, blogging sermon reviews seems a tad much.
November 19th, 2009 | 10:03 am | #2
It used to be rather a semi-common thing in some newspapers in the 50-60s. The one’s I’ve read have always been more like puff pieces than reviews in the sense of critical articles. I’m rather neutral on the idea myself, but I can see how they might interest people who have always wondered what it would be like to visit a particular church.
Technology, though, has made them somewhat outdated. A lot of churches make their sermons available online in audio/video format so you can already find out what the preaching is like. But a review could give a sense of the things that can only be experienced by attending in person.
November 19th, 2009 | 1:34 pm | #3
Joe, the “review” of Fr. Jan Lundberg’s sermon at Ste. Thérèse de Lisieux Church is not really a review; it’s simply a summary. The same is true of the Old Saint Pat’s review. Are you genuinely looking for a critical review or simply a blow-by-blow of the experience, including the sermon?
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