Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Wasn't That Fun?

That's what my pastor asked me this past Sunday after I, the assisting minister, pronounced, "Go in peace; proclaim the Resurrection! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

I think I've finally hit my groove as an AM. I no longer get the heebie-jeebies beforehand, and in fact can pretty much get out of my own way and actually lead worship.

And -- yes -- it's fun.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why aren’t the heebie-jeebies an appropriate response for a celebrant of the Liturgy as well as for participants?
It’s an old, but relevant discussion.
Is the Liturgy the “work of the people of God”? If so some performance anxiety is natural, but let’s have fun!
Or is the Liturgy, the intersection point where the transforming transcendence of the Mystery of God confronts the mundane life of the people of God? If so I think before hand heebie-jeebies are an appropriate posture!

LutheranChik said...

Um...I'm not sure what your definition of "heebie-jeebies" is, FG, but mine is not "awe and reverence." I'm referring to the performance anxiety that I tend to experience before doing -- well, before doing a lot of things. And I don't particularly equate that with taking a task seriously...if anything, it detracts from the job. Your mileage may vary, but I personally am happy to no longer have the sweating-palms, rapid-heartbeat, racing-mind thing going on before I assist in worship.

Anonymous said...

I give you stars in your Crown for overcoming Stage Fright melt down. Although I have been in parishes where a certain defensive alertness for the slinging of rotten eggs and over ripe tomatoes was not an inappropriate stance for Worship leadership.
As an old fashioned guy, I advocate for a certain “fear and trembling” over the “me and my buddy Jesus are gonna get in a groove and shake rattle and roll” worship I run away from today.