Festival of Homiletics

Blog

First Ever Virtual Festival of Homiletics – May 18-22, 2020

Posted on

This year, in light of COVID-19, the Festival of Homiletics is moving online. And because the world needs good preaching as we grapple with a global pandemic, we’re making access to absolutely FREE.

Get FREE Access to This Year’s Online Festival

NOTE: The free version includes access to pre-recorded sessions, streamed live online May 18-22, 2020 as our schedule specifies in ET (Eastern Time). This will not be re-broadcast. Links and directions to access the sessions will be emailed by May 15, 2020.

Special Offer for 2020 Free Virtual Festival Registrants – You can pre-purchase the full recording package of the virtual festival for complete access to all of the sessions from the  online conference including bonus material for $75 (a 50% discount). The recordings will be available following the live presentations beginning June 1, 2020. Once the festival is over the full package price goes up to $150.

Registration Options for Festival Participants Registered for In-person Event

OPTION 1: Keep your registration and get transferred to next year’s festival, plus the on-demand recording package to this year’s festival free (a $75 value)!

Your registration will be automatically applied to next year’s Festival of Homiletics in Denver, CO. You can use the registration yourself or transfer it to another attendee.

In addition, your registration gives you access to all of the sessions at this year’s virtual Festival—PLUS, the full complement of Festival recordings at no additional charge.

OPTION 2: Transfer your registration to the on-demand recordings.

Your Atlanta registration will be cancelled, and you will be registered to receive the on-demand recording package for $75. The recordings will be available beginning June 1, 2020. You will get an email with instructions the week of the festival, as well as receive a refund for the difference in fees.

OPTION 3: Transfer your registration to another transformative preaching opportunity.

  • Working Preacher Presents: The Craft of Preaching, scheduled to take place October 5-7, 2020 at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN.

If you would like to take this course of action, email festival@luthersem.edu. Your registration would be complete; no additional fees would apply.

OPTION 4: Request a Refund.

Email your request to festival@luthersem.edu. This will cancel your entire order, including the recording package. There is a non-refundable processing fee of $50.

Shop til’ you drop – vendor thank you!

Posted on

Every year at the festival we gather together a collection of vendors to share their wide variety of goods and services. They add color and vibrancy to our conference; and from the number of happy shoppers we think the participants really love the resource fair as well! Because we had to cancel the in-person event due to COVID-19, we won’t be able to gather this year’s group of fantastic vendors together for you. While our attendees will miss seeing you all in person, they can still shop the vendors’ websites to get great festival merchandise! Check out our list and thank you to all of our vendors who planned to be with us in Atlanta.

Amplify Media and Marketing – full service, integrated marketing agency, part of The United Methodist Publishing House

ANKOSfilms – Is a company dedicated to (a) (n)ew (k)ind (o)f (s)torytelling

Backstory Preaching – online preaching formation and continuing education programs

Baker Publishing Group – Christina book publisher that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Bexley Seabury Seminary – seminary open to all who seek to deepen their Christian formation

Blue Theology – provides learning/serving opportunities in Ocean Stewardship

Calvin Institue of Christian Worship – faithfully prepare leaders who nurture disciples and serve the church through the Holy Spirit

Candler School of Theology – grounded in the Christian faith and shaped by the Wesleyan tradition of evangelical piety, ecumenical openness and social concern. (United Methodist)

Convergence – supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders

Christian Olive Art – wood carving from the Holy Land

Cokesbury – Christian bookstore, a division of the United Methodist Publishing House

Crafts from Jerusalem – Olive wood artifacts and crafts from the Holy Land

Day1 – features an extensive library of lectionary-based sermons in text and audio, video resources, and helpful blog posts of the mainline churches

Educational Opportunities Tours – affordable Christian travel programs

Elias Tours – Holy Land tours

Episcopal Preaching Foundation – non-profit that hosts conferences to enhance sermons

Faith+Lead – connects you to the resources, experiments, and communities exploring how to cultivate Christian faith in the 21st century

Fortress Press – multimedia resources and distinctive books for Christian communities, higher-education learning and scholars, and the general reader

Friends Tours & Travel – reliable and trustworthy religious & educational tours, vacation travel and cruises to destinations all over the world

Freestone by Abila – learning management systems and host to Festival archived recordings

Gardner Webb School of Divinity – seminary that engages in the study of ministry both in theory and in practice

green lime arts – original and hand-crafted items that support the care of relationships and spiritual practice

Handspun Hope – formerly True Vineyard Ministries, uses social business models to provide work-based solutions to poverty.

Ichthysdesigns – custom designed vestments and altar appointments

Ilex Designs – dedicated to the creation of singular works for churches and individuals

Illustrated Ministry – faith resources for the church & home

 Jeff Wunrow Designs – hand-crafted innovative, contemporary liturgical textiles for churches and clergy

Lexington Theological Seminary – an accredited graduate theological institution of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Light From This Hill – individual and group retreats

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs – private philanthropic foundation supporting the causes of religion, education and community development

Luther Seminary – seminary of the ELCA

New Brunswick Theological Seminary – Reformed Christian seminary

New Life Stoles and More – religious fabric artist – stoles, robes, etc…

Panera – meals delivered right to your door

Paraclete Press – a publisher of Christian books, music and DVD’s from Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish perspectives and traditions

Pilgrims on a Journey – individual counseling, spiritual direction, per-marital counseling , group therapy , consulting with churches and leaders of faith communities and retreats

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary – Doctor of Ministry – preparing for ministry in the way of Jesus

Progressive Pilgrimage – customized educational and spiritual journeys that meet the needs and priorities of your group

Sacred Stitches – crafting fine clergy vestments and garments for all genders

Shop the World Gifts: A FairTrade Ministry – cultural gift store, part of the Fair Trade movement

Smyth & Helwys Books – Christian book publisher and bookstore

Sojourners – American Christian social justice organization

Spirit of Creation – religious goods store find them at their website or Etsy site.

Steeplebush Stoles – unique or custom, handmade pieces from our vestments shops

Tau Healing Arts – retreats, spiritual direction, original healing art and more

Thrivent Financial – offers advice, insurance, investments, banking and generosity opportunities to help Christians and their families

Tree of Life Imports – handmade Latin American crafts

UnCommon Preacher – an alternative to the lectionary, a new method for clergy to better serve their church

United Theological Seminary – prepares faithful, fruitful leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ

Wesley Theological Seminary – equip persons for Christian ministry and leadership in the church and the world to advance theological scholarship, and to model a prophetic voice

Westminster John Knox Press – book publisher and is a part of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

Woman of the Cloth Shop – bright and modern church vestments that bring depth and richness to worship

Working Preacher – reliable sermon preparation tool to help make you a better preacher

Yogadevotion – faith-integrated yoga

Amplify Media and Marketing – full service, integrated marketing agency, part of The United Methodist Publishing House

Backstory Preaching – online preaching formation and continuing education programs

Baker Publishing Group – Christina book publisher that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Bexley Seabury Seminary – seminary open to all who seek to deepen their Christian formation

Blue Theology – provides learning/serving opportunities in Ocean Stewardship

Candler School of Theology – grounded in the Christian faith and shaped by the Wesleyan tradition of evangelical piety, ecumenical openness and social concern. (United Methodist)

Convergence – supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders

Christian Olive Art – wood carving from the Holy Land

Cokesbury – Christian bookstore, a division of the United Methodist Publishing House

Crafts from Jerusalem – Olive wood artifacts and crafts from the Holy Land

Day1 – features an extensive library of lectionary-based sermons in text and audio, video resources, and helpful blog posts of the mainline churches

Educational Opportunities Tours – affordable Christian travel programs

Elias Tours – Holy Land tours

Episcopal Preaching Foundation – non-profit that hosts conferences to enhance sermons

Fortress Press – multimedia resources and distinctive books for Christian communities, higher-education learning and scholars, and the general reader

Friends Tours & Travel – reliable and trustworthy religious & educational tours, vacation travel and cruises to destinations all over the world

Freestone by Abila – learning management systems and host to Festival archived recordings

Gardner Webb School of Divinity – seminary that engages in the study of ministry both in theory and in practice

green lime arts – original and hand-crafted items that support the care of relationships and spiritual practice

Handspun Hope – formerly True Vineyard Ministries, uses social business models to provide work-based solutions to poverty.

Ichthysdesigns – custom designed vestments and altar appointments

Ilex Designs – dedicated to the creation of singular works for churches and individuals

Illustrated Ministry – faith resources for the church & home

 Jeff Wunrow Designs – hand-crafted innovative, contemporary liturgical textiles for churches and clergy

Lexington Theological Seminary – ecumenical seminary of the Christian Church (UCC)

Light From This Hill – individual and group retreats

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs – private philanthropic foundation supporting the causes of religion, education and community development

Luther Seminary – seminary of the ELCA

New Brunswick Theological Seminary – Reformed Christian seminary

New Life Stoles and More – religious fabric artist – stoles, robes, etc…

Paraclete Press – a publisher of Christian books, music and DVD’s from Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish perspectives and traditions

Pilgrims on a Journey – individual counseling, spiritual direction, per-marital counseling , group therapy , consulting with churches and leaders of faith communities and retreats

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary – preparing for ministry in the way of Jesus

Progressive Pilgrimage – customized educational and spiritual journeys that meet the needs and priorities of your group

Sacred Stitches – crafting fine clergy vestments and garments for all genders

Shop the World Gifts: A FairTrade Ministry – cultural gift store, part of the Fair Trade movement

Smyth & Helwys Books – Christian book publisher and bookstore

Sojourners – American Christian social justice organization

Spirit of Creation – religious goods store

Steeplebush Stoles – unique or custom, handmade pieces from our vestments shops

Tau Healing Arts – retreats, spiritual direction, original healing art and more

Thrivent Financial – offers advice, insurance, investments, banking and generosity opportunities to help Christians and their families

Tree of Life Imports – handmade Latin American crafts

UnCommon Preacher – an alternative to the lectionary, a new method for clergy to better serve their church

United Theological Seminary – prepares faithful, fruitful leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ

Wesley Theological Seminary – equip persons for Christian ministry and leadership in the church and the world to advance theological scholarship, and to model a prophetic voice

Westminster John Knox Press – book publisher and is a part of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

Woman of the Cloth Shop – bright and modern church vestments that bring depth and richness to worship

Working Preacher – reliable sermon preparation tool to help make you a better preacher

Yogadevotion – faith-integrated yoga

Five Ways to Make the Festival of Homiletics Greener

Posted on

nature scene

In light of the headlines, the changing weather patterns and signs that our earth is in distress, you may ask: What can a preacher do to tackle the problem of climate change?

First and foremost, we do not need to take on this challenge alone. Environmental organizations, faith groups, communities within schools, businesses and cities are taking action. We need to all come together to help combat climate change because our future depends on it!

As Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University, has observed: “For Christians, doing something about climate change is about living out our faith—caring for those who need help, our neighbors here at home or on the other side of the world, and taking responsibility for this planet that God created and entrusted to us.”

The 2020 Festival of Homiletics invites preachers to imagine their own role in God’s creative work, to be courageous in preaching about God’s creative activity, and to claim boldly our role in caring for God’s creation, when God’s very creation is at stake.
Here are five ways you can make a positive difference at the Festival of Homiletics this year in Atlanta:

  1. Start a climate conversation.
    If we are going to solve the problem of climate change, we need to start by finding a common ground with those who might not share our share perspective. Peers, family members and loved ones are more likely to open minds and find ways to talk about climate change, when so many distrust what they hear coming from the experts.
  2. Make your travel to the festival more “green.”
    We all need to get around in our day-to-day lives. There are however, many ways to reduce your impact, save a few bucks and make yourself happier and healthier.
    • Share a ride, from the airport or to dinner.
    • Walk the extra couple blocks instead of using a car service
    • Take public transit
    • Ride a bike – check out Relay Bike Share
  3. Reduce, reuse, recycle—Put your best foot forward.
    • We have eliminated printing bulletins for the worship services and have replaced them with screens in the sanctuary. Also, check out the Festival App where we post PDF’s of all of the bulletins for the week!
    • We have collaborated with Thrivent to provide insulated glasses for all of the participants – use them for your morning coffee and then throughout the day to stay hydrated.
    • Our caterer, Panera Bread Co., uses only recyclable or compostable products. Be sure to look for the proper receptacle when getting rid of your trash!
  4. Use energy wisely – even-small changes can make a difference!
    • Unplug your computers and phones when they are fully charged and you are not using them
    • Turn off lights and TVs when you leave a room
    • Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth!
  5. Eat for a more climate-friendly planet.
    The decisions we make about what to eat don’t just affect our bodies, they can have a profound effect on the environment. Simple ways to stabilize the earth…
    • Try a meat-free meal during the week
    • Buy local, or try organic whenever possible – check out Best Locally Sourced Restaurants
    • Don’t waste food!
    We can make a bigger impact when we come together to meet a challenge!
    See you in Atlanta!

Advent 3A: Strength for the Journey

Posted on


Photo by Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash.

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 35:1-4

Every year, without fail, as the culture ramps up for the frenzy of Christmas, there’s a disruption. A break in the regularly scheduled activities.

It’s bad news in the form of a voicemail, text, or email: “Your loved one had a fall and is in the ICU. It doesn’t look good.”

When that news comes, it can take a moment (or a day or a week) to get your bearings. Wait a minute – how can this be happening? Why now?

In the northern hemisphere, the “most wonderful time of the year” is also synonymous with winter, a season of death and dying, dormancy and decay.

It’s a time that’s hard on bodies, and for the frail and elderly, it can be a time when living, moving, and breathing is simply too much to bear.

This is why the Advent text from Isaiah is so important. Isaiah imagines wilderness being transformed from death and dryness to blossoms and abundance.

Like Mary, we wonder: How can this be?

Isaiah vows that when those who have been in the wilderness see the glory and majesty of God, weak hands are strengthened, and feeble knees are made firm. “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God” (Isaiah 11:4).

These words, promised by Isaiah, delivered to Mary and Joseph, and now proclaimed in your communities, are a sign to all people.

We may not be there yet, but we with the saving help of our God, we will be. Do not fear! Here is your God.

Reflect

On this second week of Advent, reflect on:

  • How is God present in the dry places of your life?
  • In what ways do you see the root of Jesse standing as a signal to the peoples?
  • Who in your community needs God’s transforming power?

The 2020 Festival of Homiletics will be focused on Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation. Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit in Atlanta May 18-22. Register today!

Advent 1A: Pilgrims Walk in the Light

Posted on

Pilgrim walking up hill.
Photo by Jorge Luis Ojeda Flota on Unsplash.

Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem … O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Isaiah 2:3,5

In today’s secular age, the idea of a pilgrimage seems quaint, mildly therapeutic, even commendable. Travel is equated with gaining something, whether it’s mind-body equilibrium or a couple of selfies in recognizably “foreign” locales.

But how many of us equate travel with sacrifice? With leaving a part of yourself behind? Not many. The goal of travel is too often to fill my spirit, to collect stories, to take photographs that could be shared with loved ones once I’ve returned to the safety of home.

Yet in this reading (Isaiah 2:3,5) the prophet Isaiah imagines people from around the ancient world traveling to the holy mountain of God.

They are making a pilgrimage to learn from the God of Jacob and to walk in God’s paths.

How many of us wish we could travel to the source — the very heart — of the Word of the Lord and learn from it? It seems too easy to locate God’s teachings in a physical location, a single mountain.

And for those who have traveled to Jerusalem, the hill itself can seem underwhelming. This is Mount Zion? Why here and not somewhere else?

But as this passage reminds us, it is the Word that travels forth. God’s ways, paths, instructions go forth. It is the experience that changes us, that makes us different people. It’s not about the stamp on the passport. It’s not about the selfies in historic places. It’s about the Word that transforms our lives and brings us back home different than when we set out on the pilgrimage.

On this first week of Advent, reflect on:

  • How is God’s Word moving through you and out into the world?
  • Where is God’s light shining in your life?
  • How can God’s light illumine the paths that you and your community of faith follow?

The 2020 Festival of Homiletics will be focused on Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation. Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit in Atlanta May 18-22. Register today!

Register for 2020 Festival

Posted on

Registration is open for #Homiletics2020!

Register Now

Join us in Atlanta for the 28th annual Festival of Homiletics, May 18 to 22nd, 2020.

This year’s theme is “Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation” and it will feature Bill McKibben, Traci Blackmon, Ellen F. Davis, and Otis Moss III.

This Festival will draw more than 1,200 colleagues for preaching, worship, and dialogue to help you develop a hands-on way to engage creation and climate for your own ministry context.

Other speakers include Johnathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Raphael Warnock, Carmen Agra Deedy, Raquel Lettsome, Anna Carter Florence, and many more.

Make plans for this incredible learning experience with top teachers.

Register today to get the early-bird discount!