Ministry and Technology
Annotated Bibliography
David Mays
Sermon Aid Sites – Homiletics
· My number one site for inspiration and follow up to ideas. This site has four to five sponsors with link to their sites for more information. In addition there is a scripture, art and movie index.
· From the scripture index you may see the RCL, Roman, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist index for when this scripture is included and then jump to that period. This week Luke 12:13-21 is also used for Roman Catholic Thanksgiving AB&C. After selecting a text one may work with, different translations, links to Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts, Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Texts, with exegesis work from seminaries and multiple packaged sermons.
· The movie index is by movie title and themes. After selecting a theme a brief synopsis and idea are given and some have tape location or scene numbers for display during the sermon. It provides links to the http://us.imdb.com/ Internet Movie Database for the selected movie http://us.imdb.com/Title?0171433 [Keeping the Faith].
· The Art index packed with links by topic and idea. Selecting Hagar/Ishmael or Genesis 16 or Genesis 21:8-21 and then Sarah watching the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael will take you to the site: http://www.mythinglinks.org/NearEast~3monotheisms~Islam.html where you would find Abraham Casts out the Egyptian slave-woman, Hagar, with their firstborn son, Ishmael
· This is an INSPIRATION ABOUNDS SITE other items include the ability to search, special resources and a newsletter. This is a user contribution site.
http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary/default.asp
· The General Board of Discipleship United Methodist Church
· Includes hymn suggestions, explanations of the selected day, literature for study, most of the items found in the Music and Worship Planner. It includes prayers and some hymns with interpretive suggestions are given. For example:
· 2225, "Who Is My Mother, Who Is My Brother" — As with number 2170 above, this hymn stretches our sense of family. Use it as a response to the sermon or as a sending-forth song.
· A link too many other resources like http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/index.htm
· Warning – not all lectionary references are complete. This appears to be a WIP. It has many good articles and other reference materials.
· This is mostly a commercial site but easily navigated. It has many articles on current events in the world and how they may affect the religious community. It is a good site to stay abreast of current events that may be included in sermons. Items go from humor to movies to the war in Iraq, basic Christianity and adult topics. It is not tied to the lectionary.
· Archive of Homilies and Sermons: A sermon and homily collection for the three years of the Lectionary with new materials being posted in advance. By Father Tommy Lane in Ireland. Searchable. (Jul 01)
· CyberFaith - Proclaiming Faith: Reflections on the three readings for each Sunday and Holy Day of the year, with questions for discussion. Activities for young people are included. (Nov 01)
· From The Pulpit of Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn: Lectionary Sermons by Rev. Billy Strayhorn, at First UMC in Joshua, Texas. After a year's absence from the Lectionary Billy returns with new RCL sermons posted by Friday night or Saturday noon. He has a three year archive of lectionary sermons you can check out and is working on a scriptural index. Billy is one of our oldest links. Recommended (Jan 02)
· First Baptist Church Sermons: A page by Pastor David Russell in Ames, Iowa. Generally a new offering posted by Thursday or Friday evening. There is a fairly full archive of mostly RCL sermons dating from 2001. (Jan 04))
You may recognize one of our locals.
· A product of United Methodist Communications one may find video clips based on specific ideas. A script, Mpeg, Windows Media or Quicktime may be viewed or you can do a right click and save as to use during the sermon or presentation.
· For a lot of midi files when you are without an accompanist this is a timesaver.
· This site includes text, midi in Piano, Organ and Bells for hymns with the ability to search full text. It includes a good list of links to other hymn sites as well.
· For example the Christian Classics
· http://www.ccel.org/s/southern_harmony/sharm/sharm/
· What can I say, they have it all, that is all that is not copy protected, books, bibles, early church documents and search capabilities. This is a good place to do background research. It is a Calvinist site.
AND A COUPLE I SUGEST TO STAY AWAY FROM:
· Len Sweet, Sally Morgenthaler and the gang. OK site with lots of ideas. I was more taken back by the requirement to have an account to view the complete web site. This is too commercial for me. On the sign up page it just says that it is a monthly fee and a credit card is required without revealing HOW MUCH THE CHARGE WILL BE. This is a site to stay away from!
http://johnbirch.tripod.com/Jokes.html
For a step on the wild side try out this John Birch Society. It will give you a wall to bounce things off of. I don’t like any site that is hosted by tripod.com because of the popup ads. If you have ad suppression it’s not bad. Example:
· What's the difference between a violin and a viola? There is no difference. The violin just looks smaller because the violinist's head is so much bigger
· How do you tell the difference between a violinist and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching.
This is a good site for a comic strip in the bulletin or newsletter that is related to the sermon. It follows the lectionary and sometimes is a good place to start a sermon. Better than 50% look good. Example:
As well as direct sites there are many sites that provide fodder for sermons through email.
Daily quotes and stories from a secular magazine Bits & Pieces with solid religious concepts can be found at www.bp-mag.com and to sign up for the daily email:
Examples:
· The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Dorothy Nevill (1826-1913) Writer
· Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. George Washington Carver (c. 1864-1943) Botanist
· Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was father and mother rather than all major credit cards. Robert Orben Humorist
· Walk away from it until you’re stronger. All your problems will be there when you get back, but you’ll be better able to cope. Lady Bird Johnson First Lady
· People are in greater need of your praise when they try and fail, than when they try and succeed. Bob Moawad Business leader
Muscle-head jokes is a good place to get jokes that are not for insiders. A way to break ice and let people know you are real. This site transmits many of the stories that float around the internet. I use about 10% of what I receive. But the 10% I use are usually very good.
Some examples:
· A sandwich walks into a bar, orders a beer and the bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
· Frequently Asked Questions for Etch-A-Sketch Technical Support:
Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has all of these funny little lines all over the screen.
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I turn my Etch-A-Sketch off?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: What's the shortcut for Undo?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I create a New Document window?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I set the background and foreground to the same color?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: What is the proper procedure for rebooting my Etch-A-Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I delete a document on my Etch-A-Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I save my Etch-A-Sketch document?
A: Don't shake it.
· A lady lost her handbag in the bustle of holiday shopping. It was found by an honest little boy and returned to her. Looking in her purse, she commented, "Hmmm.... That's funny. When I lost my bag there was a $20 bill in it. Now there are twenty $1 bills."
The boy quickly replied, "That's right, lady. The last time I found a purse, the owner didn't have any change for a reward."