I particularly enjoy the Service of Evening Prayers especially sung evensong. The musical responses strike chords somehow redolent of that great body of people who have died, but who must have also experienced that sense of timelessness created by the music and the written prayers.
However, this type of formal Service does not suit everyone and many enjoy the energy and vibrancy of the charismatic experience with its choruses, and the apparently impromptu nature of the Service.
Both types of service include a sermon and, in the case of Evening Prayers, I enjoy its emphasis on exploration into the background and meaning of the gospels. This is called exegesis and can lead to greater understanding of the scriptures and the early saints. In the Charismatic Service, the stress is more on exhortation to encourage increased activity in Christian social matters.
I prefer an exegesis type sermon rather than exhortation but, whatever a sermon’s content and style, you can bet that a congregation will notice how long it took to be delivered.
I had a friend James (Jim) Cowley alas now dead, who was choirmaster and organist of St, Mary the Virgin Tetbury, which is the Parish Church of Prince Charles. During his years of service, my friend heard many sermons and always said that the best were well under fifteen minutes in duration.
As the years went by he became convinced that no speaker could be inspired for more than twelve minutes at a time, and said that when he died he wanted to be cremated and his ashes used to make a twelve minute Timing Glass. The idea being that at the start of the sermon the Church Warden would walk slowly to the front of the church and start the glass running. The glass would be placed on the side of the church opposite to the pulpit so that the preacher would be able to see where the congregation had fixed its gaze.
I doubt that any preacher or congregations would claim to be inspired during every service they attend. However, I am confident that no one would look at Jim’s clock without thinking that life is precious, and be inspired to make good use of it whilst the glass is running.
View from the Pew 