Sunday, November 02, 2008

Well, Better This Sunday Than Next....

It was bound to happen at some point. I suppose.

I was standing at the communion table with the bread in my hands- lovely, beautiful bread made from the special communion bread recipe of a dearly departed saint of this congregation. I was holding this bread up...and I forgot the words.

I forgot the words of institution, y'all! How many times have I done this?

I did collect myself, finally, after about five really long seconds. Long enough that it was pretty obvious I had forgotten the words.

*sigh*

Well, here's hoping I don't have a similar brain fart next Sunday!

9 comments:

Rev Kim said...

Aww, Iris, it happens. I did that with the benediction a few weeks ago. There was that five-second pause, then I caught the grin and then look-down of a young man in the congregation who knew I had forgotten but didn't want me to see that he knew. I think I said something like "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fellowship of God, and the communion of the Holy Sprit..."

These are the things that are supposed to endear us to congregations because they make us look human, right?

Rev SS said...

ah, the joys of being human. My most embarrassing moment was when our new (female) Presbytery Exec, who I really connect with, came to be guest preacher and I left out a phrase in the Lord's Prayer. Which one, you ask. "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (And we said the Lord's Prayer every Sunday!)

Sarah S-D said...

yeah, i had similar exp to rev ss's friend. i skipped a portion of the Lord's Prayer. another time i skipped the Lord's Prayer altogether and it was the week a 4 year old had learned it and was eager to pray it.

meh... it happens. not. a. big. deal.

Unknown said...

Eek! I think you're right, better this week.

Magdalene6127 said...

Iris, we've all done it or something like it (go see FranIAM's post this morning on what she calls an "oopsie for Jesus"... festinalente-franiam.blogspot.com...)

Worry not! They are blessed by your ministry. Period.

Anonymous said...

{{{iris}}}

it sounds like you're in a pretty good place about it. already laughing at yourself a bit. i'd imagine that EVERYONE has or will do this one day--it's just inevitable!

i haven't even tried it w/out our worship book with me!

i just got my registration in for the BE! had to hop over and give you the good news!

imngrace said...

I did the very same thing--twice--in one service! I drew a complete and total blank on words that I say and sing over and over again. Afterward one of the members of the congregation said, "We're gonna send a tape of you to funniest home videos!"

Even if it does happen next week, all will be well.

Towanda said...

I forgot how the Lord's Prayer starts one Sunday last summer at HappyChurch...

Mary Beth said...

Our clergy use the prayer book every week, with a server who points at the right place for them.

There's a reason for that! ;)

hang in there!