Every lectern tells a story
As a preacher, a lectern or pulpit becomes like a familiar friend. It represents the place where you exercise your gifts and express your calling. You land up familiar with every nook an contour of it.
In the Eglise Evangelique at Marche-en-Famenne, where I first learn to preach in 1984, the pulpit was a flimsy plywood affair. It was fine for propping up my (handwritten) notes, but no use at all for leaning on, as it wobbled alarmingly.
In Hertford Baptist Church, the lectern was borne on the back of a magnificent eagle, originally made for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, which then landed up in Hertfordshire instead.
In Purley Baptist Church, with a congregation facing me from two directions, I used the solid wooden pulpit which afforded eye contact with all.
In Teddington Baptist Church, I have always preached from a simple, solid wooden lectern.
On Friday I visited the old Saxon parish church in Coln St Dennis, Gloucestershire. The church has many fascinating features, both inside and out. However, for me the most fascinating of all was the lectern, pictured below. Unless I am mistaken, it shows the disciples in a small fishing boat. I am not sure, though, which of the waterborne stories it depicts. Is it the frightened disciples who see Christ coming across the water towards them, defying every law of physics but calming the storm? Is it the beginning of the miraculous catch of fish, where one word from Christ is enough to transform the entire fishing trip? Either would be an appropriate metaphor for the preacher, perhaps. Once in a while we find ourselves foundering and we sorely need a helping hand from the Lord who rule the waves. Then again, we are also looking to be fishers of men…
Which would be better suited, do you think? Please let me know via the comments, or get in touch if you know more about the lectermn itself. Thank you.
CLICK for full size to see the detail